Funemployment: What is it and who does it?

Some people are taking the idea of enjoying life to another level by choosing to embrace and enjoy unemployment.

We’ve all heard the stories about the importance of having the perfect work life balance to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy lifestyle. But some people are taking the idea of enjoying life a little further: by enjoying unemployment!

What is Funemployment?

Funemployment is a term used to describe the joy that can be experienced when jobless - a portmanteau word combining the words fun and unemployment.

Read: You won't believe what freelancers despise about their work

It is when you have no job and are also not actively seeking a new job. Rather, your free time is spent relaxing by completing courses, doing charity work, or travelling.  It has also been known to describe periods of non-corporate employment, such as Alexis Mansinne who seriously considered taking a break from job hunting by considering returning to her old job as a waiter shortly after being laid off from as Marketing Executive.

Who is Funemployment for?

While there are rich kids who don’t need to work and therefore are on a permanent funemployment, some professionals have left their stiff jobs by choice for various reasons including the need to search for something better. Others who have also embraced funemployment were forced to leave but have since decided to embrace the extra free time.

Related: Smart strategies that'll get you hired (even if you've been unemployed for a while)

Funemployment is the period in between jobs when you have plenty of time to do some soul-searching, a little introspection, try new things, and find what lifestyle would be ideal for you by bringing reward and meaning to your life. This helps for when you do decide to apply for jobs (or when your cash dries up), you’ll know exactly what industry, job title, and culture you need to live a happier more fulfilling life.

The key to getting the most out of the funemployment experience is to never stop learning new skills. Because when you do want to return to your 9-5 (or something with more flexibility), your job interviewer will ask: so what’s up with this employment gap in your CV