6 Steps To Mentally Bounce Back From Job Loss
Losing your job can be devastating and can significantly affect your mental health. According to a recent UK survey, nearly half the population worries about losing their job. Research further reveals that over 6 million people exit their jobs monthly due to various factors such as being laid off, an unhealthy work environment, and so on. Are you feeling stressed, hopeless, or unsure of what to do after a job loss? Here are six ways to mentally bounce back from a job loss.
- Allow yourself to grieve, but don’t dwell
Experiencing a job loss can be a significant source of grief and impact your personal and professional life. It’s important to allow yourself time to grieve the loss, but it’s equally crucial not to dwell on it indefinitely. Focusing on your emotions is a normal and healthy part of the grieving process, but developing resilience and moving on from the situation is also essential. Whether seeking support from loved ones or a therapist or taking steps to focus on your personal growth and development, remind yourself that it is possible to recover from any setbacks. With time and effort, you can build your resilience and move forward with your life.
- Create a routine and stick to it
Losing your job can leave you feeling uncertain and stagnant. To chart a new course, you must create a routine to help you navigate this season. You must prioritise self-care and find ways to connect with the things that bring joy, meaning, and fulfilment into your life. Whether you exercise, practise mindfulness, or try a passion project, incorporating these activities into your daily routine can guide you toward a more positive and stable mental state. Additionally, it’s vital to map out small, attainable objectives to help you recalibrate your career goals, update your CV, or reach out to your network. Find a routine that works for you, but once you do, stick to it to regain control and build the resilience necessary to move on.
- Share the news
It is natural to want to share the good news with your family, friends, and loved ones and keep the not-so-good in the closet. However, telling people about your job loss can provide you with a support system. It may take a lot of courage to speak about your job loss. However, you can motivate yourself from the experiences of others. For example, when people post about their job loss on social media, they are usually flooded with responses from people willing to assist. Through this, people are introduced to others within their connections’ networks and have an avenue to distribute their CVs. Talking about your job loss can open up a door of opportunities and possibilities, taking you a step closer to a better future.
- Setup a budget
Money is one of the most stressful aspects of job loss. The thought of having to survive without a regular paycheck can be challenging. Even if you have a severance, it is vital to assess your financial situation and almost certainly make changes to your expenditure. Examining your money and budget might be intimidating, but being adequately informed is essential, and understanding your situation moneywise is beneficial for your financial wellness.
- Ask for help
Positive support and patience can positively impact you when dealing with job loss, so keep this in mind. Aside from opening up about your situation, you could also talk to professionals who can help you navigate this period. For instance, some attorneys can provide support after a job loss, especially when facing an unjust dismissal or being sacked for an accident at work. Because the situation can be stressful, you need all the support and insight you can get during this trying time to protect your emotional well-being and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
- Learn a new skill
If you have considered a career change, losing your job could be a blessing as you get time to upskill or reskill. You may learn something new, as many individuals did during the pandemic’s widespread layoffs. For instance, you could learn coding if you lost your sales job but have always been good with technology, so feel free to consider this. With the rise of the software business, now is the best time to acquire skills in the sector. This way, you won’t have to seek a new sales job but signup for a coding course and seek opportunities in the budding industry.
