7 Ways to Deal With Your Job Loss
It is never pleasant to go through a job loss whatever the reason. It is an experience often accompanied by confusion, stress, and some sadness. People’s confidence can plummet and they find it hard to move on. It has never been more important to keep things in perspective – there are tried and true strategies to pull through this rough spell. It can be much easier to deal with job loss than you think because “good things can still happen in the midst of chaos.”
Don’t Isolate Yourself
Don’t isolate yourself, but do surround yourself with the right people. While the need for some time alone is understandable, your loved ones can make a big difference. Being around positive and supportive people can help keep you focused and hopeful as you try to move on. Freud said the key to happiness was work and love. Now, love is something you can’t do without.
Patience and positive encouragement are crucial for a person who has lost their job. A person who is trying to recuperate from the loss may be disinterested, but what seems like laziness can signal the onset of depression. It will help to discuss family roles and any changes in the distribution of household tasks. This will turn attention away from the loss.
How to cope with feelings of rejection? Read on to find out!
Set up a Routine – and Stick to It
When one loses their job, it’s tempting to use it as a chance to “take a break.” If you do so, make sure you treat it as exactly that – a break – and not the opportunity to go AWOL on responsibilities. Return to a routine once the break is over.
Your routine might consist of having a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, then looking at ads for online jobs. Take a lunch break, then do some chores. You already have a job – to move on – and you need to start planning this as a process. Routines keep us from getting depressed and beginning to wallow in despair because when that happens, recovering gets much harder.
Keep reading to see why you’re far from alone in your predicament and what that means for you.
Don’t Internalize Rejection – or at Least Try
As you look for work, interviews with no outcome and unanswered job applications can make one feel rejected on a personal level. Don’t perceive this as failure; instead, look at it as an opportunity for something even better to come along. You’re not just looking for a job, but for the situation that’s right for you.
We won’t lie – it’s hard to “reframe” a situation like the one we find ourselves in after losing a job and we’re tempted to vent. Be careful who you “vent” to and what you say because all of your friends and acquaintances are potential job seekers on your behalf. If you’re angry or bitter, they might sympathize, but they might not always be willing to get you in touch or recommend you to a potential employer.
Coming up: why is losing your job the best thing that can happen?
Misery Loves Company!
We got your attention and, what’s more, didn’t mean this in a bad way at all. You’re actually in very good company if you’ve been fired! A lot of world-famous people were fired when they were just ordinary people like you and I.
This is a long list, so we’ll mention only two: J. K. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series, was fired from her job as a secretary before penning the books. Lady Gaga was dropped just three months after her first major label signed her. If you’re angry, the best revenge is living well.
Keep reading if you want to learn how to self-heal.
Lose Some, win More: Career Development and Growth
Losing a job was the best thing that happened to some people. Have you ever thought about getting a certification, continuing your studies, or taking an interesting course? Maybe even changing fields? Accounting, teaching, and other sectors require extended professional development, so why not fulfill these requirements now that you have more free time?
Finances permitting, there’s no better time to learn a new skill or start learning a new language. You might even consider starting your own company or otherwise becoming self-employed. This could be a great time to focus your energy on your true passion.
Keep reading for the most important strategy to deal with job loss!
Find the Resilience to Heal
Everybody possesses natural resilience, but it is not a given: it must be nurtured. Some people find it easier than others to accept that change is a part of life. Instead of fixating on your job loss as an insurmountable crisis, continue working toward your goals and remember to take care of your health. If your loss was distressful or traumatic, this won’t come naturally to you, but it’s an effort you must make if the alternative is drowning your sorrow in alcohol or junk food. You’ll ultimately get even more depressed.
Encourage yourself and respect your body by consuming wholesome, nutritious fare. Meditation, exercise, writing in a journal, praying, and hypnotherapy can all be effective ways to heal. The virtues of waiting until “time heals all wounds” are grossly exaggerated.
Our Most Important Advice: Stay in Shape!
As you struggle to cope, stress and boredom can drive you into a sedentary lifestyle, and they can do so quite easily. It is a fact that exercise can do wonders for emotional and physical health. Even moderate exercise causes the body to release happiness hormones, which trigger positive emotions. These, in turn, will fuel the motivation and drive you need to find a new and better job.
If you can, take a 15-minute walk out in the open. Maybe it’s time for that exercise equipment you bought that’s been gathering dust. Even half an hour of exercise a day can go a long way.
Never Lose Hope!
Losing your job might turn out to be a blessing in disguise in the long run. You could be in a better position a few months down the line, thinking how leaving your job in the dust was the best thing that ever happened to you. The beginning of a new and happier life is now.
