Being unemployed is something that millions go through each year. Some of us are lucky enough to have small stints of unemployment, while some of us are stuck there for months or even years. While the number one concern during unemployment is finances, and how to pay the bills, that’s not the only thing on people’s minds while they’re unemployed. The mental drain of being unemployed is real, and it can lead people to difficult places. It’s not a vacation, and it’s not fun, but there are ways to manage the mental stress. Let’s review some tips to survive unemployment, all while keeping up your mental strength.
Start a Professional Project/Build a Portfolio
Jobs bring more than money into our homes. There’s a reason why people with long careers call them “livelihoods.” When you’re taken away from your career/livelihood, there’s a feeling that something is ripped from you. Your skills are no longer being utilized, and it feels like your opinions don’t matter. This is a great opportunity to start a new project to continue building and utilizing your already existing skills. Sometimes when we’re working regularly, we don’t realize all of the skills that we’ve obtained and utilized over the years. Start writing down what you’re good at, and what you do well that others may not. Then find a way to put those skills into action. Maybe you start a blog or a portfolio. There are many cheap/free options for doing so. Maybe you simply keep notes of everything you’ve done well over the years so that way you can articulate them for later (maybe for a job interview?). Maybe you start your own business.
You can use this time to help your friends and loved ones with those unique skills that you’ve built over the years in your career. But most importantly, don’t let those skills stagnate. If you do, you might lose some of them or at least forget. This is a great opportunity to show off what you’ve done, and maybe your skills will catch onto your network and help you find work.
Make a Schedule for Yourself
Many people act like those on unemployment are getting a break. They might say “Well, at least enjoy the time off while you have it.” Intentions are pure, but it still hits differently for those who are unemployed. Don’t lose touch with your schedule, as you will find yourself fighting your priorities. Even if your day does not consist of applying for jobs for 40 hours a week, schedule some time to be productive. Use this as an opportunity to build your own schedule to stay productive throughout the day. You can schedule a few hours to learn new skills, a few to work on your projects, or a few hours to work on your resume and apply for jobs. Feeling productive can help fight off negative thoughts, and you can assure yourself and others that you’re staying active and useful.
Set Goals
It’s never fun wandering around unemployment aimlessly. It can be depressing and frustrating. But giving yourself some goals gives you the opportunity to achieve something while you’re not working. The goals should range from easy to dreamful. But make sure you allow yourself some goals that you can achieve. Setting a goal of “Get a $250k paying job within three weeks” might be more of a dream than reality. Instead, set yourself a goal to “Apply for 10 jobs with a pay range of $150-250k by the end of the week.”
All of your goals do not have to be around employment, either. Maybe you set a goal to learn three new technical skills by the end of the month. Maybe you set a goal to learn a new skill that might not be professional (but it may come in handy later). You can learn to solve a Rubik’s cube. Allow yourself some accomplishment since you’re not receiving those rewards at work.
Take Breaks
You may see some people on LinkedIn saying “I’m applying for 100+ jobs a week, and applying 10+ hours a day.” While that is noble, and maybe necessary for some, it does not always produce fruit. You may have to apply for several dozen (or hundred) jobs before you get the next best job, but giving yourself a break now and then is vital. Applying to hundreds of jobs likely means hundreds of rejection emails. Those are painful and exhausting, but eventually many become numb to them. Don’t let the mental fatigue wear you down. Instead, give yourself a few hours off now and then. This will give you time to refresh and reset your mental stamina.
Learn New Skills
Many who get unemployed spend their first few weeks looking for jobs in the fields in which they have experience. After several weeks or months, some see the writing on the walls: people aren’t hiring for the same job you once had. This is a time when you can learn some new skills to build for future interviews and careers. There are several free platforms out there to learn skills while unemployed. LinkedIn offers free courses and badges. YouTube is a great platform to learn new skills and build education. Find something that you think is relevant (or maybe just want to learn) to help you during and after unemployment.
Additional Resources
If you’re still stuck in the unemployment process, we have some additional resources for you. Check out our Interview Tips and Resume Tips.
