Layoffs can be extremely tough. The sudden loss of a job often puts people in an unfamiliar position. According to Kavan Choksi, anyone dealing with a job loss might be overwhelmed by financial strain, and become stressed about their future. Hence, it is important to understand how to cope with this loss, move forward and find the next career opportunity.
Kavan Choksi underlines a few tips that can help people to cope with job loss
A large number of people across the United States have lost their jobs in recent years due to the global pandemic, economic uncertainties, or reasons beyond their control. While people must not blame themselves for their employment situation, it is hard to not worry when bills keep piling up and one has to put food on the table every day.
Here are a few tips that can help people to cope with job loss:
- Facing the feelings: Even though everyone grieves differently, one should try to stick to healthy ways to mourn their job loss. It can be easy to binge on junk food for comfort or turn to habits such as drinking too much during such times. But they will only provide a fleeting sense of relief and may make people feel even worse down the line. Acknowledging the grief and challenging negative thoughts are vital to dealing with the situation and ultimately moving on.
- Assess the finances: The loss of a job can take a huge hit on the finances of a person. Hence, they need to evaluate their financial situation properly and create a realistic budget based on their current situation. People must firstly identify how long can their savings sustain them and identify areas to cut down expenses. Essential expenses like housing, utilities, and healthcare must be prioritized.
- File for unemployment benefits: If one is eligible, then they must file for unemployment benefits as soon as possible. This can provide them with a temporary financial cushion till they find a new job.
- Seek emotional support: Job loss not only hampers the finances of a person, but can also take a toll on them both mentally and emotionally. Hence, one should reach out to family or friends during this time for emotional support. Simply sharing their feelings and concerns with others can help in processing the pent up emotions, and may also help people to gain a brand new perspectives. If one does not want to talk about their job loss to their family and friends, they can always consider joining support groups or online communities to connect with people going through similar situations.
- Focus on self-care: The free time one would have on their hands should be utilized in taking care of their physical and mental well-being. To cope with job loss, people must engage in activities that make them happy and can reduce stress, like exercise, meditation or simply spending time in nature.
As per Kavan Choksi, it is normal to feel overwhelmed by uncertainty about how the economy will recover, or how one would find work again. But one must always remember that they are not alone in this journey, and there are many in the country who deals with the same insecurities. By following the right practices, one can cope with their job loss and progress towards a better tomorrow.
