A Realistic Day in My Life as a 31-Year-Old Currently Unemployed

Some days feel chaotic, some feel aimless, and some feel like tiny victories in disguise. Today was a mix of all three. Penny and I slept in, of course, and didn’t peel ourselves out of bed until around 9 a.m. Before anything else, we indulged in some much-needed mental health cuddles. Honestly, that alone could have been the whole day and I would have considered it productive.

Eventually, I kicked myself into gear and got ready for the day. I was starting at a new gym, which felt like a small but important milestone. I put on my workout gear, washed my face, did my skincare routine, brushed my teeth, and headed downstairs. Penny got her quick lap and her breakfast, her priorities come first, always, before I walked to the gym, which is conveniently just five minutes away.

A quick 30 minutes on the treadmill and a leg workout later, which I am absolutely paying for today, I rewarded myself by walking next door for a caramel latte and a breakfast burrito. Because why not. Starting a new gym is hard enough, I deserved the treat.

Once I got home, I went straight into reset-the-apartment mode. I started a load of laundry, tackled the dishes from yesterday, and straightened up the space. I even deep cleaned the bathroom. You are welcome, Eric.

Lunch was simple but delicious, salmon and mac and cheese, before Penny and I headed to the dog park. I swear, she lives her best life every time she is let loose to run, play, and be her goofy 5 year old self. Watching her joy always resets me a little.

After we got home, I sat down at my computer and dove into the job hunt grind. I applied to what felt like 30 plus jobs, sent follow up emails for interviews, and even wrote a blog post. I keep telling myself I need to open my book again. It has been months. Maybe tomorrow or the next day.

By the time Eric got home, it felt like two whole days had already happened. We caught up on each other's days while I cooked dinner and he headed out for a run. After we ate, he had an appointment, so I turned on Scandal, my eternal comfort show, and did some needle poke embroidery. Before winding down, I made a quick trip to HomeGoods and Michaels for a couple of things and then finally came home to settle in for the night.

Nothing extraordinary, but somehow a full, very real day in this strange season of being 31 and unemployed. Some parts were productive, some were comforting, and some were simply necessary. And honestly, that feels enough for now.

-D