All of this resonated sooo hard, especially the part on loneliness. i didn't realize how much i needed community until i quit my job & suddenly i was able to go days without speaking to anyone if i wasn't making the intention to be social. finding communities outside of school/work is something i'm making a goal to do this year
Have you scoured, like, Eventbrite and Meetup? I'm sure you have. I was unemployed not by choice for part of the pandemic and those were great resources for things to do and places to check out (often for free). I also learned that Sacramento (my old city) had a whole EVENT website just for itself. Maybe yours does as well?
That is especially true for the huge number of unemployed people who are housebound or bedbound. Like, think how much less you would see people if you could never go to a public place or go anywhere to meet someone. For me I am also immunosurpressed on top of being bedbound which means most people can't visit me either since we are still living in a pandemic.
Definitely an issue with how integral our 'careers' have become to our identity. We have lost the traditional aspect of community that defined our civilisations for thousands of years, and replaced it with companies and corporations that pretend to have a "people culture" (obviously BS). We need to go back to having closer ties with people in our community so that we have strong social networks irrespective of our jobs.
I did this for three years when my mom died and left me a sizeable amount of money 26 years ago. It’s given me the oxygen I needed to keep going in my career. I have a good 10-14 years left before I can retire with a pension (lucky one, I know). But that pretirement allowed me to set up a lifestyle of travel, art, self knowledge, and frequent goal setting that keeps me fresh.
OMG SAME! I’ve gotten a small inheritance (small in SF Bay Area terms) that’s allowed me to take a break from working stress free, and given me the energy, clarity, and motivation to think about maybe starting some kind of small business. The world feels wide open for the first time in my life instead of constantly trying to scrape by with demeaning jobs that barely pay my rent. ❤
I LOVE this experiment! I always thought only rich people have the luxury, freedom and time to explore and reflect on how they want to BE in this world. Capitalism forces us to believe that college is the Only way to afford a happy life. We are sold the American dream as if a high paying career, big house, fancy car, etc (materialism) equals happiness. Then we spend 20-30 years grinding away to pay back our student loans, only to find ourselves lonely and burnt out. The pandemic really forced me to want to spend more time doing the things that bring me joy. I've realized that chasing happiness is like chasing a leprechaun, always seems to be out of reach (future tense). Joy is something you experience in the present moment. Add up all the joyful moments and it will equal happiness. Currently, I'm working on work life balance. I want to connect more with my local community, dance more, explore instruments (violin and drums), and connect more with family and friends. Maybe downshift my career one day to work in a library? Idk . . .
I honestly believe that most people are creative but work gets in the way. Almost every time someone retires, they get into art, gardening, or anything else artistic. The narrative that you'll be bored if you don't work is silly to me. The mind is contantly on the move and people will want to exercise that need.
I'm mostly through 6 weeks off between my old and new job. Before I finished up at my old place so many people would ask me in a shocked way if I didn't think I was going to get bored in my time off. I found it really sad that people really TRULY believed they needed to dedicate so much of their time to a job at a company that they didn't really care about, and vice versa, in order to not be bored. capitalism babyyy
@Amy I'm on a similar boat as you. I haven't been employed for a couple of months now, and it's been both exhilarating and a load off my shoulders. I work on the house, cook for my wife, and I get to focus on a youtube project that I was putting off for sometime. And the extra time, physical health, and mental health have really paid off.
this is really foundational to my own philosophy too - we are all deeply creative but are blocked by work and the conditioning around us that making art isn’t worth it!!
@Alrac Okay you sound as if she's discrediting those who perform the labors you mentioned. No one is. The point of these movements, and I assume this video, is to demonstrate that we're overworked. Labor is necessary, but it shouldn't consume/define us. Lowering workload so that we have more time for ourselves, family, and friends has proven to have a positive effect.
TBH I'd love to just work part time instead of not working at all. I am still interested in my job but the amount of time and energy required just wipes me out. If I could do like 20-25 hours a week I think that would allow me to take care of myself and also still have external structure in my life.
This exactly. I'm a physical therapist and enjoy what I do, but I get burned out working 9-6 and being gone from home from 8-7 (with the commute). I also feel like I miss out on so much because so many things start at 5-6 but I'm still working.
I think this experiment also proved that "unemployed" people absolutely still contribute to society. They do all sorts of labor that just isn't compensated like art, and running book clubs, providing mental health support, taking care of their own bodies instead of relying on crisis medical care. If you were a parent that would end up taking a lot of your time raising not only your kids but supporting their friends with two working parents. Like, so much is done by the people our society considers "unproductive."
I’m now on month 9 of chosen unemployment and highly relate to all you mentioned in the video. I’d like to add that personally I’ve also been struggling with finding a sense of self and creating the new version of myself outside of the workforce, and it’s been hindering me from fully enjoying all the great benefits of owning my time these past few months.
Struggling with my envy watching this. I'm a stay at home carer with a chronic illness, unemployment was forced on me by life. Reality is that there is an awful lot of labour to be done that is not paid for or recognised. I applaud you for following your instincts and spending time on yourself.
I highly suggest reading “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” and “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” by Becky Chambers. This series is a sweet little taste into what I think you’re talking about. There is still work in this utopia, but all of the labor is based around community and not an individualistic rat race. It demonstrates how taking your time and experiencing the mundane should be celebrated. I really love it a lot and think y’all will too. ❤
we did these books in my book club last year and one of the things we discussed is what we would each want to do as our community role within the utopia of the books
I had my “unemployed era” from summer of 2021-fall of 2022. I had a part time job at the beginning of it, but I took every second of work off that I could. During this time period I moved across the country with my family, helped my dad start a business, baked bread, sewed my own clothes, spent so much good time with my family, and planned my wedding. It was such a relief to not have to do all the usual “work things”. Tbh my favorite time in my young adult life. Now I’m a pregnant SAHW with a part time job and lots of laundry and cooking to do😅🥰 I would also totally be part of a study on this. I’d do almost anything to be “unemployed” again😂
It really makes me wonder how we’re all making it through this, when we’re all facing the same miserable struggles of balancing life and work- sigh. There’s definitely a lot to be looked into with this subject and I hope to see a shift in our work culture during my own lifetime. Or I hope to move to the Netherlands lol Please sign me up for the next study lol please and Ty
I'm 26 myself and have worked as a software developer for the last 3 years after graduating college. Originally I graduated with a degree in videography and design, but then sort of shilled out after school for a bit to learn software development (for the money). I only realized after losing my job recently that I had chased "the dream" of money and status. I sort of had this Neo in the matrix moment when he woke up for the first time. Life isn't about chasing money or status, it's about finding your passion and being with those you love. Only recently have I started following you journey, but you inspire me to keep going. I can't see myself ever going back to big tech. Appreciate the insight Katherine. Right now I'm in phase 1 from your vid, but starting to work on phase 2 (wellness)!
Loved this video! As someone who has been unemployed (not by choice), I also have done my fair share of visiting friends, doing the admin things I never really get to, and making time for new hobbies like knitting. My only caveat is that my unemployment journey has had some stress in the sense that I have yet to find work. I loved the cortisol meme! That truly made me lol. I would love to hear more about what your next steps are and what you are looking for in a job now.
Unemployment was a very interesting time, I was unemployed a few years ago after college, and it was very tough tbh, I did feel a loss of purpose and lived life aimlessly. It definitely felt odd being out of work and having a life different to the average joe. Some jobs can be toxic to your mental health and physical health forsure. Im glad that unemployment was a great time for you, unemployment imo is good if you have enough $$ saved up and you aren't in lots of debt. Never make work your entire life at all. It was fun for 2 months, but after it, it became tough. Good video Katherine, I recently joined your patreon!!!
