Surviving Unemployment: Write your way to happiness.

August 12, 2011 | Author: admin-sextant

Remember the first days of the school year with your new notebooks and new pens?  You couldn’t wait to start writing with them.   And when bored, you doodled with those pens on the notebooks with curlicues, lines, arrows, hearts or anything that came to mind.  Now is somewhat different.  Instead of doodling we use the notebooks and pens to write our thoughts, make lists, or send greetings.  However, we don’t do all our writing ink and paper; the computer has replaced the age old tools.

Whether it is with ink and paper or on a laptop, writing is a way to communicate what we are thinking inside. Instead of bottling up our feelings, we put them out there in the open air.  We realize that there is more to us than what is on the surface.  We are discovering ourselves.

Some of the activities on the list below are creative.  Creating something is good for our self-esteem and self-confidence.   Others let what is inside of you out.  Getting it off your chest as it were, freeing you from the burdens they cause. These are only meant for you to see after you have written them.  Others are communications with other people to let others know you are thinking about them and that you care about them. You are reaching out to someone else and brightening their day.  Whichever action you choose, you will feel better for having done it.

  • List all your blessings:  Not all in your life is as bleak as it may seem.  There are many things in your life to be thankful for.  You have your health, friends, family, a roof over your head and you woke up this morning.  Continue to grow this list for several days.  What you are thankful for doesn’t have to be big; anything you are thankful for counts.
  • Take inventory of your worth:  Rather than listing your financial assets, list what makes you a valuable person.   Include your family and friends, education, works of charity and compassion, hobbies, books you have read, successes, achievements and honors.
  • Journal your feelings:  Spend a few moments each day to write down how you are feeling, what you are thinking on any given current event.    You don’t have to think, just write what comes to mind.
  • Write a blog:  Write about your favorite topic.  Setting up a blog account is quick and easy.  Let others in on what you think or know about something important to you.
  • Research:   Remember the endless reports you did in school.  Research a topic you are interested in and write about as you would a school project for no other reason than your own satisfaction.  Now you can call it a white paper.
  • Write letters:  If you are like many, you have lost touch with old friends and some family members.  Now is a great time to write them a letter to catch them up on what you have been doing since you last saw them.  However, don’t let them think that you are reaching out only because you are unemployed and looking for them to help you.  Simply tell them that you are fine and have some time available that allows you to reconnect with people you have lost touch with.  Or write a letter that you definitely shouldn’t send to the person who laid you off telling them what you are thinking and feeling.  Then shred it.  You don’t have to send it to make you feel better.
  • Write down your goals:  Think about what your goals are for the coming year, a five year goal and a 10 year goal.  After you have determined your goals, write down an action plan for achieving them.  Then go out and do it.

Write it out; explain it to yourself; create a plan for living; share with other people; learn about who you are right now; put it in writing and commit to it.  You are doing yourself a huge favor.  So grab a pen, some paper or your computer and start writing.  You don’t have to think about what you are writing.  Just free yourself.

Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach providing stuck job searchers with the tools they need to find the job of their dreams.  www.arleenbradley.com.

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Surviving Unemployment: Time on your hands.

August 5, 2011 | Author: admin-sextant

Think of all the things you wanted to do when you had time.  Well the good news is you now have the time.  The bad news is it’s called unemployment.  There are so many projects we put off because they aren’t the most fun, yet, deep down inside we know they have to get done.  It isn’t that they are distasteful; they are time-consuming and finishing them in the time we have available doesn’t always allow us to start and complete the project in one sitting.  So they hang over our heads like the crown on the queen.   Well maybe not like the queen’s crown, but you get the idea.

The best way to start is to make a list of all the things you want to do.  Then each day pick one from the list and continue until you have completed the list.  If it takes a few days, that’s okay.  When that project is done , check it off your list and find another one.  Keep doing this until your list is all checked off.  However, you might find you or others keep adding to your list.  Some of the items below are on my list, however, your list will look different, I’m sure.

