Psychology Today November/December 2020 pp44-47 “Furloughed. Fired. Fractured.” By Kristen Fuller, M.D.
image moneycontrol.com
This is one of four Psychology Today articles covering how to deal with the feelings and realities of unemployment. This article profiles three individual’s stories about coping with this COVID era unemployment. They are enlightening. Read the article for that and other detail.
General Summary of the Article
It’s often the first question asked of new acquaintance “What do you do for a living?" For most of us our job at least in part defines who we are! Encompassed with that is the humanity of being “people of passion and character with real feelings and emotions beyond our professional work realm.” “…work delivers a sense of purpose, a connection to others, a role in society, and a role in society.” With COVID-19 a swath of the economy has shutdown leaving so many of us without paid employment. This has inflicted a multitude of challenges striking us financially and emotionally. The isolation of face masks, social distancing, staying at home in and of itself has upset our equilibrium adding job loss compounds the “depression, hopelessness about the future, loneliness and financial stress."
Experts believe “the discomfort of anxiety is meant to serve as a spur to action” so what to do?
1) Don’t isolate find ways to continue socializing don’t dwell on thoughts like “What will my family and friends think of me? Will others see me as a failure”. Your support systems are more important than ever. Strenghen your closest relationships.
2) Develop a daily routine
3) Have a regular sleep and exercise schedule
4) Take “time each day to cultivate a new skill or work on a new project”
5) Spend at least 30 minutes outside each to “counter boredom, feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and depression that unemployment can bring"
6) “Do not obsess over the job search…instead, allocate some time each day or every few days to search for new opportunities, update your resume, create cover letters, and network with potential connections”
7) Work on your finances as best you can. Saving “now will help ease the mental burden of unemployment…look hard at any unnecessary spending. Now is your time to figure out how to live a simpler life.”