Well I'm sure that each and every day you've went to work you've fantasized about what you would do if only you had the time to commit to something else. Well this is your opportunity, right now! For me the greatest motivator would be self improvement, and I sometimes feel that a job stops you from doing that.
Self improvement is a very long lasting process that should only be stopped by the Grim Reaper himself. To be able to prolong it, one must be in good health. Therefore I think that we all need to drink 2 liters of liquids and exercise at least 30 minutes every day. Now that would be the base of my daily routine. After that it's really up to each of us and our passions and how we define ourselves as persons.
My passion is web development and design. The area I am weakest in is graphic design, so I am trying to improve that using the book "Design Basics Index" from Jim Krause: http://www.amazon.com/Design-Basics-Index-Jim-Krause/dp/1581805012
Every day I try to do a graphics exercise or read some more from this book, I highly recommend it.
I like to define myself on the job market as a Romanian J2EE junior developer that speaks 2 foreign languages: English and German. Now in order to not lose my edge during these days I try to keep my German skills updated by doing at least 30 minutes worth of language practice. Whether that is talking to a native speaker, doing vocabulary practice or simply watching German TV I always do something in that direction.
Here are some useful TV streams: http://wwitv.com/television/81.htm
There's a nice quote by George R. R. Martin from The Song of Ice and Fire:
“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
Well the same goes for a programmer's mind, but instead of books one needs tutorials and programming challenges. One great place for that is http://projecteuler.net/. Here you can find over 400 programming/mathematical challenges with a difficulty that rises constantly.
Also, for a junior J2EE developer looking for a job is also very important to know what questions will be typically asked at an interview... For that, here are a few links:
But what about the end of the day, you ask?
Well I find that Anthony Robbins' Personal Power 2 is a great way to spend 45 minutes in order to improve the quality of your life: http://www.amazon.com/Anthony-Robbins-Personal-Power-II/dp/B000I44KDQ
Well anyways, this is what I'm doing between jobs, how about you?
