Career Transition Intentional Practice Method

While I have been completely open on LinkedIn about me being out of work, I actually haven't posted about it on Rooted & Refined Living. Mainly, I didn't believe there was a fit as this site is about sensory based products, lifestyle tips, and intentional living, not the grit of the job search or career transition.

Me and Franklin hard at work.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was value in me pulling out some of my LinkedIn posts and sharing them here. As I reread a few of the posts I shared on LinkedIn, I decided to group them together in 2 posts. The first section (below) will cover how you redefine yourself when your job title is gone and the second post will cover how to treat job searching like a sport or if you are a salesperson.

You will notice I reference this website a few times below as these posts were originally published on LinkedIn.

Do I search for a job or do I go out and play?

That is the question for today (and most days) as I continue to have an internal struggle to come up with an answer.

I am sure there is balance, and I have done some of it already. As you know, I have been active in the job search, but I have also taken some time for myself.

The question that keeps coming up is what is the right balance?

The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip: 

"Job Searching can test your resolve. Balancing the search with a hobby can create the mental clarity needed between interviews."

I was fortunate to get severance and a few months of subsidized medical coverage but come October (it is now February and I have 2 weeks left), the cost of medical, dental, and eye for a family of 5 in the US is $2,754 (now $3,106 in 2026) through Cobra and I am searching for additional options.

I do have a nest egg to carry me through a bit, and my mortgage has been recently been paid off 😀 which pretty much gets replaced by the Cobra payment 🙁. We also somehow spend a lot of money whether it be on car repairs, car insurance, helping the kids with some expenses, going out, etc. (As I am proof reading this post now, I have a plumber working upstairs as we needed a new garbage disposal, along with a clogged pipe. These are more reasons needed to get a job as I anticipate the cost to be ~$600.

Mary Beth does not work but can if we need to.

You get the point, life is expensive and with no income, it sometimes can get unsettling.

On the flip side, this is the first time in 30 years I have been out of work and recognize more than ever that time is precious.

I have taken a planned vacation (to Kauai which prompted the start of this website) and a 2-day trip up to Maine doing some hiking with Michael.

I have taken the time to do some yard work (probably not enough) as well as some exercise like a hot yoga class.

I am also in the process of creating a blog website (check!) on product recommendations and separately started posting my job search videos on TikTok which freaked my kids out a bit when I came up on their feed (which I will include here on this site as well in the future).

My routine hasn't changed much. I still get up at 6AM, exercise and start "work" around 8AM just like when I was employed. I also finish up most days around the same time around 6PM.

I do all of the normal job search activities such as networking, applying to specific jobs and being targeted in my outreach, watching videos to learn job search techniques, more networking, etc.

So back to a few questions.

• Could I take some time off? Yes

• Am I taking enough time off? Probably not

• Am I doing enough for the job search? Yes, but like being in any job, you can always do more

• Should I retire? Definitely not ready to do so and I think Mary Beth would kill me if I did without a real hobby to replace my time (good thing I have this website now)!

Ultimately, I am sharing this as I presume others are, or have been, or will be in the same position. There are obviously no right answers, but I do know that I want to make sure I have a healthy mix between the two.

Good luck in your search if you are in the same position.

"I am practicing for retirement"😃

Not quite retired but this is a great view of Lake Tahoe on a trip with some friends.

That is a great way to say I am out of work, but the more I have been thinking about it, the more I believe that what I am doing now is a practice run for when I retire.

I don't have a specific time period on when I plan to retire but I know it is not now and not in the foreseeable future.

For example, I didn't have a real hobby and now I created a lifestyle blogging website.

But I am also doing other things including:

- Created 40 videos on tips to get a job based on my current search process.

- Held a class on how to get a job like a salesperson

- Volunteering as a student advisor for an international business 400 level capstone course

- Went white water rafting

- Climbed a mountain

- Went on vacation and toured a Cacao Farm (coolest thing ever)

- Went on multiple hikes and bike rides

- Started reading again (on audio)

- Did a bit more gardening and yard work

- Went to a Celtics pre-season game only to be surprised they were filling a Mark Wahlburg movie, "Weekend Warriors" during halftime. So cool to be "a part of a movie" so to speak.

I am sure there are other things, but the point is, I am enjoying being out of work. It has given me time to recharge and take advantage of the time away.

Because I know when I start working again, I won't have the freedom to just take the afternoon off whenever I feel like it.

"Career Transition: What I have learned from being out of work"

Some of these aren't necessary new learnings but great examples of human spirit like the first point on my list during your career transition.

1) People are inherently good. So far, 125 people have gone out of their way to help me with specific referrals, introductions, etc. I really appreciate every act of kindness people shared.

2) Society defines introductions when you meet people by "what do you do for work"? The question makes you think about how we define ourselves as our job shouldn't define us. At some point we will all retire and you will need to answer the question to yourself.

3) Being unemployed can test your resolve. If you don't know by now, I am an optimistic person. Even for me, while I have the utmost belief that my skills are valued in the marketplace, the unknown world of the impact of AI has given me doubt at times- even as I continue to learn as much as I can about it.

My Advice to the Job Seeker

Take a few weeks off after your time at your company ended. This will allow for the mental and physical reset to enable the creativity to flourish.

Next, find a hobby to occupy your time as there are only so many roles you would be interested in applying for. The rest of your time needs to be filled with things you like to do outside of work. It will help keep your sanity.

There are no right answers, but I thought you may benefit from this post. If you are currently employed but know someone that is out of work, please share.

Do these posts resonate and if so, what lessons learned, or advice can you share?