Episode Details

Today my guest is ME, and the topic is FUNEMPLOYMENT. How to believe deeply in yourself (and your worth and your life) when you don’t have a job or all that much to do. In my own, sort-of-short existence, I have become quite seasoned in the art (and struggle) of facing the blank slate of my day—the freedom, the possibility, and the angst. How to survive spiritually and financially without the built-in affirmation of someone giving me money for my time and my skills. How to create my own structure and wins. How to avoid melting down on the sidewalk as early as 9:07 a.m.

If you’ve fallen off the job market, this episode is for you! But it’s also for anyone looking to examine their relationship with work and time. Part-time employees, freelancers, workaholics, we all have to navigate what our day looks like and the impact of our employment, or lack thereof.

Precepts for Funemployment With Erica J. Schmidt

1. This is not your last chance to solve your life.

2. Money stress is real stress, and stress is a liability.

3. Redeem your soul with cleaning.

4. Lack of sleep will make everything seem impossible.

5. Open yourself to new fun and learning.

6. Daily Routines

7. Make a list.

8. Your Daily Routine plus one other thing is enough.

9. You need other humans to feel like you are a human.

10. Your life is your job. I love you just the way you are.

Half-bad Ukulele Segment: End of the Line by the Traveling Wilbury’s. I’m really not holding back these days with the uke “performances” and neither should you. Thank you to Vasko @UkuleleCheats for this super fun and relatively accessible (!) arrangement.

Mixing, Ukulele, and Cover Art by Erica J. Schmidt in Montréal, Quebec.

Follow Erica on Facebook or Instagram or check out her website at ericajschmidt.com. You can also make her day by sending her a listener question to any of these places.

To support this independent podcast, please consider purchasing a Lil and Bud dog greeting card at ericajschmidt.com/merch. You can also make a one-time donation here at The Donate Button. Feel free to get in touch for other sponsorship possibilities. My infinite thanks for all of this.

More infinite thanks, as always, to Taes Leavitt (darling big sister,