Busy Being Idle - What do you do to relax?

Yesterday started strangely. I found myself logging on to Monster.com before coffee. Silly me.

After searching the job postings for nearly two months, I began to feel as if I had gotten involved in a Cheech and Chong parody:

ESSAY: What I Did On Summer Vacation:

• The first day I went downtown to look for a job, then I hung out in front of the drugstore.
• The second day I went downtown to look for a job, then I hung out in front of the drugstore.
• The third day I went downtown to look for a job, then I found a job. Keeping people from hanging out in front of the drugstore

Not all routines provide comfort.

Now that my preoccupation with finding a job is over, I have a couple of days remaining before my first day at the new office. Before all of this, I was a fairly busy guy during my free time -- always tinkering with one project or another. I should just kick back and relax, but I probably won’t. Since I had put most of my projects on hold during my search, I’m trying to pick up where I left off.

Projects I’m working on include:

• writing a training manual on mastering the use of Excel formulas. I intend to submit the course to the local community college. Perhaps I’ll end up teaching this course to adult students in the evenings or on weekends. Who knows? I’ve linked a sample section here, in case you’re interested in that sort of thing.
• working on certificate courses to brush up on my business skills. While there are numerous sites that offer free on-line training or seminars, I’ve found those offered by Accountemps and Robert Half to be pretty good. Once you are registered with either of these placement agencies (this usually requires an interview at the local office and the taking of assessment tests) you are granted access to over 300 courses with which you can earn CPE credits. Not a bad deal.
• working on my household budget, which is currently in shambles. The good news is that I can see things getting better in the not too distant future.
• renewing neglected contacts with friends and family.

Lastly, I’ll probably try to write in this blog more consistently because I’m finding it to be a fun activity.