Being unemployed taught me what really matters
Money is important; but meaningful connections are unmatched.
First and foremost, it’s a privilege to be unemployed and have the means to afford it, even just temporarily. For the past few years, I’d set aside $150-$200 every pay check to build an emergency fund and prepare for seasons like this one. I acknowledge that in addition to forming consistent habits, a 6-figure salary corporate job and living at home are two things that have helped immensely. For that, I’m so grateful!
”…So, how’s unemployment going?”
It’s now been over 2 months of being unemployed and oftentimes I get asked by friends and family how I’m going. It’s easy to assume that by now I would’ve lost a bit of my sanity, but quite the opposite actually.
Typically when people ask how unemployment is going for me, I’ve noticed there’s this unspoken assumption that it follows a predictable curve. At first, you're riding high: sleeping in, no meetings, no pressure. It's the kind of freedom people daydream about in the middle of their 9-to-5. But then slowly, it’s as if there’s a graph where the relationship between happiness and unemployment starts high and then gradually slopes downward. After the novelty wears off, there's a quiet hum of uncertainty, and soon you find yourself at rock bottom indefinitely.
Here’s a visual as an example:
However if I had to share a more accurate depiction of my ‘happiness levels’ (which by the way is completely subjective and unmeasurable), it would look a little something like this:
Okay so it’s a bit of a unique graph but I think it captures the essence quite well.
In short, every uplift you see in the graph wasn’t random, it was a direct result of living in alignment with my values. Things like solo adventure, time in nature, and freedom all played a role… but more importantly (and I mean way more importantly), it was meaningful social connections that elevated my happiness. Catch-ups, deep chats, meeting new people, spending time with loved ones. That’s what really shifted my happiness.
My little sister has 2 weeks of holidays before she’s back at school. Yesterday we visited Hyde Park in Sydney and the weather was just gorgeous. We sat there and caught up on each other’s lives. It was a sweet moment that I’ll always remember as work/school had always kept the both of us occupied.
As an introvert, I used to think my weakness was socialising. But I’ve come to realise it wasn’t socialising itself, instead it was the surface-level small talk that drained me. What I actually crave is meaningful connection. It’s not that I don’t enjoy being around people, it's that I prefer conversations that go beyond “So, how was your weekend?”
It’s been over 2 months now. What’s next?
I’m extremely grateful for this season because it taught me what matters to me when money isn’t a concern. Now that it’s July, I’ve started actively applying for jobs, specifically those that prioritise building long-term, trusted relationships.
I’m currently in the process of enrolling in further study (online, self-paced) and have an exciting volunteering opportunity coming up this weekend.
I’ll be sharing more about this in my next Substack post which I’m hoping lands in two weeks from now. Surprisingly, being unemployed has offered me so much opportunities, so I’m a lot more busy than I thought I’d be. It’s a good thing! :)
Have a lovely week, and thanks again for being here!
What comes through most clearly is how attention shifted once urgency loosened and how connection, not freedom from work itself, became the stabilizing force. The distinction between social exhaustion and the hunger for depth feels especially true. It reads less like a celebration of unemployment and more like an accounting of values that were easier to hear once the noise dropped.