In my last post, I discussed some of the things you will be facing in that first week after a layoff. This post will conclude the first 7 days, but my plan is to add to these post over time so feel free to add your experiences and together we can reach a wider audience.
So it’s been a few days since you were “dismissed from your daily work duties”, so Now What:
Face your demons
Write down your fears and concerns? What troubles you, now that you are unemployed. The reason it is important to document this is because it will become your action items list. The opposite of most of our fears is usually our goals, so in the process of writing down your fears you will be creating your new goals.
Exercise….
Yes I said it “Exercise…”. Now in my opinion you don’t need an expensive gym membership to get your needed exercise. And at this point it may be time to assess whether you should incur the cost of a gym membership (If you have one). My stance is to get outside and walk, just get moving. No need to run a marathon or climb a mountain just get outside and walk. Step out and walk the dog an extra mile, walk to the nearest park, walk to the supermarket. Just get going to wherever your feet takes you. The great thing about walking is that it give you a lot of time to think and clear your mind, and on the plus side you don’t need to spend a dollar.
Finish at least one home projects
I am not talking about renovating an entire floor. Focus on those little things that you just lived with for the last couple of years. Maybe it’s a light switch, maybe its clearing out the closet. Find that one household “thing” that bugs you and do something about it.
Find “Fallen” co-workers
If you were part of a mass layoff, then guess what, you are not alone. Meet up with the people that are in the same situation as yourself. Everything you are thinking and feeling they can definitely relate.
Learn something new
Hopefully by visiting this website you have learned one thing that will help you through this transition. The internet is a vase pool of information and all you have to do is consume it. If you take nothing else from this website, please visit www.ted.com. So what is TED? Imagine if every expert, in every field sat down to have a talk with you about what they do. Well TED is the place to go to have that discussion. I personally visit the website at least twice a week and I am never disappointed. You will learn things that will blow your mind.
Ok so we have the first week behind us. You have cried, gotten angry, worried, felt sorry for yourself, so now what. Well now is the time to focus and move on. My next post in this series will be focused on the first month after a layoff and items you should be focusing on in that time stay tuned…
If you have ever been laid off in the past, what were some of the things you did in that first week?
[…] on the financial impacts. If you fall into that bracket, you should focus review my guide on the First 7 days after a layoff and 30 days after. If its been 6 months or more its time for you to look into the […]