Job loss has become a fact of life in today’s economic climate. Even though the worst of times seem to be behind us (fingers crossed), there are still plenty of layoffs occurring. A major key to coping with job loss and getting your career back on track is the attitude you employ.
Deal with the Stress
Losing a job is stressful. It is probably one of the most stressful things you will ever have to endure. Just remember grief is normal at this time. Use the following tactics to deal with the stress of job loss:
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- Facing your feelings – You will have to deal with your feelings early on after losing your job. Fear, anxiety and depression may all come into play. Acknowledging these thoughts will be key in dealing with your feelings.
Some of the things you can do to help out here are to write about what you feel, accept reality, don’t beat yourself up, and look for the silver lining in it all. For example, maybe your time out of work would be the perfect opportunity to pursue a career change into the new profession you’ve been dreaming about.
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- Reach out and get out – The normal emotion here might be to turn into a hermit. It will be easy to sit on the couch, turn the TV on, and eat or drink too much.
Try to avoid that by reaching out to people you trust for support. Find other job seekers and people who have been in your shoes. Lean on your network. Join or form a group dealing with job loss. Reach out and get out and good things will happen.
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- Keep family involved – Job loss affects the entire family, especially if you have young children. In difficult times it’s often family that can help you thrive. Keep the lines of communication open.
Listen to your family’s concerns. Set aside time to have fun with your family. Forget about the job loss and being unemployed for a bit.
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- Mind your health – It’s easy to let your health go at this time, but this is the time you need to be more cognizant of your well-being. Exercise regularly to to help cope with stress and stay in shape, or get in better shape.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep affects your mood and outlook on things. Relax as much as you can by doing deep breathing exercises, yoga or meditation, or all three. Stay healthy.
Get Back on Track Quickly
Here are some steps you can do to bounce back and get headed in the right directly quickly after your job loss:
- Focus on the future – Don’t look back and dwell on the past. Look at what you want and not what you had in the past.
- Job status doesn’t define you – Don’t let the fact that you are unemployed define you. Use this chance to re-evaluate who you are. You need to define your status. Grow your self-awareness and stay resilient.
- Stay positive – Being positive at this time might seem to be a stretch. Associate with positive people and watch as their attitude rubs off on you.
- Finding a job … is a job – Treat your job search just like a job. Create structure in your day just as you would if you were employed.
- Be kind – Extend kindness to all you meet. It would be easy to withdraw and be ugly and mean at this point, but resist that temptation. Be kind to everyone and it even may help you build your network.
Losing a job is very tough. Getting back on the horse and finding new employment will be directly affected by your attitude. The steps listed above will help you deal with the stress of job loss and get you back on track to finding another one.
About the Author: Michelle Dumas
