A Guide for Life Between Gigs

The blurred lines between work and home that have permeated our lives since early 2020 have taken their toll. This has led many to consider hitting the pause button on this newfangled new normal to recalibrate.

But, if you find yourself with the luxury of a short professional breather, you might not know exactly where to ‘bill your time.’

Keep reading for 10 personal principles to prosper while on brief sabbatical. Perhaps, in sharing my road map, others can find some inspiration.

Between gigs, make sure to implement structure. Wake your butt up by 5:30 in the morning because those 90 solitary minutes before your daughter ejects herself from bed are gold (paragraph written at 5:47 am).

Between gigs, don’t have too much structure. The classic workaday grind can deprive you of so much. Use this opportunity to invite in a little spontaneity.

Between gigs, work on your skills. My agency role is to conduct a choir but sometimes you just want to play an instrument. Take some courses that can push your abilities as a digital practitioner.

Between gigs, pursue a passion. You’re reading mine.

Between gigs, strive to be a better partner. Assuming your better half is not also between gigs, you have an obligation to take it up a notch on the home front. Make their daily hustle a little more bearable by going out of your way to make them feel appreciated.

Between gigs, level up your parenting. Handle more than your usual share of the million little things that accompany living with a preschooler. Find time to make memories between just the two of you.

Between gigs, market the hell out of yourself. Build that website, hone that resume and foster that network. Even if LinkedIn gives you anxiety, stay active. Tweet more. Share your process.

Between gigs, double down on fitness. Maybe you haven’t closed all the rings on your Apple Watch since the Obama administration. Do better by making that Peloton more than a towel rack. And don’t forget to stretch.

Between gigs, reconsider your vices. Habits can thrive in the shadows of busyness. Reevaluate these crutches and start whittling where appropriate.

Between gigs, have an adventure. Is driving your 4-year old to Florida to camp for ten days without her mom a good idea? Let’s find out.

There you have it. 10 simple suggestions for living your best life on hiatus. If you could step off the hamster wheel for a spell, what would you add to the list?