@@allforgood9722 what a fascinating takeaway. A lot of people in those jobs are overworked in poor and exploitative conditions (see farmers and farm hands, EMTs, CNAs, etc.) and deserve to work in conditions that don't require them to be perpetually "tethered to labor," just as much as Katherine, you and I, or anyone else. if these services are so vital (and they are!), we as a society need to step up and treat our workers as such. they don't deserve to be trampled for the benefit of a society that doesn't materially value them. We all deserve better than that.
@@akosuaka Alot of those jobs are simply vital from a 24/7 perspective. People who work in, say, infrastructure or agriculture, are not so much tethered to their labour by Capitalism's manifesting of "work as identity", but by necessity of those jobs being needed by the communities in which they provide for. This would remain unchanged even if Capitalism no longer existed. Someone literally has to maintain the sewage systems or the electrical cables in a town, otherwise those things will stop working within a matter of days and then chaos would ensue. So, people working such jobs can't simply "work less hours" or "have better conditions" because that's the nature of the job It is what it is, and someone has to do it. Someone has to go down into the drains and maintain the sewers daily. A farmer can't afford to take a week off work because they're usually on the cusp profit-wise. Apply this en masse. Fyi alot of people who work in infrastructure jobs are paid really well...they're not trampled by society. They're paid well because not alof of people wanna work on oil rigs or in the sewers, cos it's tough manual labour and its dirty, messy work.
I'm 22 right now, planning to graduate at the end of this year and enter the working world- I'm already in it while going to school (painful experience wouldn't recommend) , but I really want to set a goal to have an unemployment era. I do not want to wait until I'm 60-65 to retire (that is if you're lucky, the age seems to be increasing for my generation) and finally see the world or only go on little vacations here and there for the rest of my life- the goal is to save up enough to have a year off either in my late 20's or early 30's to travel the world and hopefully throughout my life I can quit for six months after years at one place and then again and again because I cannot imagine never getting a break in between decades.
I love how visionary you are & how many steps you did take to help make that a reality, not only for yourself, but by sharing with your friends and youtube community 💕
I loved this video and whole series, and think that it was full of important insights and lessons about societies obsession with work. It came at a perfect time in my life x However, something I’ve felt throughout the series is that you really leaned into glamorising your ‘unemployment era ✌️🤪’, without really discussing the nuances around the fact that most people’s ‘unemployment era’ does not look like this (including my own). In the slightest. For example, the only ‘unemployment’ option you considered in this video was retirement, which in itself is a huge privilege for a lot of people. Overall, it felt like an extremely middle class take on everything. I think even a short discussion around the class implications of the ‘unemployment era girlie’ would have been interesting. I still think your work has been a great contribution! F**k capitalism x
@@KatheroutExactly! It would have been great to see this point addressed a bit more in the series, especially when tackling a theme like unemployment and given you’ve been re-centering your channel on more socialist and class conscious values. Looking forward to hearing about your experiences as you head into a new phase in your employment journey :)
I am a classic NEET, male, 30s, slowly fading out of society because my basic needs are met (food, shelter, healthcare). It’s the dream of a human for thousands of years to be this physically secure, but living it is deeply unfulfilling and a permanent sense of malaise. I sometimes imagine a stipend on top of these provided luxuries -and they are luxuries, I reflect on that every day- and how it would affect my life. I truly can’t tell whether it would. Since I have no income, I pursue no expenses (no eating out, no going to the bar, no weekend jetsetting, no video game subscriptions), and this causes drift away from friends and, eventually, drift away from overall participation in the outside world. Would discretionary spending options outside the life’s basics jumpstart an aspirational version of myself? It’s easy to imagine that. I imagine versions of that all the time. And sometimes I think the lack of existential threat would only become more pronounced, and so nothing at all would change. A crucial point is, having met the base of Maslow’s Heriarchy: what’s next? I never dreamed of a life *without* labor. I would love to contribute meaningfully, or even contribute in a way that brought me meaning. But it’s not clear to me what the point of life is *without* it. Please don’t mistake anything I say as seeking pity. My whole point is how many people from all time and space would trade places with me in a heartbeat. In many ways I am the height of privilege. But I do think my problem is one society will have to solve at a massive scale in the near future. A world of UBI or otherwise subsidized living, merely plugged into our existing structures, will surely produce “me’s” en masse.
I found your channel I think about 1 -1.5 years ago and it's funny just how our timelines matched with not working last year. For me it was due to burnout, I couldn't even reset a password on Gmail, I was that overwhelmed daily. I worked in corporate sales/it for 10 years and it ended me. So while I was on long-term sick leave, I initially couldn't really do much - which was unfamiliar, since I worked since I was 16 - but after 2 months of basically going on walks, sleeping and keeping my employer up to date. I started to travel a bit, do things I wanted to do for years, saw friends more, tried to reconnect with my hobbies etc. I really related to and still do to your video series. I could forever comment on this, but if I could say one more thing is that you are right. Taking time off work, being unemployed, or even when I can't work for a while due to burnout, it's everything it's supposed to be. Freeing! I actually enjoy work - is that a thing- but I would very much rather live a life with less money and more content life, where I can travel, go after my hobbies and work, but with purpose and as a means to make money to afford that lifestyle, not the other way around. I'm still trying. to find a way towards that life now that I am actively looking to find a new position - yes, I have also been just made redundant in the tech world, org restructure lol of course. But. I see this as my opportunity to make a shift in my life, not willing to settle for less.
I really love the pacing of the video. It feels slower than most other videos on TH-cam are presented, which is refreshing. Thank you for this information, and you conveyed it in such a perfect way. I'm happy to see that there are studies being done on topics like this.
I'm actually super lazy and hate being in my head too often. So, if I have 24 hours to myself I quickly descend into chaos (for more than 1-2 days without being on vacation).
I work from home and run my own business from home so I get to make up my own schedule most days and yeah I can say this lifestyle is so much better. I feel so much more happier, I can take care of myself better, spend time on people more. I can only imagine what it would be like to be completely free from working
WHAT!! This whole time you were sponsored? When you first quit I was so fed up that I almost followed your lead and just about quit my job too. That makes so much more sense why you were so confident you'd be fine without the job.
I found your video through another youtuber's video about them leaving their job. I left my job for almost 2 years now and I can relate to all of those phases. It was very hard in the beginning not knowing anyone else personally who has gone through the same situation as me, so it's nice seeing such a relatable video. I have noticed more of these videos lately and I was hoping to find an answer on what I want to pursue next. I also went through the phases of volunteering doing trailwork and being able to go to places that would normally be busy on weekends (i.e. shopping and hikes), and through exploring my hobbies I realized that it was stressful trying to turn my hobbies into a possible source of income. I can also relate to being lonely during my time off, especially my first few months, but one year into my funemployment I met more friends who also left their jobs and it was fun being able to hangout with them. I see that you were also in Seattle - I wish I had known since you definitely could've joined our funemployment social group! I also recognize that park that you were at in phase 6/7 (I live in the area) and know what you mean about the birds - the crows go wild there😂.
