[annzabelle]

I was funemployed for a 9 month stretch last year (layoff severance package, followed by waiting for a visa and traveling), and when I wasn't traveling, I found my life kind of falling apart with a lack of structure. I tried to schedule workout classes and hobbies, as well as involvement in my church, but it just didn't fill my time, and none of my friends were free during the day. I spent a lot of time with my retired parents, but the time we spent together became very low quality, and it was tinged with the knowledge that I ought to be doing something else with a lot of my time. I also spent a lot of time scrolling.

I started work again 3 weeks ago, and I find myself using the time outside of work much better because there is less of it.

I would still love a 30 hour work week, and if I had young children, I am certain that I would cherish time off much more.

[sph]

It is simply because you have spent all your life being told what to do with your working hours, that you cannot self-direct and find a productive use for your time other than lazying around.

The fact that you call it ‘funemployment’ is proof of this, which is perfectly fine if the goal is relaxing between jobs. Plenty of people that work for themselves have no such notion.

[annzabelle]

I honestly think it's a temperament thing. Some people are built for sustained focused work outside of structured workplaces and schools, but many of us aren't.

I personally am happiest with a structured in person workplace environment, because I struggle with self direction even in a remote 9-5. I have ADHD and struggled to remember/do homework my whole childhood, if that explains anything. In summers or other gaps in employment or school throughout my life, I've often started with ideas of projects or self study I want to do, but they all fizzle out in a week due to lack of discipline.

I'm not undisciplined in every context - I'm a good employee at in person jobs, and I started running in my early 20s and run 15+ miles a week in the cold, rain, and dark, but my discipline just falls apart when I'm trying to fill a whole week.

I think these traits are much more common than happily self-employed or early retired people think.

[barrkel]

It takes time to re-ground yourself, to renew your ambitions to new circumstances.

It usually takes more than a year even for employees.

[sph]

Oh yes, it's been 3 years for me of being 'untethered' and it's still so easy to just waste my day if I am not careful with distractions. And the feeling that I should just stop being silly and I should find a normal job like a normal person will often find me and ruin my days.

[SaucyWrong]

As somebody who is currently rounding month 6 of funemployment, I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.