Lesson 2 - Creating a Plan (Part 1)

Yes, you will need to plan your money (budget), and plan how to continue with your life but those will be addressed in Part 2 of this lesson.  First, we need to focus on the idea of "what to do with all of this free time".  Let's face it. You will have lots of free time now, and it's best to create a plan so you can best utilize this new found freedom. 


Step 1 - Create a schedule


Yes, a detailed hour by hour (minute by minute if you need) schedule.  Have a set time that you wake up each day, a plan for what you want to accomplish each day, and certain goals that you would like to meet.
Here is how mine looks:

• 7:15 a.m. - Wake up
• 7:30 a.m. - Wake up "Sam"
• 8:30 a.m. - Get "Sam" on bus
• 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Exercise
• 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Shower, Get dressed, etc.
• 11:00 - 12:00 - Free time
• 12:00 - 12:30 - Meet "Sam" on lunch
• 1:00 - 3:00 - School work
• 3:00 - 4:30 - Clean
• 4:30 - Get "Sam" off bus
• 4:30 - 6:00 - Cook/Eat dinner
• 6:00 - 8:00 - Help "Sam" with homework
• 8:00 - 9:00 - "Sam" takes shower/gets ready for bed
• 9:00 - "Sam" goes to bed
• 9:00 - 11:00 - Free time
• 11:00 - Go to bed

Now, this certainly is not an all-inclusive schedule. Nor, is it written in stone. Of course changes will need to be made. There will be interviews to go to and volunteer work to perform. However, this is an initial draft that will at least get me going each day.


Step 2 - Create goals for each day


Nothing is more depressing than getting up each day with absolutely nothing to look forward to. If you have nothing you want to accomplish for that day, what is the point of waking up at all?  When you think of it in those terms, it's easy to see how someone could easily become depressed.  But not you! No, you are going to create goals for yourself! Now, they don't have to be big, lofty goals that you will never accomplish (climbing Mt. Everest) but they do need to be challenging enough to make you want to work for it. Simply having a goal of getting up each day does not help.  No, you need to have S.M.A.R.T. goals.


S - Specific -  "I want a job" is not specific. What kind of job do you want? Unless you would be happy working in fast food, it's best that you come up with something a little clearer.
M - Measurable - This one goes hand-in-hand with "Specific". Happiness, along with other emotions cannot be measured very well. That's why a goal like, "I want to be happy" would not be very good.
A - Attainable -  What is the sense in creating a goal you know you can never achieve?  If you are a general American citizen and your goal is to become King of England, I would suggest you rethink that.
R - Realistic -  Again, this one goes along with "attainable".  While the goal of "I want to win 100 million dollars" is nice in theory, is it really realistic?
T - Timely -   Have a time frame. Do you want to complete this goal in a day, a week, a month, or a year?


Initially, your goals can be small. Start with something like, I want to hand out 10 resumes today. That is a great goal! It is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.  Or, you can create big goals like, I want to get a job with Company X, and work a little each day to reach that goal.  Either way have something that you are working towards each day.


Step 3 - Use your time wisely


So, what's wrong with sitting around in your underwear, eating chips, and watching daytime TV?  It's simple.  One of the first questions a perspective employer will ask is, "what have you been doing with your time off ?" and everyone gives the standard answer, "looking for work". Wouldn't it be great if you could actually have a meaningful answer?


Volunteer! - Whether it's at your child's school, the local humane society, a homeless shelter, or one of the thousands of non-profit organizations throughout this country. Not only is this an excellent way to use up those extra hours you have found but it's also a great networking resource.  When you get out and mingle with different people, you never know who you might meet. Every new person may be your next employment lead.


So, get out there and do something!