Not Busy? Things to Do that Make You Feel Good

Between jobs or between sales, there must be tons of things to do which will not only help YOU in the short run and for the future, but also benefit... society.

Obviously, as some folks might become a bit depressed over the economy (especially with the expense of Christmas coming up shortly), many solutions present themselves in less commercially-minded ways... if we look for them. First of all, a re-assessment of our spending habits and what Love and Gratitude really means is a step in the right direction. Everyone "knows" this, but it's always easier said than done. We have allowed Madison Avenue to become our imagination, and so now we have to adjust our minds to invent (or re-invent) what's fun, useful, and think less about the Joneses and whether we need all those things that make life "simpler" (which usually costs more and actually complicates the world in general as a result). Things aren't always what they seem.

On the Home Front:

Many of us have looked around the house or apartment and decided it really needs a good old-fashioned cleaning, from de-cluttering all the way to carpet shampooing, wood refinishing, fixture polishing, etc. Even during slow sales or between jobs, we tend to get over-busy with "networking," prospecting, and job-hunting. In the evening when we're all burned out, we slump in front of the TV to recharge with more bad news about the financial situation of the world, all the while commercials are playing in-between to remind us how we need to come out swinging tomorrow so we can buy the next wave of new products as soon as possible.

So, after weeks and months of spinning around in the slow economy hamster wheel (there's one for every social situation), your home is still lacking attention. And you know that does NOT make you feel any better. Is it a waste of time to stop the "gotta get business" madness cycle? Not at all. You owe it to yourself and your families to pay attention to the physical home you live in. And if you have a family, why not involve them? Make a plan of action to execute a house project every week and watch how taking your mind off your lack-of-work routine changes your attitude about yourself, your home, and who you and your family really are as PEOPLE, not canaries in a coal mine reacting to the collapsed lungs of the economy machine.

For Your Community:

Most of us have participated in volunteering, but some of us are a little hesitant due to being shy or not feeling like we have anything to offer or simply think it's awkward or intimidating to start now when you see some folks who are really good at it and are in cool-sounding positions at your local church or school.

FORGET what it looks like. You know the Nike saying, "Just do it?" Well, that's really how it works. Maybe you're not sure what exactly TO join. In all likelihood, you might have time for more than one thing, but you have to start with only one and see how that fits in your schedule. If you do not know what is needed the most in your community, ask sources such as your kids' school principal, your church or temple leaders, your local food bank, your town's police department, library, ASPCA, etc. Sometimes it's got little to do with being "experienced," important, fancy or specialized and a lot more to do with helping as a team. I have done things like set up, make coffee, hand out raffle tickets at the door, and sweeping the floor for functions. You know what the best part is about just blending in and not having a cool spot on a committee? It's all the joking and laughing and merriment that goes on behind the scenes with true neighbors - some of which we would never meet without having belonged to a volunteer group. The fact is that most folks who participate at simpler levels of an event are the most conscientious and friendly. You'll have a blast. Ooops - and you actually did a wonderful thing!! How cool is that?

Being Innovative:

If we took all those hours spent in front of the computer looking for work or getting customer leads or composing great marketing tactics or re-writing resumes and instead devoted one or two days a week thinking about what our true vision is in life - wow, we'd actually find some new methods to express ourselves through volunteerism that might do all those things we've been knocking ourselves out with doing it the "practical" way.

And the funny part is, it's not about YOU nor does it necessarily have to have ANYTHING to do with your current or "desired" career. You know what they say about "doing what you like?" Well, perhaps your life-long hobby has avenues you haven't explored. Perhaps a dream or love affair you've always had with a particular topic is your road to applying good deeds in a different way. We are all experts at something. We all have well-honed hobbies or interests. We all have visions for making something - even a little something - better about the world in which we live. I bet you can take your chess fancy, crocheting fancy, classic-car fancy, book-club fancy, beer-brewing fancy, photography fancy - whatever - to another level with a bit of ingenuity if applied to a social vision in your community.

Turn Inside OUT:

The magic happens when we don't do it alone. If Edison stayed inside his room and all he did was surf the internet or TV channels and maybe babbled anonymously on some chat room, Tesla would be more recognized for the light bulb today than him. (Well, there was a bit of politics behind that, but you get the idea.)

We have to get out and join society in more ways than just comfort-zone. This "zoning" has ideally led to our nation's stagnant ingenuity. We have become the perpetual indoor cat. No mousing, no exercise, and sitting in the laps of comfort. Well, comfort comes with a price. It was all great while Visa and MasterCard was our lap. It was all great while our home's equity was our Mac machine. It was all great while TV, iPod, X-Box and the internet gave us the world without having to step out the door.

Using Tools - Only a Means to an End:

Searching the web for what's out there is perfectly useful. YOUR key phrase is "OUT THERE." And, yeah, it's annoying that sometimes all we see is people distracted by their cell phones texting back and forth when others are trying to have a conversation with them in social settings... I think we may be in for a de-evolution in the days ahead. "Be there or be square" - we have to be present and in the now. We have to begin making decisions without scripts given by our distant mouthpieces, and that definitely means being able to think for ourselves, for the situation at hand, and by using common sense for the good and not for greed.

And that ties in nicely with our lack of corporate "support" during these slow times. The great "THEY" are not always there for us, so WE need to be there for us. That requires community-level interaction where things can develop naturally through investing our efforts, interests and time, finding what our abilities are, no matter how small or large, and using our talents to affect our "vision" in new ways in the things we find important about our own localities.

Remember to Have Fun:

And "work" is fun when you are giving your real self. You already know how it feels to be a number. Well, you can throw that number away any time you like now. (You always could.)