  • Clean out:  Closets, the refrigerator, the garage, the cellar, or any place that ends up being the catchall.  It is amazing the things you can find.  You can give some things, sell them at a garage sale or put them on eBay.
  • Read: The books you have bought but never read.  Or the classics, books you have always enjoyed, inspirational, or self-improvement.  A good book to read in your current situation is Fired Up, by Harvey Mackay.  Fired Up consists of stories of famous people who /laid off and have gone to become very successful along with job search tips from Harvey Mackay.
  • Paint a room: Or two.  If you have to be home all day, you can enjoy clean fresh surroundings.
  • Put pictures in albums:  I love taking pictures, but never get around to putting them in photo albums.  I have the pictures still in the envelope from the developer and some photo albums, but never seem to find the time to combine the two.
  • Finish projects:  Many people have good intentions when starting a project.  They buy all the supplies and materials only to find one thing after another gets in the way of finishing.  Now you have the time to finish them.  Make a list of what you want to finish and tackle each one to completion before going on to the next.  What a sense of satisfaction you feel when you complete it.
  • Family tree:  You have heard the stories of your ancestors but now you have the time to record the stories.  Using your local library and online resources, trace your family tree as far back as you can and keep track of the people you find.   See if you can find pictures of family members.  Visit elderly relatives to learn about whom you are looking for and any information they have.
  • Make it yourself:  Cook and bake instead of purchasing pre-meals.  Chop, knead, mix, and stir your way to satisfaction and inexpensive home cooked meals.  Freeze some for later enjoyment.   Homemade bread tastes delicious and while it rises you have time to work on finding a job.

Hopefully by the time you find a job your list will be complete or at the very least much of it will be checked off.  Going back to work after finishing much of your list will allow you to feel that at least your unemployment wasn’t a waste of time.

Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach providing stuck job searchers with the tools they need to find the job of their dreams.  www.arleenbradley.com.

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Surviving Unemployment: Free is the key.

July 29, 2011 | Author: admin-sextant

The best things in life are free.

Free is the key or what your public library can offer you.  Free events keep you sane and your budget on track.  After you found out you were laid off, one of the first things you did was look at your budget with a hatchet.  Anything not vitally necessary was the first to go.  Next, the things you could live without.  But you still didn’t have much left for the food, clothing and shelter; not to mention the taxes, gasoline, fees, insurance, telephone, cable, internet and the costs of finding a job.  When the dust settled you realized that anything free was going to be your best friend.

The trouble is not many things in life are free except at your local public library.  There are free events you can attend for entertainment and enrichment; you just have to change where and what you do.  With a little imagination and a good relationship with a librarian you can keep yourself pretty busy doing interesting things.  Another place to look for free events is in your local newspaper; and by the way, you can find that at your public library too.

What is interesting to note is that many people have been doing these things for a long time; we just never thought about looking into it before because we didn’t have to.   As I mentioned earlier, a little imagination will go a long way in making this time as enjoyable and productive as you can make it. But now we have to watch every penny and stretch every dollar.  Below are some possibilities to get you thinking about what you could do.

  • Family nights:  Instead of dinner and a movie, make a pizza and watch the video you have taking of the family over the years.  Have a theme for the videos–birthday parties, sporting events, school activities, to name a few.  Or take out the photo albums and look at all the great photos you have snapped.
  • Check out your local library:  Did you know many libraries have passes to museums, free DVDs, music CDs, and artwork available totake out in addition to many books, newspapers and magazines?   Call your local library to see what passes they have and to make arrangements to borrow them.
  • Community events:   Check the listings in the local paper for free activities such as street festivals, lectures, concerts, etc.  Many colleges and universities open concerts and lectures to the general public.
  • Sight-see in your own city/town:  Your own city/town has a history that is hidden in plain view.  Visit your local historical center to see what your city offers and then go see them.   If there are statutes in your city, do some research on the people they depict.  Take a walking tour of your city/town to see what other people come to visit.
  • Swim free:  By obtaining a pass you can swim at community lakes, ponds, or swimming pools.  Residents are given a pass to the local swimming hole for a season.
  • Learn a new skill:  find a friend who has the skill you would like to learn and trade lessons by offering to teach them a skill you have.  It is a win/win for both.  Trade with several people to expand your skill set.  Not only can you teach/learn computer skills but cooking, arts and crafts, sports, or anything that interests you.
  • Go on a picnic: Pack a lunch and take it to a park, shady tree, or body of water.  Bring along a ball, Frisbee and some great people.  Or take a good book for some reading for a quiet afternoon.

