5 Things To Do When You Lose Your Job

My lovely boss has announced in front of my 50 colleagues that my position is currently being reviewed and reorganised shortly. 

 

‘WTF!!!! (sorry) Reviewed and reorganised? What does it mean by that? It means my position will be discontinued. Should I smile or cry?’

 

‘W…T….F!!!! (sorry again)’

 

I have been waiting for this opportunity over a year. HOWEVER, honestly it was not pleasant news at all to hear unexpectedly, especially in front of so many people. Didn’t I get an email from the boss this morning said “Well done”? What a reward I could get from the well-done work. Well…. That is our working life, isn’t it? Our present and future (also my past 10 years) can be decided and redirected by employers at any time. Tough? However, it is an absolute fact as long as we are employed.

 

Am I okay now? Fine. How? That’s what I am going to talk how I can be fine when I will lose my job.

1. Don’t be panic: This is not the end of the world so don’t think or behave it is. Look around how many people have gone through the similar processes at work and still live as before. I know this is not a good news and even worse to someone with difficult circumstances but remember, as long as we are healthy, nothing is unsolvable. Therefore, don’t be panic and try to control your mind. Panicking will get you nowhere. All will be fine as long as you control yourself.

 

2. Be positive: Try to find good points instead of hammering yourself with bad points. I will get over 7 months payout if I take a voluntary redundancy which is not too bad. I will be motivated by looking for other options which could lead me better for my future and that I have been careless for a very long time. It can be an excellent opportunity to do nothing for a while to recharge myself. I will finally have some free time to think about my future instead of living for only day by day. There are far more. Sleep-in, going to the beach whenever I want while my colleagues are working (hahaha…), opening own business, volunteering, gardening, etc… I know it is not easy to be positive when you are down but it is necessary to see good points in order to solve any difficulties. Remember that negativity can blackout you from the all the opportunities.

 

3. Share with others: Don’t try to keep it only in yourself. Losing a job is not a shameful thing or a secret thing to hide from others. Share your situation with people who you can trust and learn their thoughts. The first benefit of sharing is that you will feel much better after talking. You can also see the same problem from a different angle which you didn’t realise. When I told my husband about the chance of discontinuing my position at work, he took it very differently from me (more rational approaches), and it helped me to review and refocus on the issue. Ask friends if there are any job opportunities around. For sure, you can be lucky.

 

4. Make a plan: This is the time to make a new plan for your life. We all are busy working and get tired with our everyday working life. One of the worst things we can face through our working life is that we are too tired to make a plan for a better life. Most of us are living for only today. Now, you have got the chance to make a new plan so take and use the chance. I have been working for my current employer almost 10 years. I didn’t expect that I would stay at the same company this long when I was 10 years younger. If I knew then, my plan would have looked quite different from now. I am now 10 year older and my choice that I need to make now has to better. Make a proper plan for your future that can make your life BETTER.

5. Save harder and live simpler: Funny enough, losing job doesn’t discriminate people. Anyone can lose the job unwillingly (or willingly) at any time. Therefore, we need to be ready for the event. I can’t not imagine myself to get the news 5 years ago when my budget was extremely tight to pay off my mortgage. However, I feel quite relaxed because I have my financial independence now. I can survive without going to work every day for a while. I don’t think I can afford a luxurious lifestyle without work but I am sure that my current lifestyle can be easily continued without working every day. My husband and I have saved harder and lived a simpler life than others in order to be free from the forced employment (have to work stage). What I want to talk now is, be ready for the hardship and save as much as you can to be financially independent. You are then truly safe from losing jobs.

 

 

I am not sure when I will get the final notice from my boss but I feel quite ready for the happy news. Sorry, I know many people who are not ready yet would not be happy with my comment. All I want to say is that we all need to be ready for the event that can come to anyone at any time. Be strong and keep positive. If you need to find a job, there will be a job that is waiting for you. Someone told me that we need only one job and there will be always the job. Quite promising, isn’t it? Remember that opportunities are found within threats so, be positive. Try hard to get your financial independence as this will free you permanently.

 

I hope you feel better now as I do.