Its comfy when you have a safety net. Thats the summary of this video. I'm on the same boat here. I dread the day I cant indulge my escapism because I am convinced spiking cortisol while playing politics as a modern wage slave is even more pointless than being a burnout.
honestly, i think my community role would involve teaching people about music and performing arts. about language. not in that formal academic way necessarily. just teaching through entertaining. i also like the idea of being a librarian (literature nerd alert). i love books and i long for the days when i’m surrounded by them again! also, the way i’d spend my 10 months of unemployment is very much similar to the way katherout’s done it. i’d focus a whole lot on pursuing all the forms of physical activity i normally don’t have the time to: dance, pilates, yoga, boxing, spin, rock climbing, badminton, etc. i also just want to perform! i’d audition for all the roles i want to perform. sounds like paradise to me
This hits my "fun-employed" arc - which turned into self-employed and prioritizing fun. The piece in giving to community and digging into purpose was a wonderful end. Would love to see more!
I just lost my job in the whole bank fail fiasco. I know financially (esp. being here in the Seattle area too), it's tough to make ends meet without consistent income! I also don't have a side thing for paying the bills yet. But even still, I am so ready for time away from the insane production demands of a hardcore girlboss career. I am tired.
I love this experiment! It brought me back to finding the thing I’ve been missing most with my remote job- a sense of community. I now know that I need to supplement my life with intentional positive interactions with like minded people.
Oh my god! When you asked about the one thing Ive been putting off doing and immediately I thought about my kitchen counters with cracks all over them that I wanted to replace for forever😂😂😂
I am so glad you had the opportunity to make this experiment, and that research is being done to prove how much our life is enriched by having free time. Having said that, I’m legit jealous hahaha. I’ll channel that energy into cherishing the free time that I do have, along with the job that I know I’m privileged to keep. Thanks for sharing!
i have been meaning to rearrange my room’s layout to something more pleasant based on some recent research i did into layout design - maybe i need to quit my job to do it
I think my role would be a friendly therapist. I've always been good with talking to people about problems they had and have had an interest in psychology. I could try to help people with their problems, or work them through it. I would definitely spend my time trying to expand my hobbies. Right now I try to push myself to do new things and see what I like being still young, but I think being productive through hobbies and enjoying time with my friends would be great. I love self introspection and obviously since I would have all the time in the world I'd try to combine the given experiences to maybe find out more about myself and anything that I could apply to my current and even future life. Great video though I'd been wondering this exact scenario recently so I was gladly suprised to find it in my feed!
Also, in regards to the society we live in, if you're like 26-28 years old and your still in the "trying everything" phase, you might fall behind hard (I'm gonna try watercolor, painting, this, that, then the other). It sucks that we have no choice, but if all you do is complain then you're going to suffer regardless (not saying you are, but a lot of people that spew "capitalism" "capitalism" do this.
I would push back on the France model in the summer solely because having lived in Italy, everyone going on vacation at the same time makes it less affordable for everyone and vacation spots are more crowded. It would be better if the American mandatory vacation allowance increased, sick leave was not counted as an allowance (as is the case in my current company), and companies actively encouraged and maybe mandated vacation be used.
I think sabbaticals would be a good idea for most jobs. A couple months off but paid (would just get comprehended in salaries) off, separated by enough time so everyone is not taking them at once but you can coordinate with friends or family. I I’d be a lot happier with that.
I'm in between jobs rn! I'm on day 2 of 2weeks off & spent my first day getting the logistics in order to get the door on my car fixed. It took like 4 phone calls which took maybe 20mins and a quick stop down the street to talk to the mechanic. I've been putting this task off for litterally 6 months and it was so easy to get done. BUT I had a shop floor job, I wasn't able to be on the phone, the hours were all like 9 to 3 and I had to be at work at 7am, and I needed my car to get to work!
Funny enough - The "chore" that I would love to prioritize.... is my health and wellness. Going to that specialized doctor appointment, checking with my insurance company to see if I'm Actually covered, applying to some possible financial aid programs, focusing more on my diet and exercise plans.. It's sad how I view that as a chore though! It's not!
This video came in such good timing for me personally. I’ve been contemplating the idea of taking a year off for a while. So right now I’ve started an online passive income store, a TH-cam (as creative endeavor but any ad money is a bonus), and I’ve made about 30-40k in savings as a backup. I plan on traveling, testing the digital nomad style and volunteering abroad. It’s a big goal of mine to try this at least once before I possibly “settle” and have kids. And most importantly to tune into myself and what I enjoy like you discovered in your time off. Thank you!
I had something happened to me at work. I took off for 10 months while fighting to get workman’s comp and going through therapy. I was forced back to work under the threat of being fired so I went back. And 8 months later I took 2-month family leave for remaining anger and resentment issue. I stopped working for about a year 13 years ago. I realized that work is only for saving my retirement. I retired last year, the earliest I could. After that I learned to swim on my own, getting back to stretching and yoga, finding joy in cooking. Life feels peaceful not having to spend 10/12 hours a day working and commuting.
Lately I work 12 hours a week I hate my job and job hunting is so depressing .... Also I'm so afraid of not having money .... life is not it but I'm still here so I guess that's a win
During the pandemic I had no job just school online. I didn't have a license and didn't connect much with friends. I went to the same places so it was to no surprise I hated unemployment. I wanted a job so bad lol. Now that I am employed I am grateful to have a flexible work schedule so I can have time for what I value which is spending time with loved ones and creativity. However, my job does take a lot of time out of my week and I hate it. It's become so routine and I find so much joy outside of it. If I had 9 months of no job I would have more energy and time for loved ones. I would be more creative and focus on my content creation on social media. I would try to connect to new people. I would travel more and I can expect to at least do a solo trip.
Um where and how do I sign up for this academic study?! I’ve been saying for YEARS (I’m currently on year 16 of labor) that working for 40 hours for FORTY PLUS YEARS OF OUR LIVES just doesn’t make sense. We’re here to connect and love and express…not sit in front of outlook all day…EVERY day. We need to rise up (similar to France) and resist against this whole 40 hours thing. It’s not okay to be working as much as we are right now (in the US). Sorry. I’m calm. If I didn’t have to work a trillion hours, I’d probably be a baker or gardener. And if I were in the study, I’d love to focus on a spirituality practice.
Wow, you did so much when you were unemployed! I did get a certficate, but it took me a while. It's so hard to find motivation to get into shape or do anything when you are living by yourself.
I don't normally engage with prompts, but your video (and journey, which I've watched in real time) have resonated with me as I have made a career move in the past year and continue questioning my working future (geographically and field-wise), so here are my responses. 1. I think my community role would frankly look the same as my current role. I am fortunate enough to live In a country where I can work for a socialised healthcare service. Whilst I can find the day-to-day routine mundane, I have to remind myself that I have a pretty good deal as it is and that my work can align with my morals, even if the financial compensation isn't comparable to what I could get in a private market or different industry. In saying that, however, if money weren't an object and I could do what I wanted, I'd love to own a small business in the form of a coffee shop. Last year I got to watch a coffee shop from opening to success, almost becoming one of those elusive third places, and it opened up my eyes to the power of local business run by local people for local people. It doesn't have to be a coffee shop that leads to revolution or surprise as glamorised in some indie student film, but just a local business which offers a third place for people to bum shoulders, chat, and feel connected with society. 2. If I were to take a sabbatical, which I am considering for later this year or next year, I would do a few things. I'd return home to live with my parents for two to three months in the spring, or autumn. I've lived far away from family for several years now, and work commitments mean I can only visit once a year. This is more than some get, I recognise that but during 2020 I watched a youtube video of a guy calculating that if he continues living away from family, he will have spent 90+% of his time with his parents that he'll ever have the opportunity to have- this resonated with me. I'd also like the opportunity to have casual get-togethers with school friends, rather than it being the one or two nights we can get together before I fly return to where I am currently living. The second thing I would do during a sabbatical would be travel the US, stopping at a small hostel I know of that's almost a refuge for those taking time to discover a bit about themselves whilst working on a common goal. It would be an excellent opportunity to live a life akin to that in a commune- waking up, morning chores to start the data, late morning hiking, afternoon yoga, evening chores, and evening chats about our future plans and goals. Finally, I'd explore nature more. After living in British cities for a few years now, I crave the nature you get in the US compared to the UK. I've lived in both countries for half my life on either side, so I miss the diversity of ecosystems, actually seeing wildlife beyond urban foxes and house cats, and being so far away from developed land you won't run into hordes of people on the path.
