Job losses are hard. That’s a fact. It doesn’t matter whether it was your decision or someone else’s, or whether you did something wrong or not. They are hard, regardless of the situation. Losing your job has a tremendous impact on your life. Your routine will change, your financial situation will be severely impacted, and it can place a lot of strain on your relationships. On top of all of that, it could lead to a serious decline in your mental health. Many people feel anxious, depressed, and worthless after a job loss. You may want to wallow in your self-pity, but it’s important to take care of your mental health first and foremost. We’ll be going through some things you can do to help with this.
Have a look at services you can use
There are many services available to those who are unemployed. You can go to seminars, learn new skills, get help with your CV, and much more. Many companies can help you look for jobs, and you may receive financial compensation from your local government in some cases. HelpAdvisor.com has a lot of information that can help retirees who have been retrenched due to age.
Lean on others for support
People often experience a lot of shame surrounding a job loss. This leads to them isolating themselves from those that they love. This is the exact opposite of what you should do. When you go through any type of major event, you need to open yourself up and talk to those closest to you. This can help you work through your feelings. Remember that your family will likely also be affected by your job loss, so sitting down and having an open conversation could be beneficial for all parties.
Take a break
While your first instinct may be to jump right back into the job market, that’s not always the best option, especially when it comes to your mental health. Of course, not everyone is in the position to take a break before searching for a job, but if you are, you should consider it. You may even have received some extra money from your job loss which could be enough to carry your expenses while you take some time to work through everything that happened. For example, if you were retrenched, you may have received a retrenchment package with financial compensation. However, if you were dismissed, you may not have this extra money to help you while you take some time off.
Learn a new skill
If you’ve gone from spending your days working to spending your days doing nothing, you may feel bored. This means it’s the perfect time to learn a new skill. Learning a new skill will help you feel like you are being productive and accomplishing something, which will help curb the feelings of inadequacy. It can also help you get a new job – the more mental skills you have, the more you can offer a company.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
