Dealing with unemployment is never easy. Whether you had to walk away from the job or you were let go, not having a job puts a tremendous amount of stress in your life. Financial responsibilities and dependent family members make the burden of unemployment unbearable at times, but there is also the added stress of your bruised self-esteem. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it once was to find a job and job hunting for months on end is not unheard of these days. Here are 7 Dos and Don’ts you can use to weather the storm and survive unemployment.
Don’t be Hard on Yourself
Yes, you are unemployed. Don’t beat yourself up over it, no else will. We all know someone who is unemployed at this very moment. It is an unfortunate sign of the times. Our economy is bad and unemployment is high. Your harshest critic is usually yourself. Remember, not having a job does not define you as a person.
Don’t be Afraid or Ashamed to Talk about it
Be open and honest with people about your situation. You might be surprised at how encouraging and helpful everyone can be. You never know when a job opportunity might sneak up on you. There are jobs out there and sometimes it’s about who you know. They may be able to refer you to an open position or put in a good word for you.
Don’t take it Personally
Interviews may come, but the jobs may not. Sometimes managers just don’t hire the right people. They usually don’t do it on purpose, but it happens. Hiring decisions are not perfect. Remember they don’t really know you. Take what they say with a grain of salt and move on. There’s probably a better job out there for you anyway.
Do lean on Friends and Family
The right support system can do wonders. Lean on friends and family, it’s what they’re there for. They are the people that want the best things for you and if they can help in any way, let them. There is a time to give and a time to receive. There’s no shame in receiving from the ones you love when you need it. Accept their strength and guidance as well as their love and care.
Do be Introspective
A loss of a job can be devastating. Use this time to really think about things. Ask yourself some important questions. Did I love my old job? Did I want to leave? What have I always wanted to do? Do I want to change careers completely? Do I want to go back to school? This may be the time to make changes and finally pursue new ideas. Consider where you see yourself in 1 year or 2. After you’ve really thought about these things, then put your feet to action and make it happen.
Do Remember to Take Care of Yourself Physically
Stress has a way of running havoc on your body. You need to take care of yourself too, especially if you have people that are dependent on you. Eating right and exercising are always good habits but they are even more important when you are stressed out. It’s just too easy to embrace bad habits when we just don’t feel that great. Don’t be tempted, be strong and stay focused.
Do Enjoy Life
Take some time out and remember to enjoy life. Think about all the little things that make you happy and that really matter. Unemployment is not a death sentence and you’re not a criminal. There is no need to be miserable. Spend some time with friends and family just hanging out and enjoying their company. Take a walk in the park. Eat some ice cream (not a gallon of ice cream.) You can find lots of joy in the simple things.
Times may be tough, but so are you. Most of us have had to endure tightening our belts just a little, some of us a lot, but I think we are better for it. Hardship and struggle can help us find strength and endurance we didn’t know we had. Unemployment is a harsh reality that many of us have found ourselves in but we can survive it.
About the Author:
This guest post is contributed by Jackie Arnold, who makes Binky Diaper Cakes on her spare time. You can email her with any questions or comments at jackiearnoldst (at) hotmail.com.