I’m honestly far less bored and depressed than I was when I was working 2 jobs. And I don’t think I could ever go back to a regular office job at this point.
This week I'm starting out a four-day work week (retail, hourly lol so I'm gonna be extremely broke) after working full time for over a year. I know the budgeting is going to be brutal but it's what I had to do for my well being. I'm filled with so much relief over it, even though I'm worried about the financial side of it.
@@BelaCurcio happy to hear that :) If you don’t mind me asking, is it hard to budget and afford things? Like is renting hard and did you have to scale down on going out?
@@squirrel9760 luckily I’ve been holed up working on a big project so I don’t really wanna go out anyway right now… it kinda works out. Been trying only buy groceries that are on sale, cut out lunch so I’m not tempted to get something when I’m out, stuff like that. The budgeting part is really hard… but I’m up for a raise in a couple months so the hope is to just muddle through until then. Having more time for me is worth the brokeness, any day
this was such a thoughtful account of your experiment (even if you didn't really get a grant for it ToT). we are so similar that i even have those same plaid pajamas lol
I'm wrapping up the 7 months of (fu)nemployment I took after finishing my Master's degree last summer. It was such a great experience and I got to do so many creative and rejuvenateing things, but I am also looking forward to starting work and having concrete goals (and finally making some money, of course)
I think my role in the community would be a tarot reader 🧡🤭 I’ve been wanting to learn tarot because I was told that with my chart, I’d be a good spiritualist or some occult leader, and then it dwelled on me to actually try to pursue that - reading tarot for people. Maybe someday!!!
I was at that Big Thief concert too! I must have been standing right next to you judging by the video angle haha. Also I’m taking notes because I am planning a year off work in 2025 😁
Jury's still out as to whether or not I will need to be freed from my job I'm going back to grad school because I hate my current job so check back in in about 2-3 business years
I worked from home and did a hybrid schedule. The loneliness and the isolation were the worst part. Nothing prepared me for it. It was just me and the angry customers for hours. Sure, I called co-workers and family, but it wasn't the same as seeing them in person. If I'm ever out of work (or retired) that will be the hardest part.
I am obviously very late to this video - but I'll comment anyway. I went through this several times in my life. Quitting my job- in some cases I tried starting a 1099 position. Almost immediately (month or so after) I started to panic seeing funds dwindle. That became almost a crippling as my job had been (though people said I seemed happier). Second time I did it, I sold my house, made money, took time off and then went to another passion job that paid terribly. Dwindled savings. I think when we are younger, we think the money will always be there. Now that I am older, Im waaaay more paranoid about it. I have found (from my own non-paid study, lol) that if I don't have enough money coming in, I feel like my life is a nightmare. Quitting can be great, and much needed, but I realized later that a better form of freedom would have been taking that money and investing to perpetuate my wealth. 🤷♀
I feel the same way, having gone thru those same phases! Unemployment is great, but it did take some time for me to learn to enjoy it. Sounds like you’re doing great though! My community role would still be teaching, but maybe in a smaller setting without standardized curriculum/testing.
Something I've struggled with in recent years is feeling that some of the things that I do as part of my job have no real purpose. I currently work teaching because that's what makes me feel like I'm actually useful for society, but since the salary is peanuts, I have multiple freelance jobs on the side which are what actually pays the bills. And here's this contradiction between what I deeply enjoy but pays very little and the things that aren't that useful to society but are the only way in which I could actually survive. So, I think my community role would definitely be related to education. And as for getting an unemployment grant, I would definitely use the time to finish the things I've left uncompleted because of work, like my bachelor's thesis (graduation seems so far, ugh), and would start volunteering. I also stopped pursuing most of my hobbies after I entered university, mostly because I was working and studying at the same time. My experience would be slightly different since I live in a 3rd world country, though. However, I think I would still like to have a part-time job or a side project, since that really helps to give my life structure and that sense of purpose I mentioned.
There is always door dash / Uber ears to do if you need to make some quick cash instead of resorting going back to the old rat race system. Yeah it’s wear & tear on the car but at least you’re self reliant.
Did you experience any anxiety about where your future income was gonna come from? That's one unexpected source of massive stress I experienced when I quit. The fear of never getting hired again. Also loneliness and struggling to make friends without a job was another one. Did you deal with any of this and if so, how?
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
Imagine if we only had to work 15 hours a week like they predicted in the 70's.
It’s definitely possible if you freelance but freelancing isn’t for everyone :/
Imagine if capitalism died
Sounds like a dystopia
@@lowwastehighmelanin well there's always communist Russia, China, and Cuba
Hopefully we will do this with the AI revolution but my little finger is telling me that we'll all choose for the sweet, sweet money
All of this resonated sooo hard, especially the part on loneliness. i didn't realize how much i needed community until i quit my job & suddenly i was able to go days without speaking to anyone if i wasn't making the intention to be social. finding communities outside of school/work is something i'm making a goal to do this year
have lovvved watching your journey
Have you scoured, like, Eventbrite and Meetup? I'm sure you have. I was unemployed not by choice for part of the pandemic and those were great resources for things to do and places to check out (often for free). I also learned that Sacramento (my old city) had a whole EVENT website just for itself. Maybe yours does as well?
That is especially true for the huge number of unemployed people who are housebound or bedbound. Like, think how much less you would see people if you could never go to a public place or go anywhere to meet someone. For me I am also immunosurpressed on top of being bedbound which means most people can't visit me either since we are still living in a pandemic.
Definitely an issue with how integral our 'careers' have become to our identity. We have lost the traditional aspect of community that defined our civilisations for thousands of years, and replaced it with companies and corporations that pretend to have a "people culture" (obviously BS).
We need to go back to having closer ties with people in our community so that we have strong social networks irrespective of our jobs.
@@KatheroutI like you in glasses
I did this for three years when my mom died and left me a sizeable amount of money 26 years ago. It’s given me the oxygen I needed to keep going in my career. I have a good 10-14 years left before I can retire with a pension (lucky one, I know). But that pretirement allowed me to set up a lifestyle of travel, art, self knowledge, and frequent goal setting that keeps me fresh.
Oh, and the one thing I’ve been putting off is sending my memoir query letter to my editor/wife so I can get that submitted to publishers.
