After Losing Your Job
It’s gone. No more morning rush to the office. No e-mails to check. No assignments due. No battle with the traffic on your way home.
You’ve lost your job. You’ve also lost your routine. Simple things which you had become accustomed to. Things that had become part of your life are no longer required.
Although work kept you busy and on your toes, now with seemingly infinite time on your hands, it seems like you are in a state of disarray.
You will search for things to fill your time. You will think of what you can do to occupy yourself. However, most people will be disorganized. It will take time to come up with a routine. It will take time to fill the seeming void left behind by the loss of your work.
You may even feel panic. Time seems to slow down and speed up. While you cannot find anything to occupy your time, the days pass by so quickly. You may be looking for a new job or trying to set up your own business. You seem to spend a lot of time just waiting.
You will also feel alone. Your time which was occupied by dealing with colleagues, customer and suppliers is left with less human contact. You will feel isolated after having spent so much time of your professional life occupied with the office and its matters.
With the abundance of time there also come moments of reflection and you begin to think that maybe you are to blame for your current situation. Maybe you brought on this condition of unemployment upon yourself. And chances are these feelings will cause you to descend into a state of depression.
I was lucky to have friends around me when it was my time. They filled me with hope and gave me the energy to pass through. Friends help you emotionally by lending an ear and offering support. They are available to be your sounding boards. They can help you change your perspective about the things around you.
It is also important to have the support of your family. Your parents, your spouse and your children. Their support through this time is of vital importance.
When you lose your job, make sure to take a deep breath and take some time to allow your mind and body to settle to the new reality. Do not panic and do not make decisions in haste. And do not blame yourself. Instead channel your energy and your time into taking stock of your assets. What are your strengths, what are your goals, what are your ambitions, where do you want to go from here?
Whether you now look for a new job or try to make it on your own in business, that is up to you. Be ready to take on new challenges and come out a stronger person from this speed bump in your career.