According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2016, The United States had an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which correlates to over 7.4 million people who are currently unemployed. I personally have experienced losing a job and being unemployed for nearly 6 months. If you are like me there is a good chance that you have been without work at some point, or if you haven’t there is a chance that you may experience it in the future, although I hope you don’t! Being unemployed is certainly not a good feeling, and sometimes finding a new job is not always the easiest task and often it is easy to get discouraged during that time. Having my own personal experiences and after speaking with others, I have composed a list of 7 things that you can do while your unemployed to stay in good spirits and help to get back on your feet as soon as possible.
READ
One the best things that you can do while you are unemployed is Read! In fact, this is something that you should do working or not. Reading more books can have a huge impact on your life, especially if you are in search for work. One of my favorite quotes is “the more you learn, the more you earn.” I also want to point out that Lamborghinis and Rose Royce’s do not have commercials and one reason is because wealthy and successful people don’t watch a lot of TV, however they do read early and often. With the extra time on your hands from not working, there is no better thing to do than to pick up a book!! Proceed with caution, depending on what books you read, you may end up starting your own business instead of going back to work.
VOLUNTEER
The next activity that I would suggest while unemployed is volunteering. This is also something that I would encourage to do whether you are working or not. Volunteering can have multiple benefits. One positive effect is that you would be doing a good deed in giving back and helping others. Being that you are unemployed you may not have extra money to give, and often giving your time can be more valuable. The second benefit is that in volunteering there is always a good chance you could come into contact with someone who may know of some job opportunities and could possibly plug you in. The last positive result, is the great feeling that you get from lending a helping hand. The best rewards in life are often not of monetary value. Being jobless does not bring too many good feelings, and volunteering can definitely uplift your spirits during that time.
Related: A Survival Guide for the Newly Unemployed
JOB SEARCH
This is probably the most obvious thing that you should be doing while you have idle time. I can personally say that searching for work is a job in itself, especially considering the amount of time that it takes. In a given week you could easily spend 25-30 hours searching for jobs. If you have intentions on finding another job, it most likely wont come to your front door steps, so its imperative that you search for work. In todays day and age, much of this can be done online on your computer or even from your phone. In many states if you are collecting unemployment benefits it is mandatory that you spend a certain amount of time job searching, and you also have to document that activity.
EXERCISE
A great way to help you stay in a positive mindset while being jobless, is to exercise. This is another activity that you will give you a good feeling during a down time in your life. Exercising will give you more energy and it will also help you build confidence. There is a quote that says, “Health is Wealth”! There is no coincidence that a large number of successful individuals make exercising a daily habit. With the idle time on your hands there is absolutely no excuse on why you can’t make time to work out. It will benefit you mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Related: 50 Ways to Get a Job
NETWORK
If you want to find another job without spending multiple hours online feeling out applications, then I would highly suggest networking! People will always be your best resource and most people find employment because of someone they knew personally. Hiring managers and recruiters review hundreds or even thousands of resumes, so if they have a colleague or coworker refer someone directly to them, that persons resume would surely get a little more attention. By networking in the right environment, its possible that you could come into direct contact with a person who has the ability to actually hire you. The only way that you will encounter this person is by building relationships and meeting new people.
SELF EVALUATION
Doing a self evaluation is something that I would recommend doing often. Self knowledge and self awareness is extremely important in reaching a high level of success. There is no better time to evaluate yourself than when you are unemployed. You should assess your physical health, your current mindset, and also look at areas on which you can improve. This is also a good opportunity to evaluate your progress in life. Are you where you want to be? What things need to change? What new things do you need to learn? Sometimes it is difficult to evaluate yourself because there are some things that we do like to admit about ourselves, and many times we already know in the back of our head that we could doing a much better job of reaching our full potential. Evaluate yourself and be honest in your findings, only then can you begin to improve and make the necessary changes in your life.
STAY POSITIVE
The last suggestion that I would offer, is keeping a positive attitude. This is definitely not always the easiest
thing to do while you are out of work, especially if you were fired or laid off from your previous job.
Although it is a challenge at times to stay in a positive mind state, it definitely beats the alternative. No one wants to get invited to a pity party, so there is no use in throwing one for yourself. When you really look at the big picture and realize that that things could always be worst, it will become a little easier to maintain that positive mindset. If you are able to stay optimistic, you will increase the chances of your luck changing much sooner than later.
Related: Positive Affirmations Video
