Thanks for your comment. I agree with your list. The advantages significantly outweigh the disadvantages in your case. I appreciate you for sharing this.

Your advice is absolutely on target.
As you know, I recently took a 2-week temp contract job with a local company you had tweeted.
Let me list some of the advantages, if I may.

1. Restored a work routine: accountability.
2. Required study and rapid qualification: use of brain.
3. Exposure to literally hundreds of other people in a similar employment situation: friendships, networking and general informational opportunities, office environment learning new systems.
4. Cashflow with overtime & weekends: twice the net pay of unemployment.
5. Competitive environment (not backstabbing) helps tune competitive edge: just like sports.
6. Replenished self-esteem: “I had the will to qualify, test, and produce. I did it.”
7. The joy of working: the job was actually very, very fun!!! I never expected that.
8. Short term means that even if you hate the task, it’s only for a few weeks or months (e.g. I hated boot camp, but it was only 9 weeks of hell.)
9. New references and the possibility of rehire in the future.
10. New hope that “I can and will make it” by versatility and adaptation to new environments.
11. Remember: if it doesn’t work out: “Nothing is a total waste. It can always serve as a bad example.”

On the downside, if you really loved the job, you will have some post-partem depression and personal anger when the contract is over. That is a small price to pay for all of the advantages listed above.