 

Do you remember a time before TV when families gathered around the piano and sang songs while someone played?  Or when people gathered at the bandstand in the park and listened to the community band give a concert?  No, neither do I, but I have seen movies on TV where people did that and it looked like fun.  Everyone looked so happy and engaged.  It was a time when most people had library cards and the only things at the library were books, newspapers and magazines. Our parents and grandparents remember.  It was how they lived through the Depression and WWII.  Whether it was the lack of money during the Depression or rationing in WWII, they shared, they saved, they mingled with people, and they were less stressed than we are now.  Give it try for yourself and see what happens.

 

Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach providing stuck job searchers with the tools they need to find the job of their dreams.  www.arleenbradley.com.

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Surviving Unemployment: Take care of you.

July 22, 2011 | Author: admin-sextant

Relax and recharge.

How frustrating it is when you want a cold glass of milk, but someone before you took it all.  The carton is empty.  When it’s gone, it’s gone.  Nil, zip, zero.   No matter how much you want it, there is nothing there.  You can squeeze and squeeze, but you won’t get anything.  The same is true with your energy, your perseverance, your patience, and your positive outlook, to mention only a few.  At this point in your job search, you may be noticing some of these are being sapped from you.  The result is you just don’t have the strength to continue on, or so you think.  You have lost the momentum.

What happened to the momentum?  It has been slowly leaking from you after repeatedly sending out unanswered resumes, interviews that don’t result in an offer, staring at a computer screen day after day looking for the elusive needle in the haystack-the right opportunity that fits your skills to a T.  When this happens it is difficult to remain optimistic and to continue your search.  And this comes through in your attitude and appearance–the two most important tools after your marketing materials.

How you present yourself to your network or to the person interviewing you is crucial.  In order to be successful in your job search you must show energy and enthusiasm.  It’s a catch 22.  You need what is draining out of you to get a job.  You need to take care of you just as much as you are taking care of your job search.  In fact, if you don’t take care of you, your job search will suffer.  You need to pay attention to your mind, body and spirit.  Proper nutrition, adequate sleep, exercise and connecting with your Higher Power should be high priorities on your to-do list.

Eating nutritious foods instead of snacking on carbs provides your body with the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep your energy up and maintain a healthy weight.  (Weight gain is another whole blog.)  Exercising release endorphins that make you feel good and look fit.  Taking care of your spirit will keep you centered and grounded.  Below are some things you can do to keep your body fit and your mind clear.  It is not an exhaustive list but it serves as a way to jump-start your creativity to find things that you can do to take care of you.

  • Exercise:  Keep yourself physically fit.  Fit into some clothes that have gotten too small.  Prevent yourself from gaining weight.   (Check with your physician before starting any exercise program.)
  • Prepare healthy meals yourself:  No take out. Shop and chop fresh fruits and veggies.  It is cheaper to prepare a healthy meal at home than to buy fast food loaded with sodium, fat and calories.
  • Meditate:  Usually involved with meditation is deep and conscious breathing.  Breathing this way has a calming effect on the body.  Meditation will also focus your mind off your troubles and  on to calm peaceful thoughts–a respite from the anxiety.
  • Connect with your Higher Power:  The lessons taught by your Higher Power are often the ones we need to hear most often.  By looking at the lessons, we see which are appropriate for our current situation and can find ways to feel better about ourselves by following the practices of the faith we subscribe to.
  • Learn something new:  Learning something new carries a sense of satisfaction with it and promotes self-confidence.  At this time your self-confidence has taken a hit below the belt by first being laid off, then feeling rejected by not being chosen for the jobs you interview for.  You counter these negative feelings by showing yourself you are a capable person.
  • Relax:  Take time each day to relax in any way you choose.  This is vital to your health.  Being over stressed can take its emotional and physical toll on the body resulting in illness, aches and pains.  Overcome this by relaxing your mind and body each day.

