Lifestyle change

[User239]

Hi all. I'm a software developer and I have a very big problem (though not that uncommon I think).
I recently realized that my life just lacks for experimentation. What I mean by experiments? Well, anything that can relieve the monotony of my life. Don't ask how did it occur to me... It's a fact. But what stops me from performing these experiments? The answer is simple. I always say to myself "Don't have any time for this. Have many everyday problems, have to study, have to work, etc." Sounds reasonable. I really want to be a qualified specialist and a high-skilled developer. And of course there's no room for such small things as these experiments. But what if I'm UNHAPPY doing all this stuff?! Well, actually I enjoy programming very much but thoughts like this one make me very sick.

Maybe I should start experimenting with my lifestyle, mostly with the way I usually spend my holidays. What should I do on holidays? Go to any public place, meet a bunch of new girls, date them, always have busy schedule and never be home. Sound like a good plan. But when to begin? Right now I'm writing my bachelor paper. And I could even deal with it but there is another more serious problem. I just don't have a permanent job! Only occasional earnings. It's because I can't afford working full-time (40 hours per week) (I like the university too). But I'm really going to start this summer when I'll have my Bachelor diploma and will enter MA course. I know I'll have much more time than I have now and will be able to work full-time. The job is my main concern now when thinking about experiments. How could I meet a girl and say her I'm unemployed?! This is what I'm primarily worried about. After all, how would I take her to a restaurant? So now I'm searching job sites and even going to some interviews.

So the question is has anybody tried to change their lifestyle dramatically? Did you make it, was it easy? What can you advice to me?
Thank you.

[Alvy]

How dramatic of a change do you want? If you don't want to tell them you're 'unemployed', come up with a white lie instead; something like you're just incredibly busy with school but you still manage to work part-time occasionally. As for the restaurant, what's wrong with pizza followed by bowling? It's cheaper and a lot more 'casual'. You're also not really in the best situation right now to try and change your lifestyle too drastically. It'll be like ripping out the carpet beneath you while you're still trying to walk as a baby. How often do you get a chance to go out? I'd start with something small first - right now, your priority should be stability, a full-time job etc. Work comes first, a fun/dramatic lifestyle should be second.