Being Unemployed During The Pandemic Is Not The End of The World
Losing your one and only source of dependence to pay the bills and get your needs going may cause a lot of pressure and stress. It can take a serious toll on your well-being, your relationships, and your overall quality of life. Feeling beaten down by money worries can adversely impact your sleep, self-esteem, and energy levels. It can leave you feeling angry, ashamed, or fearful, fuel tension, mood swings, and even increase your risk of depression and anxiety. Moreover, during the coronavirus pandemic, everything may become worst. Sadly, we’ve all been there at one point or another. Job searching and being unemployed sucks, there’s no way around it.
On the contrary, I think there’s still a possibility to look on the bright side of this mishap.
1. You have more time with yourself
Me-time is the one thing that we’ve been craving for during our busy-bee schedule at work. “Been dying to travel to that island or try that new restaurant”, but duh! Your boss is calling for another unplanned meeting and another new assignment to finish. Now, you have plenty of time off of your boss’s disturbance. So, go have that vacation and try that new restaurant!
Meanwhile, this free time you have also given you the chance to do some soul-searching you’ve been dying to do. It gives you the chance to take a break and breathe. It gives you the chance to look at your present self thoroughly and see if there’s anything that you could do to make you happy or improve yourself before you get back to that hamster wheel. Balance out your life now you have the time. Find yourself, find your interests, and find what will truly make you happier. Seize the opportunity.
We all lead these insane lives which can put our aspirations and our audacious goals on the back burner sometimes. Use this time off to understand these aspirations and goals — and determine how you can get there.
Looking for ways to increase your job skills while unemployed is a good way to move forward as well. Look for certifications or training you could take, especially those offered for free.
You can qualify more for even entry-level positions with extra training in your line of work, and many cities or states offer job skills training. Refreshing your resume, and interview and job skills may make your job hunt easier.
2. You can get back to your hobby
I’m the kind of person who loves to find a piece of good music and read a good book in my spare time. When I was finished my contract from my previous company, I used that time to discover new music and the latest news from my favorite artists, oh and better yet, I even bought a couple of books I’ve been dying to read and it felt awesome!
So get off your ass and start getting back to your hobbies whether it’s painting, watching movies, soccer, hiking, anything!
3. Spend quality time with your closed ones
Everybody loves a good Sunday as it’s time to balance out your work and life situation. Either have a chatty family breakfast, have a family picnic, hang out with your friends, play video games with nephew, etc. Now that you have the leisure, enjoy it with your closed ones.
4. Exercise
Another good way to keep yourself away from feeling depressed about your new situation is to exercise. It doesn’t take much to get slightly more active, and exercise can help you stay positive. Yes, the thing they say about endorphins is true.
So, move your body and hit that gym. If you think the gym is too much because you gotta pay, etc. then you can try to walk around the block a few times a week as it can also do the job for keeping you motivated and happy. If you take care of yourself, you can make the most of this extra time.
5. Volunteer
Volunteering is also an excellent way to use the extra time when you’re unemployed. Additionally, if you volunteer in an area related to your job qualifications, you can often include the experience on your resume.
Several studies show that volunteering enhances personal skillset, attitudes, and knowledge that can potentially help job seekers in the labor market.
Not only that, doing good is a true mood booster and is sure to help you stay optimistic while looking for your next job.
While unemployment numbers are still high due to this pandemic, there are many things you can do to better yourself and move forward. There are plenty of free ways to get ahead, online and off.
Additionally, don’t forget that taking time for yourself can do wonders for keeping you productive in your job hunt. While it is a challenge, don’t give up, being unemployed can offer you extra time to better yourself, and possibly grow more qualified to find work.
With love,
R
