Tough Times
by Pat Parsley
Career Link Client Service Advisor
So here we are in the middle of a recession...again. For those of us who are old enough, we’ve been here before. We were riding high on a crest of employment, fast moving economy and hopes for the future, then boom, it all seemed to come crashing down. Sudden layoffs, loss of jobs, a dwindling bank account and uncertainty about the future can have profound effects, and not just on the pocketbook.
When one’s work is suddenly gone, it’s almost as though we’ve lost a large chunk of our life. Not only are we now concerned about how to pay the bills, but we’ve lost our routine: getting up and dressing for work, planning the workday ahead and looking forward to seeing our pals at the workplace. Sometimes there are social events we’re missing; sometimes it’s just a gab at coffee break. Now one is faced with the whole day ahead and sometimes uncertainty at how to fill the hours. So how does this affect a person’s well being and confidence?
Studies have shown that people actually go through a grieving process at the loss of the job, the social connection at work and of course, the income. At times the loss can cause anger or depression and an uncertainty at how to proceed. This is the time to get into actionquick.
It’s important to keep a routine going. Perhaps this is a good time to update your resume, get into some short-term courses or workshops. Make an appointment to see a counselor who can help keep you connected with labour market information or some services you may not have been aware existed. Pop into the agency and have a coffee, you may even run into some friends who are going through similar reactions. Keep that social connection going as this will help ease the loss. You may also find good information about alternative work you can do until the economy picks up.
Tough times call for tough measures...remember: recessions don’t last forever, but while it’s here, use the time to get prepared for the upswing because it’s coming!