Everyone needs this I am SO happy for you that's amazing
I am 3000% interested in being a future test subject for your research 😅
OMG SAME! I’ve gotten a small inheritance (small in SF Bay Area terms) that’s allowed me to take a break from working stress free, and given me the energy, clarity, and motivation to think about maybe starting some kind of small business. The world feels wide open for the first time in my life instead of constantly trying to scrape by with demeaning jobs that barely pay my rent. ❤
I LOVE this experiment! I always thought only rich people have the luxury, freedom and time to explore and reflect on how they want to BE in this world. Capitalism forces us to believe that college is the Only way to afford a happy life. We are sold the American dream as if a high paying career, big house, fancy car, etc (materialism) equals happiness. Then we spend 20-30 years grinding away to pay back our student loans, only to find ourselves lonely and burnt out. The pandemic really forced me to want to spend more time doing the things that bring me joy. I've realized that chasing happiness is like chasing a leprechaun, always seems to be out of reach (future tense). Joy is something you experience in the present moment. Add up all the joyful moments and it will equal happiness. Currently, I'm working on work life balance. I want to connect more with my local community, dance more, explore instruments (violin and drums), and connect more with family and friends. Maybe downshift my career one day to work in a library? Idk . . .
I honestly believe that most people are creative but work gets in the way. Almost every time someone retires, they get into art, gardening, or anything else artistic. The narrative that you'll be bored if you don't work is silly to me. The mind is contantly on the move and people will want to exercise that need.
I'm mostly through 6 weeks off between my old and new job. Before I finished up at my old place so many people would ask me in a shocked way if I didn't think I was going to get bored in my time off. I found it really sad that people really TRULY believed they needed to dedicate so much of their time to a job at a company that they didn't really care about, and vice versa, in order to not be bored. capitalism babyyy
@Amy I'm on a similar boat as you. I haven't been employed for a couple of months now, and it's been both exhilarating and a load off my shoulders. I work on the house, cook for my wife, and I get to focus on a youtube project that I was putting off for sometime. And the extra time, physical health, and mental health have really paid off.
this is really foundational to my own philosophy too - we are all deeply creative but are blocked by work and the conditioning around us that making art isn’t worth it!!
this is meeeeee
@Alrac Okay you sound as if she's discrediting those who perform the labors you mentioned. No one is. The point of these movements, and I assume this video, is to demonstrate that we're overworked. Labor is necessary, but it shouldn't consume/define us. Lowering workload so that we have more time for ourselves, family, and friends has proven to have a positive effect.
TBH I'd love to just work part time instead of not working at all. I am still interested in my job but the amount of time and energy required just wipes me out. If I could do like 20-25 hours a week I think that would allow me to take care of myself and also still have external structure in my life.
Agree!
Companies don't get that we'd be willing to make less money if we were allowed to work less!
This exactly. I'm a physical therapist and enjoy what I do, but I get burned out working 9-6 and being gone from home from 8-7 (with the commute). I also feel like I miss out on so much because so many things start at 5-6 but I'm still working.
TRUTH
This!
I think this experiment also proved that "unemployed" people absolutely still contribute to society. They do all sorts of labor that just isn't compensated like art, and running book clubs, providing mental health support, taking care of their own bodies instead of relying on crisis medical care. If you were a parent that would end up taking a lot of your time raising not only your kids but supporting their friends with two working parents. Like, so much is done by the people our society considers "unproductive."
I’m now on month 9 of chosen unemployment and highly relate to all you mentioned in the video. I’d like to add that personally I’ve also been struggling with finding a sense of self and creating the new version of myself outside of the workforce, and it’s been hindering me from fully enjoying all the great benefits of owning my time these past few months.
Struggling with my envy watching this. I'm a stay at home carer with a chronic illness, unemployment was forced on me by life. Reality is that there is an awful lot of labour to be done that is not paid for or recognised. I applaud you for following your instincts and spending time on yourself.
I highly suggest reading “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” and “A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” by Becky Chambers. This series is a sweet little taste into what I think you’re talking about. There is still work in this utopia, but all of the labor is based around community and not an individualistic rat race. It demonstrates how taking your time and experiencing the mundane should be celebrated. I really love it a lot and think y’all will too. ❤
ooooh this sounds so up my alley! thank you for recommending
we did these books in my book club last year and one of the things we discussed is what we would each want to do as our community role within the utopia of the books
@@isabeller6506 that’s such a beautiful discussion! Were there any roles y’all came up with that weren’t in the world already?
I LOVED these books as well!!
These were the best books!!!
You’re so eloquent & creative, and listening to you talk is such a joy. Love this video!
I had my “unemployed era” from summer of 2021-fall of 2022. I had a part time job at the beginning of it, but I took every second of work off that I could. During this time period I moved across the country with my family, helped my dad start a business, baked bread, sewed my own clothes, spent so much good time with my family, and planned my wedding. It was such a relief to not have to do all the usual “work things”. Tbh my favorite time in my young adult life. Now I’m a pregnant SAHW with a part time job and lots of laundry and cooking to do😅🥰 I would also totally be part of a study on this. I’d do almost anything to be “unemployed” again😂
It really makes me wonder how we’re all making it through this, when we’re all facing the same miserable struggles of balancing life and work- sigh.
There’s definitely a lot to be looked into with this subject and I hope to see a shift in our work culture during my own lifetime. Or I hope to move to the Netherlands lol
Please sign me up for the next study lol please and Ty
I desperately wish I had the means to take a sabbatical from work for an extended period of time. I’m exhausted.
I'm 26 myself and have worked as a software developer for the last 3 years after graduating college. Originally I graduated with a degree in videography and design, but then sort of shilled out after school for a bit to learn software development (for the money). I only realized after losing my job recently that I had chased "the dream" of money and status. I sort of had this Neo in the matrix moment when he woke up for the first time. Life isn't about chasing money or status, it's about finding your passion and being with those you love. Only recently have I started following you journey, but you inspire me to keep going. I can't see myself ever going back to big tech. Appreciate the insight Katherine.
Right now I'm in phase 1 from your vid, but starting to work on phase 2 (wellness)!
Loved this video! As someone who has been unemployed (not by choice), I also have done my fair share of visiting friends, doing the admin things I never really get to, and making time for new hobbies like knitting. My only caveat is that my unemployment journey has had some stress in the sense that I have yet to find work.
I loved the cortisol meme! That truly made me lol. I would love to hear more about what your next steps are and what you are looking for in a job now.
i talk about this in the previous vid on my channel 🫶🏻 thank you for watching and commenting
Unemployment was a very interesting time, I was unemployed a few years ago after college, and it was very tough tbh, I did feel a loss of purpose and lived life aimlessly. It definitely felt odd being out of work and having a life different to the average joe. Some jobs can be toxic to your mental health and physical health forsure. Im glad that unemployment was a great time for you, unemployment imo is good if you have enough $$ saved up and you aren't in lots of debt. Never make work your entire life at all.
It was fun for 2 months, but after it, it became tough.
Good video Katherine, I recently joined your patreon!!!
welcome dear PATRON!
@@allforgood9722 what a fascinating takeaway. A lot of people in those jobs are overworked in poor and exploitative conditions (see farmers and farm hands, EMTs, CNAs, etc.) and deserve to work in conditions that don't require them to be perpetually "tethered to labor," just as much as Katherine, you and I, or anyone else. if these services are so vital (and they are!), we as a society need to step up and treat our workers as such. they don't deserve to be trampled for the benefit of a society that doesn't materially value them. We all deserve better than that.
@@akosuaka Alot of those jobs are simply vital from a 24/7 perspective. People who work in, say, infrastructure or agriculture, are not so much tethered to their labour by Capitalism's manifesting of "work as identity", but by necessity of those jobs being needed by the communities in which they provide for. This would remain unchanged even if Capitalism no longer existed. Someone literally has to maintain the sewage systems or the electrical cables in a town, otherwise those things will stop working within a matter of days and then chaos would ensue. So, people working such jobs can't simply "work less hours" or "have better conditions" because that's the nature of the job It is what it is, and someone has to do it. Someone has to go down into the drains and maintain the sewers daily. A farmer can't afford to take a week off work because they're usually on the cusp profit-wise. Apply this en masse.
