Have You Been Laid Off? How to Thrive In Spite of It..

In these rough economic times, it can be scary to lose your job. But not having a job can also make you want to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Being laid off could be your golden chance to make big changes in your life. But how do you get over how disappointed you feel and use the situation to your advantage? Use these ways to deal with how you feel about being laid off and move on:

1. Avoid panic. Easier said than done, but remind yourself that you’ve been through hard times before and have come out on top. Also, don’t forget that you are not alone. There are other people going through what you are going through right now. When you don’t give in to panic, you can think more clearly and pay more attention to things in life that are more important. Don’t let this temporary set-back get you off track from some of your normal routines such as exercise, healthy eating, socializing, and family events. 
2. Take a deep breath. Think about what went wrong and why you lost your job. Was it because of a layoff, a company downsizing, or based on your work performance? Find out what happened and why it did. Taking time to reflect will help you learn from this experience and leave regrets in the past.
3. Allow yourself to take some time off, if financially feasible. No matter why you lost your job, tell yourself that it was in some way meant to be that way. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Even if you could have done something differently, learn from it and forgive yourself.
4. Look at what’s going on as a chance to start over. That’s the end of that chapter. You’re about to start a whole new story. Be optimistic. It’s so good for your soul to be able to take a different path in life. This could be an opportunity to work in a new field or industry. Who doesn’t love a “do-over?”
5. Look for the bright side. Think about how any problems you had at your old job are no longer there. You can see those old problems when you look in the rearview mirror. Get fired up about the future.
6. Consider your contacts. Who do you know who has a business of their own? Do they need help in any way? What about the family and business contacts of your friends? * Ask your friends and family in a tactful way if they know anyone who could use help right now. Some of the best employees that I’ve worked with have been one who were referred by friends and family. Let them know that you’re free. Try to find every way to get a new job.
7. Don’t rule out short-term gigs. You might be surprised by how much short-term work you can find through temp services, both online and in your area. Try to think less about how much you’ll be paid and more about what opportunities it could give you. This is a great approach to take when you want to try something new, but don’t want to make a long-term commitment. Have you always been good with numbers, but didn’t have a path towards accounting? Try a temporary accounting assistant role to see if it might be the right career moving forward. Think about it this way: no matter where you go to work, you will meet new people, learn new things, and make business contacts.
8. Use this time to learn and get more training. You might be able to get money to pay for the education or training you want or need. Check with the colleges, universities, and tech centers in your area to see if they have any programs that can help you out financially. Many colleges, such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, offer free online courses that could add to your skillsets. Move forward and keep learning new things. When you learn something new, you never know what could happen. You’ll also meet new people who can help you find a job if you get training and education.
9. Do what you want to do. Has there always been something you’d like to do with your life? Now might be the time you’ve been waiting for to take the first step toward the life you really want. Leave your worries and fears behind. Get more determined and go for it.
10. Be open and excited about what you don’t know. Yes, it’s scary to face the unknown. But sometimes it’s exciting and even changes your life. If you look at being unemployed as a big adventure and treat it with optimism and confidence, you’ll probably have good results.

Getting laid off from your job can be the first step toward living the life you’ve been dreaming of for years. Use the above tips to boost your efforts and get your spirit going so you can look forward to your future with excitement.