This list was sourced from a potently horrid day I experienced in the cube last week. It was so trying, my mind drifted to happy thoughts.
- Naps. Epically long, drawn out, mouth-hanging-open-slobbering, naps.
- Reading a book from cover to cover, and actually absorbing it.
- Giving up business casual for cargo pants and flip flops (for you Christine).
- Never having to open another passive-aggressive email from a coworker who spreads a hissy fit by cc’ing my bosses, yet is a yellow coward when I suggested meeting in person to discuss the issue like adults.
- Doing yoga every morning. At least an hour and a half worth.
- Witnessing a magnificent sunrise or sunset daily.
- Writing in the dead of the night if the fancy strikes me.
- Eating whatever and whenever, not to a set schedule.
- Noticing the day evaporating, but feeling relaxed, full of ideas and satisfied.
- Working with only one person - me.
- Boarding a bus where not one word of English is spoken. Sweet silence in the mind and music to the ears.
- Laughing more than stressing or crying.
- Going for a walk in fresh air, instead of 10 yards to the lunch room inhaling recycled air and being physically trapped by sealed glass.
- Listening to my ipod for pleasure when usually it’s plugged in to drown out extraneous office noise.
- Being asked, “What do you want to do today?” over “Can’t you get this done now??”
(Far more appealing than a meeting.)
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
@Lily – Thanks! And thanks for taking the time to comment on my site. Congrats back at you. :)
@Dina – It is amazing – sometimes it feels surreal, but it ain’t. :)
Congrats on quitting your job! I just quit mine too this past April. I particularly love going to 6:30am hot yoga classes, and sponging up knowledge through reading on a daily basis. Feels fantastic.
Good luck with the travels, I look forward to your updates via twitter!
(Just read your twitter) It’s great that now you are living your dream!
Best.List.Ever!!!!!!!!!!!
@Michael – Thank you for reminding me this list existed. Was just thinking, I can finish that book now! :)
Well now that you’ve been laid off, you have 15 things you need to start doing!
@Kirsty – Everyone is different. A few years ago I was laid off, had nothing to do, but I was very productive. What exactly I was productive on is escaping me! :)
Aaah… all of those things sound great. I quit my job 2+ years ago and I really should be doing more of those things more often. I seem to get bored though and find myself back into a routine of choice soon after. It might be volunteering 6 days a week or setting myself a strict work schedule but the key is that it’s my choice to do those things. And it’s my choice to sto pand relax now and again as well. It’s great. You will love it!
@Poi – You sound like a person who intimately knows those 2 desires… I hope to exclaim the same. Thanks for commenting and stop in again. :)
I get excited reading this, my favorites have to be eating when you want and writing in the middle of the night without it feeling wrong, freedom!!
this is great happy list! i should really do some of those things since my office IS my home. i tend to take that for granted sometimes. :(
@Claudine – Yoga may be a bit difficult to coordinate on the road, but I am somebody who needs to stretch, otherwise my body rebels. So glad you found me and churn out that list! It would be nice to read about someone already doing it.
@Shaun – Just love the name of your site! Reminds me of rebellious pirates living by their own code. :) Good to know someone else chucked the cube and doesn’t regret a thing. :) Stop by again!
Great list. I left my job last year and haven’t looked back. This only helps assure me I made the right decision :)
I am a member of the Travel Blog Exchange and found you there. I arrived to South Korea in August 2009. Although I am teaching English here, I feel that I am pretty much living the way you described (I’m not doing the yoga, shame on me). I’m thinking about writing a post today about how some of my dreams have been realized.
@Adam – That is a good line. I always view foreign languages in that vein. I’m able to disengage in conversation, yet aurally other languages remind me of music.
@Kyle – Yay! Thanks for commenting! I cannot wait to choose anything I want to do, within budget, of course. :)
@Gina – Glad someone else sees it my way. :-D I almost added the sick factor, but decided last minute to leave it out. Thanks for adding it in.