Fyi alot of people who work in infrastructure jobs are paid really well...they're not trampled by society. They're paid well because not alof of people wanna work on oil rigs or in the sewers, cos it's tough manual labour and its dirty, messy work.
I'm kinda of sad the era of so much richness & wellness has ended but I know you will live beautifully no matter the phase
🥺
This video came right in time. I am on day two of a 12 week medical leave. Thanks for being honest and vulnerable with us about your experience!
This video really spoke to me quite deeply as someone currently dealing with chronic illness and full-time work. Thank you for speaking about this.
I'm 22 right now, planning to graduate at the end of this year and enter the working world- I'm already in it while going to school (painful experience wouldn't recommend) , but I really want to set a goal to have an unemployment era. I do not want to wait until I'm 60-65 to retire (that is if you're lucky, the age seems to be increasing for my generation) and finally see the world or only go on little vacations here and there for the rest of my life- the goal is to save up enough to have a year off either in my late 20's or early 30's to travel the world and hopefully throughout my life I can quit for six months after years at one place and then again and again because I cannot imagine never getting a break in between decades.
I love how visionary you are & how many steps you did take to help make that a reality, not only for yourself, but by sharing with your friends and youtube community 💕
I loved this video and whole series, and think that it was full of important insights and lessons about societies obsession with work. It came at a perfect time in my life x
However, something I’ve felt throughout the series is that you really leaned into glamorising your ‘unemployment era ✌️🤪’, without really discussing the nuances around the fact that most people’s ‘unemployment era’ does not look like this (including my own). In the slightest. For example, the only ‘unemployment’ option you considered in this video was retirement, which in itself is a huge privilege for a lot of people. Overall, it felt like an extremely middle class take on everything. I think even a short discussion around the class implications of the ‘unemployment era girlie’ would have been interesting.
I still think your work has been a great contribution! F**k capitalism x
My experience is highly subjective!
@@KatheroutExactly! It would have been great to see this point addressed a bit more in the series, especially when tackling a theme like unemployment and given you’ve been re-centering your channel on more socialist and class conscious values.
Looking forward to hearing about your experiences as you head into a new phase in your employment journey :)
@@Katherout You're right. You recently had played trumpet for USC Trojans.
I am a classic NEET, male, 30s, slowly fading out of society because my basic needs are met (food, shelter, healthcare). It’s the dream of a human for thousands of years to be this physically secure, but living it is deeply unfulfilling and a permanent sense of malaise.
I sometimes imagine a stipend on top of these provided luxuries -and they are luxuries, I reflect on that every day- and how it would affect my life. I truly can’t tell whether it would.
Since I have no income, I pursue no expenses (no eating out, no going to the bar, no weekend jetsetting, no video game subscriptions), and this causes drift away from friends and, eventually, drift away from overall participation in the outside world.
Would discretionary spending options outside the life’s basics jumpstart an aspirational version of myself? It’s easy to imagine that. I imagine versions of that all the time.
And sometimes I think the lack of existential threat would only become more pronounced, and so nothing at all would change.
A crucial point is, having met the base of Maslow’s Heriarchy: what’s next?
I never dreamed of a life *without* labor. I would love to contribute meaningfully, or even contribute in a way that brought me meaning. But it’s not clear to me what the point of life is *without* it.
Please don’t mistake anything I say as seeking pity. My whole point is how many people from all time and space would trade places with me in a heartbeat. In many ways I am the height of privilege.
But I do think my problem is one society will have to solve at a massive scale in the near future. A world of UBI or otherwise subsidized living, merely plugged into our existing structures, will surely produce “me’s” en masse.
Taking a month off and going through the exact same arcs as you! Want to quit big tech so badly but need money to live. So glad I found your videos.
I found your channel I think about 1 -1.5 years ago and it's funny just how our timelines matched with not working last year. For me it was due to burnout, I couldn't even reset a password on Gmail, I was that overwhelmed daily. I worked in corporate sales/it for 10 years and it ended me. So while I was on long-term sick leave, I initially couldn't really do much - which was unfamiliar, since I worked since I was 16 - but after 2 months of basically going on walks, sleeping and keeping my employer up to date. I started to travel a bit, do things I wanted to do for years, saw friends more, tried to reconnect with my hobbies etc. I really related to and still do to your video series.
I could forever comment on this, but if I could say one more thing is that you are right. Taking time off work, being unemployed, or even when I can't work for a while due to burnout, it's everything it's supposed to be. Freeing! I actually enjoy work - is that a thing- but I would very much rather live a life with less money and more content life, where I can travel, go after my hobbies and work, but with purpose and as a means to make money to afford that lifestyle, not the other way around. I'm still trying. to find a way towards that life now that I am actively looking to find a new position - yes, I have also been just made redundant in the tech world, org restructure lol of course. But. I see this as my opportunity to make a shift in my life, not willing to settle for less.
I really love the pacing of the video. It feels slower than most other videos on TH-cam are presented, which is refreshing. Thank you for this information, and you conveyed it in such a perfect way. I'm happy to see that there are studies being done on topics like this.
Loved this! I’m two months into having quit my job, and l’m still having a great time 🤗
Cleaning out my closet and cupboards. Throwing away and donate. This is what I never get too.
real
your storytelling, balance of humor and breaking the fourth wall are all great. really enjoyed this
I'm actually super lazy and hate being in my head too often. So, if I have 24 hours to myself I quickly descend into chaos (for more than 1-2 days without being on vacation).
I work from home and run my own business from home so I get to make up my own schedule most days and yeah I can say this lifestyle is so much better. I feel so much more happier, I can take care of myself better, spend time on people more. I can only imagine what it would be like to be completely free from working
WHAT!! This whole time you were sponsored? When you first quit I was so fed up that I almost followed your lead and just about quit my job too. That makes so much more sense why you were so confident you'd be fine without the job.
I found your video through another youtuber's video about them leaving their job. I left my job for almost 2 years now and I can relate to all of those phases. It was very hard in the beginning not knowing anyone else personally who has gone through the same situation as me, so it's nice seeing such a relatable video.
I have noticed more of these videos lately and I was hoping to find an answer on what I want to pursue next. I also went through the phases of volunteering doing trailwork and being able to go to places that would normally be busy on weekends (i.e. shopping and hikes), and through exploring my hobbies I realized that it was stressful trying to turn my hobbies into a possible source of income.
I can also relate to being lonely during my time off, especially my first few months, but one year into my funemployment I met more friends who also left their jobs and it was fun being able to hangout with them. I see that you were also in Seattle - I wish I had known since you definitely could've joined our funemployment social group! I also recognize that park that you were at in phase 6/7 (I live in the area) and know what you mean about the birds - the crows go wild there😂.
Its comfy when you have a safety net. Thats the summary of this video. I'm on the same boat here. I dread the day I cant indulge my escapism because I am convinced spiking cortisol while playing politics as a modern wage slave is even more pointless than being a burnout.
ooooo, Kather-OUT, I get it now....
honestly, i think my community role would involve teaching people about music and performing arts. about language. not in that formal academic way necessarily. just teaching through entertaining. i also like the idea of being a librarian (literature nerd alert). i love books and i long for the days when i’m surrounded by them again!
also, the way i’d spend my 10 months of unemployment is very much similar to the way katherout’s done it. i’d focus a whole lot on pursuing all the forms of physical activity i normally don’t have the time to: dance, pilates, yoga, boxing, spin, rock climbing, badminton, etc. i also just want to perform! i’d audition for all the roles i want to perform. sounds like paradise to me
This hits my "fun-employed" arc - which turned into self-employed and prioritizing fun. The piece in giving to community and digging into purpose was a wonderful end. Would love to see more!
