If your work pace has slowed down, you are experiencing a furlough, or are in a span of unemployment, there are ways to turn what might be a negative experience into a positive situation.  One avenue would be to schedule time every day to research tools that would be useful to you in both a business and personal environment.  After all, good time management is important no matter what your focus is.

The Online College has posted an article entitled “100 Terrific Productivity Tools for the Bored or Unemployed.”  In this, the author has listed multiple recommended sites for categories including Organizing Your Life, ToDo Lists, Resume and Job Searches, Setting Goals and Planning, Socializing and Networking.

Start with a ToDo list.  Make sure that whatever system you choose to use, you have only ONE system.  It could be a paper-based system, like a basic tickler file or daily planner.  It could be an online, internet-based program that you can access from anywhere.  Check out the many suggestions and determine which one works for you.  The key to an effective system is that it has to contain EVERYTHING you need to do.  When you use multiple ways of tracking tasks, including storing some things in your memory, you no longer have A SYSTEM.  It is difficult to prioritize your day when you have to move from one list to another (providing you can even find the list).

Next make sure you schedule all of the activities that you determine will help you get through this economic slump.  For example, Do you want to network more? 

• How will you do that? 
• What events will you attend? 
• How will you follow up with people after an event? 

Try the same routine in sending out resumes. 

• How will you find out to which companies you will apply?
• How many do you plan to send out per day?
• How will you follow up?

Be very specific in specifying your goals and then ensuring that your calendar is blocked for these activities.

There are lots of websites on the list of 100 that you will find intriguing, not just for business but for personal time and hobbies.  If you are having an unexpected break, use the time for something that you might not ordinarily fit into your day.  Explore.