Well, I guess it was inevitable since I was a contractor that eventually I would be laid off. Which I was, whaaaamp whaaaa. February 2023 I was notified that my contract (which ended in March) would not be renewed. This happened to half the group of developers that worked in this specific area at a large logistics company. The project was coming to an end and they needed to decrease the number of people working on this app because there wasn’t much left to do. I really thought the company I contracted through would find me another contract, but alas, that was not the case. At the time I wasn’t worried about it, I was interviewing with a large teaching hospital/university, and thought I was a top candidate. But in the final decision, the went with the candidate that had a bachelor’s degree.
What I didn’t know was that I wouldn’t get that job – or the next one – or the next. Not more than 5 interviews in a year! Anything that I thought was going to be good turned out to be a scam(I’m looking at you LinkedIn easy apply button). I am currently still on my unemployed era. An era that has changed me so much. So much so that I am not really looking for a full time job anymore! So much so that I wish I was rich because I have a killer idea for a new gym. I have changed so much that I have considered going back to school yet again to get a degree in nutrition, I have also considered working part time at my local Planet Fitness (the place where I spend the most time besides home)!
I have been unemployed so long there is no way I would pass a technical interview whatsoever. And I didn’t enjoy being a developer really. The jobs I did were mostly updating code, adding additional functionality, testing, and debugging. The best part of all that being the testing. I love trying to break things. I love the technical documentation side. I am also a certified Scrum Master and was actively trying to get a job as a Scrum Master or a technical documentation writer, but without any specific experience, I only received rejection. Either that or just completely ghosted. Which if you have been looking for a job lately – you can totally relate I’m sure.
I started making bracelets. Seed beads, glass beads, wood, memory wire and elastic. I spent so much money and made so many I’m going to have to find some craft fairs to sell it all at just to free up some space and be able to fund my next ADHD dopamine obsession (if you know, you know). I have also made wire jewelry and so many necklaces. I think next it will be duct tape pouches/wallets. It does keep me busy during the day. I set everything up at my desk and sit there for a few hours a day and “work”. I mean it is work I’m not getting paid for, but whatevs. It keeps the brain happy and occupied. But what I’ve been the most consistent at? The gym. I have spent a lot of time at the gym (I’m not saying it’s the healthiest of things, but if this is the thing I’m addicted to – well, could be worse)! What started with a 15 – 20 minute warm up turned into 30 – 45 minutes. Weights went from 20 minutes to 30 or 35. Then the cherry on top of the workout: the treadmill. At first it was two miles, then three, but now I’m at four and trying to walk farther in a shorter amount of time. I’m sure this will eventually be 5 miles a day. But I don’t care. It is my favorite time of the day. I pound the treadmill, I watch a mix of HGTV, Discovery, and Food Network. The hour flies by. But my brain chemicals are elevated for the rest of the day. I am a better human with this routine. And no one will ever convince me otherwise. I know I can’t spend 2 plus hours at the gym forever – but I am solidly in my walking era. You can read more about my treadmill time here.
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