I just lost my job in the whole bank fail fiasco. I know financially (esp. being here in the Seattle area too), it's tough to make ends meet without consistent income! I also don't have a side thing for paying the bills yet. But even still, I am so ready for time away from the insane production demands of a hardcore girlboss career. I am tired.
I love this experiment! It brought me back to finding the thing I’ve been missing most with my remote job- a sense of community. I now know that I need to supplement my life with intentional positive interactions with like minded people.
Oh my god! When you asked about the one thing Ive been putting off doing and immediately I thought about my kitchen counters with cracks all over them that I wanted to replace for forever😂😂😂
I am so glad you had the opportunity to make this experiment, and that research is being done to prove how much our life is enriched by having free time. Having said that, I’m legit jealous hahaha. I’ll channel that energy into cherishing the free time that I do have, along with the job that I know I’m privileged to keep. Thanks for sharing!
i have been meaning to rearrange my room’s layout to something more pleasant based on some recent research i did into layout design - maybe i need to quit my job to do it
HAHAHAHAH and it would be worth it if u did….
I think my role would be a friendly therapist. I've always been good with talking to people about problems they had and have had an interest in psychology. I could try to help people with their problems, or work them through it. I would definitely spend my time trying to expand my hobbies. Right now I try to push myself to do new things and see what I like being still young, but I think being productive through hobbies and enjoying time with my friends would be great. I love self introspection and obviously since I would have all the time in the world I'd try to combine the given experiences to maybe find out more about myself and anything that I could apply to my current and even future life. Great video though I'd been wondering this exact scenario recently so I was gladly suprised to find it in my feed!
Also, in regards to the society we live in, if you're like 26-28 years old and your still in the "trying everything" phase, you might fall behind hard (I'm gonna try watercolor, painting, this, that, then the other). It sucks that we have no choice, but if all you do is complain then you're going to suffer regardless (not saying you are, but a lot of people that spew "capitalism" "capitalism" do this.
I would push back on the France model in the summer solely because having lived in Italy, everyone going on vacation at the same time makes it less affordable for everyone and vacation spots are more crowded. It would be better if the American mandatory vacation allowance increased, sick leave was not counted as an allowance (as is the case in my current company), and companies actively encouraged and maybe mandated vacation be used.
I think sabbaticals would be a good idea for most jobs. A couple months off but paid (would just get comprehended in salaries) off, separated by enough time so everyone is not taking them at once but you can coordinate with friends or family. I I’d be a lot happier with that.
My community role is definitely counselor - spirit guide through transitions -
First video I've ever had of yours and I'm freaking obsessed, I love you so much!!!
I'm in between jobs rn! I'm on day 2 of 2weeks off & spent my first day getting the logistics in order to get the door on my car fixed. It took like 4 phone calls which took maybe 20mins and a quick stop down the street to talk to the mechanic. I've been putting this task off for litterally 6 months and it was so easy to get done. BUT I had a shop floor job, I wasn't able to be on the phone, the hours were all like 9 to 3 and I had to be at work at 7am, and I needed my car to get to work!
was half-expecting the intro to be like "all of the above are me" and wasn't ready for the nepo baby reveal
lol youtube picked the one tiny moment with Tom Scott as a preview gif of this video
HAHHAHA AS IT SHOULD
This is amazing! I had no doubt that all of this would be the outcome of life without a job. Great synopsis!
Funny enough - The "chore" that I would love to prioritize.... is my health and wellness. Going to that specialized doctor appointment, checking with my insurance company to see if I'm Actually covered, applying to some possible financial aid programs, focusing more on my diet and exercise plans.. It's sad how I view that as a chore though! It's not!
This video came in such good timing for me personally. I’ve been contemplating the idea of taking a year off for a while. So right now I’ve started an online passive income store, a TH-cam (as creative endeavor but any ad money is a bonus), and I’ve made about 30-40k in savings as a backup. I plan on traveling, testing the digital nomad style and volunteering abroad. It’s a big goal of mine to try this at least once before I possibly “settle” and have kids. And most importantly to tune into myself and what I enjoy like you discovered in your time off. Thank you!
I had something happened to me at work. I took off for 10 months while fighting to get workman’s comp and going through therapy. I was forced back to work under the threat of being fired so I went back. And 8 months later I took 2-month family leave for remaining anger and resentment issue. I stopped working for about a year 13 years ago. I realized that work is only for saving my retirement. I retired last year, the earliest I could. After that I learned to swim on my own, getting back to stretching and yoga, finding joy in cooking. Life feels peaceful not having to spend 10/12 hours a day working and commuting.
the things you listed out doing actually sounds super exhausting to me LOL
I used to work 12-hour shifts 3 days a week Friday through Sunday. I had it so good, I was just dreading my job.
Lately I work 12 hours a week I hate my job and job hunting is so depressing .... Also I'm so afraid of not having money .... life is not it but I'm still here so I guess that's a win
During the pandemic I had no job just school online. I didn't have a license and didn't connect much with friends. I went to the same places so it was to no surprise I hated unemployment. I wanted a job so bad lol. Now that I am employed I am grateful to have a flexible work schedule so I can have time for what I value which is spending time with loved ones and creativity. However, my job does take a lot of time out of my week and I hate it. It's become so routine and I find so much joy outside of it. If I had 9 months of no job I would have more energy and time for loved ones. I would be more creative and focus on my content creation on social media. I would try to connect to new people. I would travel more and I can expect to at least do a solo trip.
This is beautiful. thank you for the video!
Um where and how do I sign up for this academic study?! I’ve been saying for YEARS (I’m currently on year 16 of labor) that working for 40 hours for FORTY PLUS YEARS OF OUR LIVES just doesn’t make sense. We’re here to connect and love and express…not sit in front of outlook all day…EVERY day. We need to rise up (similar to France) and resist against this whole 40 hours thing. It’s not okay to be working as much as we are right now (in the US). Sorry. I’m calm. If I didn’t have to work a trillion hours, I’d probably be a baker or gardener. And if I were in the study, I’d love to focus on a spirituality practice.
Wow, you did so much when you were unemployed! I did get a certficate, but it took me a while. It's so hard to find motivation to get into shape or do anything when you are living by yourself.
I don't normally engage with prompts, but your video (and journey, which I've watched in real time) have resonated with me as I have made a career move in the past year and continue questioning my working future (geographically and field-wise), so here are my responses.
1. I think my community role would frankly look the same as my current role. I am fortunate enough to live In a country where I can work for a socialised healthcare service. Whilst I can find the day-to-day routine mundane, I have to remind myself that I have a pretty good deal as it is and that my work can align with my morals, even if the financial compensation isn't comparable to what I could get in a private market or different industry. In saying that, however, if money weren't an object and I could do what I wanted, I'd love to own a small business in the form of a coffee shop. Last year I got to watch a coffee shop from opening to success, almost becoming one of those elusive third places, and it opened up my eyes to the power of local business run by local people for local people. It doesn't have to be a coffee shop that leads to revolution or surprise as glamorised in some indie student film, but just a local business which offers a third place for people to bum shoulders, chat, and feel connected with society.
