How to deal with job loss

We all go through job loss at some point and we should be prepared. What to do at that moment? Here we give you some strategies to be able to deal with it better.

The loss of a job affects many areas of a person’s life. They will have to face limited financial resources, see reduced contact with their co-workers and organize themselves to find a new job. All of this is linked to the impact that unemployment has on psychological and physical health.

In general, when you lose your job People usually go through about four phases:

First of all, there would come a kind of honeymoon in which the person is more optimistic and enjoys doing everything he couldn’t before. They tend to be a few months of enthusiasm and high expectations, so the job search begins with enthusiasm. Little by little, Your expectations may be disappointed if you have not been successful. It is then that they will reconsider whether they have been doing well and begin to accept the situation. However, this period often gives rise to feelings of failure, guilt or shame, and the job search is usually reduced. If between approximately 18 and 24 months you have not yet found a job, the person begins to be more depressed and resigned with your situation. Feelings of reluctance, apathy and inferiority will appear. Thus, if at that point the situation continues for longer, the desire has generally been lost. Being unemployed is identified, more as a state, as a trait. The person feels less qualified, incapable, motivated and has lost almost all hope.

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How to deal with the situation

First of all, you have to understand that Job loss is also experienced as grief. It is a significant loss in adult life and, as such, it is essential to navigate it in the most natural way possible. However, going through this stage having a series of resources that facilitate it is really important.

These personal resources will not only make unemployment milder, but will cushion to a certain extent the consequences it has on health and increase the probabilities of reemployment.

Search for an activity

One of the most important aspects during unemployment is the structuring of time. Generally, people tend to lose their routine, change their sleep patterns and, above all, their activity patterns. To improve this, It is highly recommended to find some activity to do.such as training or volunteering.

Another option is to dedicate part of your time to volunteering.. Its effects have been widely investigated in psychology, finding that in addition to increasing the network of professional contacts, it maintains the feeling of usefulness in the unemployed. Thus, the person feels necessary and gratified to carry out a task altruistically.

Change perception

Although it may be easy to say, something key is to understand that, in most cases, one is not responsible for finding oneself in that situation. Besides, You have to work on seeing that period as something transitory.which with effort, patience and desire, will end sooner rather than later.

You don’t have to be excessively critical, or beat yourself up daily for having lost your job. One option could be to think about Take advantage of the opportunity to find a better job opportunity. Either aspiring to have a better salary, better conditions or a better work schedule.

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What may seem like a time of suffering could become a time to reflect and advance your career.

To look for help

First of all, if negative feelings predominate, the most important thing will be seek professional help if necessary. But, in addition, it is essential to have a good support network with whom to vent and ask for help if needed.

Social support has proven to be a great buffer for psychological well-being in a multitude of problems. And in the end, the most important thing is having people around us who appreciate us and are there when we need it.

Likewise, it will be necessary seek financial aid so that the impact on day-to-day life is reduced and a large part of the quality of life can be maintained.

One more test of life

The negative situations that happen in life not only affect us psychologically and can make us suffer, but they can be interpreted as a test to overcome. Job loss is no different. It should be considered as a challenge, as a lesson that is necessary to be able to grow. Personally and professionally. This painful and frustrating stage can also help enhance our creativity in how to overcome some obstacles.