With the majority of my career being in the hospitality industry, I have gone through my fair share of being laid-off or laying off others. Whether it was from the tragedies stemmed from 9/11, the recession in 2008/2009 or overall organization re-structuing – I have experienced first hand, the issues surrounding lay-offs from the persepctive of both the employer and being an employee. If you have read my bio, you will also know and understand that the last time I was laid off, it was a very traumatic, but life changing experience that forced me to recalibrate the trajectory of my career. Therefore, based on my unique perspective on the topic of being laid off, please find below my top tips in how you should plan on moving forward:
Take a Breath:
When individuals are laid-off, they go through a vareity of emotions similar to the ones faced during a traumatic event. Central to the experience of trauma is the initail shock which then quickly transforms into anger where one experiences states of helplessness, isolation and the loss of control. Its important to understand that as you naturally go through these stages, you are not in the right frame of mind to be making key life decisions.
So give yourself permission to experience these emotions, which will then force your body to return to equilibrium and therafter, with a clearer mindset, you can look at taking some constructive action.
Start with small, managable tasks:
When one experiences being laid-off, its similar to an electrical system being overloaded due to an abundant amount of energy and stimulation and will thus end up shutting down. Initially, you will lose 50-90% of your brain’s capacity but as you slowly get this back, its important that you take on small but productive tasks until you are at fully intellectual strength. An easy example is to start by applying for any employment insurance program – while this process may take some time, the steps are easy and will keep you busy and occupied. Furthermore, once completed you will feel a sense of accomplishment which is integral in moving forward. Please note that if you have recently been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, check out this easy to use “How to Apply” guide on the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit
Another task you can start working on is managing your finances. Focus on lowering your expenses so you are not stressed about being able to pay your bills You will be surprised what little you need to survive so take control now, and be rewarded for it later!
You are not alone:
Remember that the guiding principles of recovery are the restoration of safety and empowerment and sometimes this requires you to lean on a friend, a family member or a mentor/coach. Recovery is the ability to live in the present without being overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings of the past. Talk through your feelings and this will aid in your ability to move past the pain and into action.
Keep a similar routine:
Its easy to lose motivation when it sets in, that you have no job to wake up to in the morning. There is a natural tendancy to sleep-in, eat a lot, and binge watch Netflix. While there may be nothing wrong with indulging in a few of these activities, its important to not lose yourself by becoming lazy and unproductive. Find a structure to your day to ensure you are productive which will help you feel better in the long run. An example could be waking up at the same time as you would have if you were going to work, take a run or go the gym, have breakfast, re-connect with an old friend, read a book you never had time for and do a little job searching.
As a part of this new routine, look for ways to ensure you are taking care of yourself and ensuring YOU are a priority. Start brainstorming new ways on how you can make this happen and embed into your new daily structure. Examples could include finding a new hobby, reading more, meditation or other activites centered on mindfulness.
Start THINKING BIG:
When the time is right, its important to start some analysis on where you are in your life and what you want to achieve. Its okay to think big and be a little creative on what your objectives are.
In life we get so caught up in our daily routine: wake up, go to work/school, deal with traffic commuting back home, eat, watch TV, sleep and REPEAT. We never have the time to re-asses where we are in life so now that you have some time, take advantage it. A great tool you can start with is by completing the WHEEL of LIFE.
What is YOUR PURPOSE?
In life, we often make career decisions based on our previous experience, but that may not necessarily make us feel fulfilled. Only 13% of the current workforce is activley engaged in what they do and a big reason for this, is they have not identified what is their “WHY.” Finding your “Why” creates a filter to make better decisions, especially the ones that involve your career!
Remember: Making more money is not a “Why” – money is a result. A better question to ask yourself is what will making more money give you? Is it freedom or more learning opportunities? Work through this to truly understand what inspires you to get out of bed every morning!
Once you understand your “WHY”, you’ll be able to clearly articulate what makes you feel fulfilled and to better understand what drives your decisions and behavior at your natural best self.
Conclusion:
Remember, the time will pass and you will work again. The question is how will you use this time you now have to live a more fulfilled life?
I hope the above tips can help you get through what I know is a difficult time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any further assistance.
Be well,
Mohamed
604-861-4288
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