2. If I were to take a sabbatical, which I am considering for later this year or next year, I would do a few things. I'd return home to live with my parents for two to three months in the spring, or autumn. I've lived far away from family for several years now, and work commitments mean I can only visit once a year. This is more than some get, I recognise that but during 2020 I watched a youtube video of a guy calculating that if he continues living away from family, he will have spent 90+% of his time with his parents that he'll ever have the opportunity to have- this resonated with me. I'd also like the opportunity to have casual get-togethers with school friends, rather than it being the one or two nights we can get together before I fly return to where I am currently living. The second thing I would do during a sabbatical would be travel the US, stopping at a small hostel I know of that's almost a refuge for those taking time to discover a bit about themselves whilst working on a common goal. It would be an excellent opportunity to live a life akin to that in a commune- waking up, morning chores to start the data, late morning hiking, afternoon yoga, evening chores, and evening chats about our future plans and goals. Finally, I'd explore nature more. After living in British cities for a few years now, I crave the nature you get in the US compared to the UK. I've lived in both countries for half my life on either side, so I miss the diversity of ecosystems, actually seeing wildlife beyond urban foxes and house cats, and being so far away from developed land you won't run into hordes of people on the path.
the 'i' in the title absolutely slayed me 💀
I’m honestly far less bored and depressed than I was when I was working 2 jobs. And I don’t think I could ever go back to a regular office job at this point.
This week I'm starting out a four-day work week (retail, hourly lol so I'm gonna be extremely broke) after working full time for over a year. I know the budgeting is going to be brutal but it's what I had to do for my well being. I'm filled with so much relief over it, even though I'm worried about the financial side of it.
How is it working out for you?
@@squirrel9760 best decision of my life I have so much time to work on personal projects and my mental health has skyrocketed
@@BelaCurcio happy to hear that :)
If you don’t mind me asking, is it hard to budget and afford things? Like is renting hard and did you have to scale down on going out?
@@squirrel9760 luckily I’ve been holed up working on a big project so I don’t really wanna go out anyway right now… it kinda works out. Been trying only buy groceries that are on sale, cut out lunch so I’m not tempted to get something when I’m out, stuff like that. The budgeting part is really hard… but I’m up for a raise in a couple months so the hope is to just muddle through until then. Having more time for me is worth the brokeness, any day
The "I am squinting into the sun" is about to be my twitter location
as it should be
this was such a thoughtful account of your experiment (even if you didn't really get a grant for it ToT). we are so similar that i even have those same plaid pajamas lol
I'm wrapping up the 7 months of (fu)nemployment I took after finishing my Master's degree last summer. It was such a great experience and I got to do so many creative and rejuvenateing things, but I am also looking forward to starting work and having concrete goals (and finally making some money, of course)
I think my role in the community would be a tarot reader 🧡🤭 I’ve been wanting to learn tarot because I was told that with my chart, I’d be a good spiritualist or some occult leader, and then it dwelled on me to actually try to pursue that - reading tarot for people. Maybe someday!!!
I quit my job where I didn't get tips to do night stocking at Walmart! I'm free.......not. Lol
I was at that Big Thief concert too! I must have been standing right next to you judging by the video angle haha. Also I’m taking notes because I am planning a year off work in 2025 😁
For my girlfriend her kryptonite is putting away laundry.
Jury's still out as to whether or not I will need to be freed from my job I'm going back to grad school because I hate my current job so check back in in about 2-3 business years
see u in 900 days!
I loved the style of this video!!!
I worked from home and did a hybrid schedule. The loneliness and the isolation were the worst part. Nothing prepared me for it. It was just me and the angry customers for hours. Sure, I called co-workers and family, but it wasn't the same as seeing them in person. If I'm ever out of work (or retired) that will be the hardest part.
I had read about mini retirements so this is super interesting.
I love not working, I work so hard when I do so I can take what I call a mini retirement.
I am obviously very late to this video - but I'll comment anyway. I went through this several times in my life. Quitting my job- in some cases I tried starting a 1099 position. Almost immediately (month or so after) I started to panic seeing funds dwindle. That became almost a crippling as my job had been (though people said I seemed happier). Second time I did it, I sold my house, made money, took time off and then went to another passion job that paid terribly. Dwindled savings. I think when we are younger, we think the money will always be there. Now that I am older, Im waaaay more paranoid about it. I have found (from my own non-paid study, lol) that if I don't have enough money coming in, I feel like my life is a nightmare. Quitting can be great, and much needed, but I realized later that a better form of freedom would have been taking that money and investing to perpetuate my wealth. 🤷♀
I feel the same way, having gone thru those same phases! Unemployment is great, but it did take some time for me to learn to enjoy it. Sounds like you’re doing great though! My community role would still be teaching, but maybe in a smaller setting without standardized curriculum/testing.
LUVVV that! i have really enjoyed facilitating reading groups so i think mine would be similar
Something I've struggled with in recent years is feeling that some of the things that I do as part of my job have no real purpose. I currently work teaching because that's what makes me feel like I'm actually useful for society, but since the salary is peanuts, I have multiple freelance jobs on the side which are what actually pays the bills. And here's this contradiction between what I deeply enjoy but pays very little and the things that aren't that useful to society but are the only way in which I could actually survive. So, I think my community role would definitely be related to education. And as for getting an unemployment grant, I would definitely use the time to finish the things I've left uncompleted because of work, like my bachelor's thesis (graduation seems so far, ugh), and would start volunteering. I also stopped pursuing most of my hobbies after I entered university, mostly because I was working and studying at the same time. My experience would be slightly different since I live in a 3rd world country, though.
However, I think I would still like to have a part-time job or a side project, since that really helps to give my life structure and that sense of purpose I mentioned.
There is always door dash / Uber ears to do if you need to make some quick cash instead of resorting going back to the old rat race system. Yeah it’s wear & tear on the car but at least you’re self reliant.
Did you experience any anxiety about where your future income was gonna come from? That's one unexpected source of massive stress I experienced when I quit. The fear of never getting hired again. Also loneliness and struggling to make friends without a job was another one. Did you deal with any of this and if so, how?
00:39 Then there's me with chronic health issues who can't pass her exams and is jobless since 5 years.
uff i had the same experience. now i don't want to work again, which is problematic as a 25yo lol
Gosh, nothing would make me happier than to be freed from the need to work a job to pay my bills, and just spend my days writing music.
wait... the experiment is real?
Would love to know too! Can’t tell if this i s just being humorous or if it’s real, this video was suggested to me so I’m intrigued!
😂 she's joking
(Pausing to write comments as I’m watching the video) but barely at :36 and that’s meee af not updating my LI since quitting in Nov LOL
no bc i didn’t for at least 7 months it was self referential HAHAHAH
omg Katherine this is wild
Whyyyy did youtube JUST show me this when I'm subbed and have notifications on? The heck...
this is the best
Ahaha… I’d love to hang out for a day .. thoughtful.. smart.. satisfying, honest, opinionated, and whimsical.. lol you’re awesome
I gotta do this for myself at some point because i feel like im losing my mind i wanna be free so bad
I would love to be entered in this research study!
Being French, I'm honored that you look at us positively 😁
I LOVE your Coca-cola wall art! Where did it come from?!
Hello internet stranger! Yes please free me from my corporate job
Timmy Thick reference is unhinged 😂
mine would look like my year of rest and relaxation by otessa moshfegh
As someone who has been unemployed for the past 14 months, I volunteer as tribute for the study... even if it's just to answer a survey