7 Ways to Cope with the Stress of Job Loss & Unemployment

The waves of layoffs come and go. Some ride the tide while others get washed away in the flow. It’s scary and mentally scarring to lose a job in such an era where many struggle to make ends meet. The bills get stacked up while the sense of validation that most people derive from office & their work is also lost.

If you feel like grieving and upset about job loss then let us tell you that it’s completely normal and okay. This is a part of your journey and you should embrace it with a pinch of salt. Feel the hurt but after a certain point, know when to snap out of the zone and get back in the grind. Job loss and unemployment can affect you mentally and stress you out, but know that it is not the end of the road. With the right mindset and strategy, you can pick yourself up once again and get back into the grind of life.

Given below are 7 ways to cope with job loss, unemployment, and career transition.

1) Acknowledge your feelings, confront the reality

Losing a job sucks, big time. No one wants to be at the receiving end of layoffs. Going toe to toe with unemployment is probably the last thing you want. But, it happened, you lost your job and that’s a harsh fact.

So, what do you do next?

Understand all the intense emotions that you’re feeling. Sit in peace and regulate your thoughts with a positive approach. Something big has happened and it’s normal to have unlimited thoughts racing through your mind.

The ideal way around is to journal your thoughts, and later on, when you’re calm and relaxed, address those worries one by one. When you confront your reality with a positive mindset, you take away the power of negative thoughts and channel your efforts towards something constructive rather than the contrary.

2) Create a routine for familiarity

The time between the job loss and getting the offer letter is probably the most difficult phase.

When you’ve worked in high-stress jobs and fast-paced environments, you’re used to feeling productive and mentally occupied. But, when you’re between jobs, you’ve plenty of free time. Even if you indulge in leisure activities and enjoy them, after a certain amount of time, you’ll get bored.

As humans, we need a purpose to keep us focused and aligned. So, it is crucial for you to create some sort of structure in this free time you have in your hand.

An ideal day can look like this -

1. Setting up alarms and getting up at a fixed, regular time
2. Set a specific time period aside for your job search
3. Create a dedicated space where you spend leisure time and where you work
4. Get out of the house and explore your surroundings
5. Work on upskilling your industry knowledge
6. Take up meditation, yoga, or a gym membership
7. Eat and sleep on time
8. Repeat

3) Sort your finances

Job loss can create heavy financial pressure on you and your family. If you spend carelessly in this period, you’ll run out of funds.

So, what’s the way forward?

Simply, sit down with your partner, sort your budget, cut down on discretionary spending, and spend only on what you need. Don’t go above and beyond your budget because, frankly, you don’t have any extra bucks to spare.

4) Have an honest dialogue with your fam

After you, your family will be the second most affected set of people when the job loss news breaks out. They will be the ones who will have to extend their support to you and handle you when you’re upset and worked up. So, it is necessary to huddle with your loved ones and give them a heads-up of what has happened and what’s next to come.

Have an open dialogue and be vulnerable with them. This will help your family understand your state of mind and your situation better.

The point of doing this? You will receive the care, support, warmth, understanding, and patience you need from them in times of job search.

5) Save yourself & your personal identity

During your career transition, it is normal to feel rejected because of unanswered job applications, feeling ghosted by recruiters, lack of clarity, endless assignments & tests, and other chaos that come along with it.

However, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Instead of getting worked up and acting out of insecurity and impulse, remember that you’re on a hunt for a job that’s good for you.

So look for the right opportunities and build your personality by -

• Focusing on things that you like, apart from your work, such as hobbies, socialising, & hanging out with friends or family.
• Start visualising that you’re achieving your goal, what you want from your next job, and what are your strengths and weaknesses.
• Surround yourself with people who motivate you rather than ones who bring chaos along with them.
• Take a chill pill. Enjoy doing activities that you couldn’t do when you were working. Don’t let your work define you & enjoy pursuing your hobby.

6) Assess your skillset and upskill if needed

The job market and the description of a profile are always fluctuating. Oftenly, people stay in jobs for a long period of time. So, when they are out of the job all of a sudden, the market demands can often overwhelm them. This is where you need to analyse your skills and see which job is the most suitable for you. If needed, you can get upskilled through a course and bag employment at a higher cost to the company (CTC).

7) Figure out what’s next around the horizon

The most important part when you are out of a job is to have a clear direction of what you want. So, figure out your favourite roles and go all out on your job search.

1. Update your resume
2. Tap into your network and share your resume along with a portfolio
3. Get help with interview practice, cover letters, or job searching
4. Learn about industries that are hiring and are a good fit for you

If you can master these 7 ways to cope with your job loss, you’ll come out of this career transition phase well intact with better mental health. Moreover, you can also take supplements like three60 De-Stress & Chill gummies to relax your mind and prevent it from going into an overdrive kind of state.

Job search can be painful and taxing on your mental health. So, follow these techniques to ensure you and your loved ones are least affected by this transition. The process of career or job switch is difficult but it doesn’t have to be unbearable. Take care of yourself and your mental health to come out of this phase stronger than before.