TIPS YOU CAN ADOPT TO COPE WITH THE WHOLE NEW SITUATION AND BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD.
Job loss can be a very traumatizing and unpleasant experience especially if you weren’t expecting it. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll across the globe, A total of 81% of the global workforce of 3.3 billion people have had their workplace fully or partly closed and nearly 200 million people could end up out of work according to the International Labour Organization. The pandemic has seen many individuals lose their jobs. Unfortunately, experts warn that those numbers will continue rising in the coming months.
If you’ve recently been laid off, your future may seem uncertain, you may feel hopeless and struggling to manage your well-being and that of your family. You may be worried about your finances, finding a new job, and taking care of your health.
This emotional roller coaster can at times be tiring. However, the good news is there are several tips you can adopt to cope with the whole new situation and be able to maintain your mental health during this difficult period.
Acknowledge the feeling
I’d say you grieve. Even though grieving is normally associated with death, job loss too can be traumatic and devastating. Don’t try to fight or run away from those feelings of disappointments and defeat. Acknowledge that feeling sad, scared, frustrated, and angry is natural. Doing so will allow you to appropriately cope with the whole situation, heal, and march on.
Be with the Right People
Having the right people around you during that period is essential and helpful. Sometimes you would want to be left alone, locked up in solitude, and thats okay. However, family and close friends can make a big difference. They can help in keeping your hopes high and focus while looking for your next job.
Don’t lose your Routine
Losing a job can easily derail you from your normal lifestyle routine especially dieting. It is also tempting to stay in bed all day because you don’t have to go to work. However, studies show that doing so will only serve to worsen your predicament and that following a daily routine can help regulate mood and help keep out depression. Strive to wake up as you always do and maintain daily meal schedules. Having and strictly following a routine creates a sense of normalcy while keeping off bad habits that would otherwise worsen the whole situation.
Get Fit
It’s important to note that exercising improves not only your physical but also emotional health. Exercise releases endorphins that trigger positive feelings, something that can fuel the happiness, motivation, and drive that will keep you focused during the whole job-loss period and your job hunt. Start by a 30 minutes work-out, 4 days a week.
Restructure your finances
Job loss means you would be receiving payments as you used to. First of all, Don’t make any fast financial decisions., it’s easy to make hasty financial decisions In times of such stress that normally turn out to be poor. So in the wake of your job loss, make sure to wait until you come up with a pragmatic plan to restructure your finances.
Avoid/Limit alcohol
While you can have a glass of wine or a shot of your favorite whiskey as a way to deal with stress, overdoing it can harm your mental health. Aside from hastening your addiction chances, alcohol can deplete your brain’s serotonin levels. Low levels of serotonin induce feelings of increased depression and anxiety. Alcohol also reduces your energy level.
Don’t spend all your time searching for a job
Its normal to be anxious about getting a new job but spending all your time trying to find one will prove to be stressful and depressing. Create a schedule for yourself, designate a period where you be focussing on job search and applications. This will help you be stable mentally, motivate you, and also be present for your other important activities.
Lossing a job unexpectedly can be an overwhelming, stressful, and life-changing event. it shouldn’t seem like the end of the road though. With the above tips, it is possible to sail through the period successfully and recover quickly. Good Luck!