Taking care of you holds in check the frustration you feel while unemployed.  If you are doing all the right tasks to find a job, the only thing left to do is try to relax while waiting for the good news to come.  Instead of a cold glass of milk take a cold glass of lemonade and a good book under a shady tree and read something that affirms you.

Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach providing stuck job searchers with the tools they need to find the job of their dreams.  www.arleenbradley.com.

Posted in career transitions, job search help, need a job, unemployed | 1 Comment

Surviving Unemployment: Be a people person.

July 14, 2011 | Author: admin-sextant

Friends through it all.

Last week I introduced my upcoming series of blogs about coping with your job loss. This week I will tell you how being a people person will help you endure the wait until you land your next job. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, therefore I cannot give you the medical facts on why being with people minimizes depression. What I am able to do is to suggest some activities that will keep you out and about.

It is no surprise that being with people is more fun that being alone. Some solitude is necessary, but too much is risky to your healthy state of mind. The daily interaction with colleagues is stressful at times, but the human interaction is what people miss most about their lost job. There are two ways of looking at surrounding yourself with people. One networking in job search jargon. Networking events bring people together for the purpose of making contacts that will hopefully be beneficial to both parties. The other is being socially engaged which is also a manner of networking even though that is not the sole purpose. Rather it is a possible outcome.

While you were working, time was precious. There never seemed to be enough of it to do everything that needed to be done. Now, some things can be done during the day instead of squeezing them in between work and bedtime. On the weekends family and social obligations left little time for pursuing interests of your own. Your unplanned vacation opens up time for you to pursue events that will make you feel connected to the outside world.  The following list is only an example, what you chose to do is up to you.

Networking opportunities:

  • Job search groups: Provide an opportunity to share the woes of being unemployed along with tips and leads for job searchers to use. There are many different types and finding one that is right for you won’t be too difficult. Contact the coordinator to find out the goals of the group, the way it operates and any fees.
  • Networking events: provide a large group of people each with different contacts and needs. By interacting with as many people as you can during the event, you learn what you can offer them and what they might be able to offer you. Most events require pre-registration and have a fee.
  •  Career fairs: Provide opportunities to meet with human resource people from various companies. Check the list of companies participating just prior to the event to see if any of your target companies are attending or to find new target companies.

Social Engagements:

  • Meeting friends: Maintain contact with your friends. Your friends are a support system for you during this stressful time. They will provide relief from the loneliness you can feel from being home. Ask them to change the way you meet. Look for lower cost venues.  Enjoy a day by spending time with friends around a prearranged theme.  Spa Day, Arm Chair Coach day, clean up each others yards, or workout together.  Find another friend who is unemployed and go for a walk around office and industrial parks.  While you are there take note of the names of the companies there and when you go home look up their websites to see if they have any openings.
  • Clubs, charitable and religious organizations: While you were working, time was precious and didn’t allow you to join clubs, charitable or religious organizations. These not only provide you with an opportunity to meet new people, but also the chance to use or learn new skills and feel part of something again.
  • Performance based groups: If you have talent or interest in singing or acting, joining a choral group or community theater is a great to feed that desire. Using your talent with a group of like-minded people gives you a sense of belonging and part of something bigger than you.
  • Special interest groups: Check out your local newspaper for special interest groups in your area, such as bird watchers, adult sport leagues, political activism, etc. are just a few. If you can’t find what interests you, start a group.
  • Volunteer your time: Libraries, soup kitchens, SPCA’s, non-profits, schools, hospitals, elderly in the neighborhood (or any you know) all need free help. You can pick the amount of time and when you want to volunteer. Choose the type of work you want to do. Both of you will reap the benefits. The feeling you get when you volunteer your time to help someone else can’t be compared to anything else.

Belonging to a group of people doing something you enjoy benefits your mental health. However, your mental health isn’t the only thing to benefit. Each new person you meet as a result of the above human interactions is a new contact. Each one is a potential colleague, future friend, or soul mate. You never know where the relationship will lead.

Arleen Bradley is a certified career coach providing stuck job searchers with the tools they need to find the job of their dreams.  www.arleenbradley.com.

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