@Chris – Vegemite 24/7, huh? :)
@SpunkyGirl – Me too! So looking forward to all of it.
@GRRRLTraveler – So glad you made it to Korea. Your interview sounds great. :)
Great list! Thanks for the cargo pants one! LOL. Are you really going to try to do morning yoga each day…no matter where you are? ;-) Might be interesting…
Your cubicle life has a lot of buildup to release. Awesome for you that you’re doing it!
I love this list. I’m looking forward to many of the same things. 5 months to go!! :)
I’m all for number 8 :)
i can’t believe how much i agree with every single one of these! I would add- escaping the small work place virus’s that seem to spread to everyone you work with over and over (pretty nasty)… and never working weekends in retail again!! Thanks for the inspiration :)
Great list! #15 is right on! It’s so nice to be able to wake up and do whatever it is you feel like doing.
Great list!
Love this line: “Sweet silence in the mind and music to the ears.”
@Shannon OD – Count yourself lucky. Do not step into an office unless it’s a patio seat with cold Coronas at your side.
@Steph – If only Data from Star Trek invented accelerated time already. :)
@Audrey – I’ll most likely experience the reverse effect — realizing no one is speaking English! How surreal that will be. Thanks for the input on reading, I suspect it might be the same for me. A livable trade off, I’d say. :-D
@Kelley – Welcome to the site! It’s my first time as well! We seem to be on the same timeline. I’d love to know your route?
@Jeremy – Here’s to getting that degree finito, so you can live this list!
@Ayngelina – You’re right, ad agencies are different territory. I’m guessing more creative, and less rigid? But no matter, passive aggressive is everywhere!
@DTravelsRound – Ooh, nightmares are not good! That’s a sure signal to get the hell out! As for meeting, let’s do Croatia, your favorite bar. :)
@Elke – Oh yes, you’re in school, some early stages of things.. hopefully you follow your heart, because you won’t regret it!
@Candice – It was uplifting just drafting this post! Soo insanely happy you got something out of it. Now go drink beer, eat nachos and prosper.
I looooooooooooooove this post. Love love love. Gives me inspiration.
Sounds like a plan!
Things like these make me more sure than ever that I never want to even start a cubicle kind of job. I want to jump from student life right into living abroad earning money by myself. But I guess that plan still needs some work :-)
Love, love, love it! I am having work nightmares right now. I have to wake up in the middle of the night and remind myself those passive aggressive e-mails are a thing of the past, then I nap to catch up on the sleep I missed stressing about said dream. When are you kissing it goodbye and embracing this list? And, where are you meeting me???
I love office work, although working at an ad agency is a bit different. The one thing in common is passive aggressive emails, I will not miss those.
My favorite is when you are on email and get one of them and then you call the person immediately to discuss it but they don’t pick up because they are obviously screening you.
Some day I will laugh about that.
This list makes me want to get done with my degree sooner. August for my RTW can’t come soon enough
i’m quitting my job to travel in may. it is my first time to do something like this. and all the reasons you have listed above are big reasons why.
I’m laughing about #11. We went into culture shock when we flew back to the States last year and could understand EVERYTHING people were saying to each other and on their cell phones. I have to admit that I haven’t read as many books as I had expected/hoped since I quit my job, but the reason is good – I’m usually pleasantly exhausted from the day’s events or projects.
Can’t come soon enough! six more months, six more months…
I’ve never really done office work, but it sounds dreadful – my always favorite part of being self-employed though is working in the dead of night if I so choose :-)
@Magicant – You’re welcome! I want to read your list now.
@Keith – No doubt that you do agree. I seem to recall a trying day in your neighborhood recently. I’m guessing you’ve crafted a Traveling Savage list.
@JoAnna – Glad you popped in! Next time, I’ll be sure to have tea and scones ready. :) It must be obvious that #4 was the primary catalyst for this list. Imagine my shock at opening such an email. Thanks for commenting!
I love #4! How is it that cubicle world breeds such nasty personalities??
Yes, I agree. :)
Beautiful. Thanks for this.