Job loss ranks very high on the list of the most stressful occurrences in life. Stress from job loss can easily develop into depression, which of course is very harmful to the overall well-being of an individual.
However, the good news is several strategies can be put in place to deal with job loss stress and move forward.
1. Deal With Anger
When, through no fault of your own you lose your job, you feel mixed emotions. It is very normal to be angry and frustrated with your previous employer or the person or circumstances at your place of work that led to loss of your job. Okay, accept the anger and the injustice but don’t let it drag you down and prevent progress. Use the energy and refocus it. You cannot justify carrying the anger with you because it will affect your judgement and your actions. Staying angry will greatly hinder the possibilities of finding another job. Potential employers may sense your anger and hostility during interview if you haven’t resolved the issue in your own mind. Anger is a particularly negative emotion that is hard to suppress and it can certainly scare away the people you interact with if by accident they happen to press the wrong button during conversation. If you find it hard to get past it may be worth talking to a counsellor or some other expert who is used to dealing with anger management.
2. Talk it out with your close friends and family
Emotional support is important when it comes to moving forward. The best place you can get emotional support is your friends and family members. Having such a conversation may be very difficult for you but probably less so for them. People you can trust will want to give you support. Some of their advice may be misplaced of course but it may be enough to spark ideas in different directions. Besides, friends and family can sometimes be a great asset when it comes to networking or finding opportunities to land a new job.
3. Avoid being idle
It will be tough to move on if you do not fill the void left in your work schedule. You will keep ruminating about your old job and what you could be doing. Even if you have enough money to last you a couple of months without working, it is advisable to fill your routine with job hunt strategies such as meeting people with job networks, writing your resume or just doing some volunteer work. By doing this, you will stay occupied and you’re actually keeping your cv topped up. A potential employer will be pleased to see you haven’t spent your ‘free’ time lounging about watching TV. In no time your mind will be off the previous job and that is what constitutes moving on.
4. Revise your financial expenditures
This is probably more obvious to some people than others. Struggling to maintain your previous lifestyle in order to save face will simply add to stress. There’s a saying about cutting your cloth to meet your means so the first step should be to do exactly that. Your revised spending pattern will help you survive without further distraction while the search for work takes place. Be sure to budget for travel expenses and phone calls and don’t be afraid to ask about out-of-work benefits that can support you during this time.
5. Think positive
Well, we would say that wouldn’t we! Being positive is essential when searching for a job. Having lost your previous job does not mean you are incompetent. Hundreds of thousands of people lose their jobs across the world monthly due to a host of different reasons. It is very easy for an employer to notice negative energy in you through your body language, which lowers your chances of being awarded a job. Therefore, us this time as an opportunity. Free your mind up and think flexibly about different opportunities. Some jobs may pay less but may give you more free time. This could be a good time to weigh up the pros and cons of your old work-life balance and tune in to something that’s better for your overall wellbeing.