Click Here

Stress and job loss certainly go together but you must get yourself together for yourself and family if you have one.

The risk of being fired or losing your job is the biggest axe a company or a manager holds over an employee’s head and creates a great deal of stress for the employee. Yet despite its commonness, we have accepted the idea that being fired is not only costly and disruptive to employees, their families, and their communities, but is also a shameful thing which should be avoided at all costs. For this reason, many of us will accept uncomfortable conditions at work and go to extraordinary lengths to keep our jobs.

Adopt a positive attitude that overcomes the threat of being fired of losing a job. Fear is oppressive and threatening, and it can cause one anxiety over many of one’s actions or thoughts. Being anxious causes one to be less productive, for fear of making the wrong decision or saying the wrong thing. When worried about one’s job complaining about any problems encounter may be avoided and cause more stress. Chronic stress hits peoples’ health hard. Work on making a promise to yourself that you will not tolerate working in a state of fear.

There are many common reasons people get fired, laid off or “let go” and are often not a result of the employee’s own faults or behavior.

Personality mismatch – You remained because of the money, but actually you were not happy with the surroundings. The attitudes of the people around you were not compatible with yours. The work was repetitious and became boring, with unfriendly staff and the entire environment was not comfortable.

Skills mismatch – When you applied for the job, you were not fully aware of the full responsibilities of the job or the potential hardships it contained. This might be because the person who hired you did not accurately judge whether your skills and experience would match the job description or was lax in making things clear enough. Another possibility is where the job duties were switched on you after you were hired and you did not have the skills to do the new duties.

Downsizing – Thousands of people are downsized every day. It’s not their fault. It’s an impersonal technique by which companies raise the value of their stock or keep afloat in this ever changing world. In this economic state, it could happen more often.

Economic uncertainty is the most difficult result of being fired or losing a job. Not knowing how you will pay the bills or how to tell the kids you cannot buy them the new computer they wanted can cause many sleepless nights. Suddenly your mortgage payment seems even larger, and you are concerned about how you will survive.

Increase your work options by developing your personal and professional skills and cultivating a solid network.

Keep your consumption as low as you possibly can, so that you’re not 100% dependent on that pay check every month. That means not eating out or going to the movies for awhile. Cultivate healthy and cheap vacations instead, such as hiking, walking, gardening, reading, and getting together with friends. There are many ways to cut back in a time of crisis.

Re-invent yourself. The 48 Days website has many good ideas on how to do this. Being let go grants you an opportunity to let go. A forced break from work can provide an chance to change the course of your life. Changing directions might entail additional training, education, or apprenticeship. Perhaps these are changes you wanted to make anyway, but could not because you had seemingly “stable employment”.

If you are ashamed of losing your job or believe that having been fired or “let go” reflects badly on you, such low self-esteem will be evident in your job interviews. Much better for you to hold your head up high and explain the circumstances exactly, factually and without emotion. Convey an attitude of: ” I have gathered myself together and I have moved on”. Do be truthful with clear facts and a responsible future-projected attitude. If you explain your circumstances correctly, an employer is more likely to see a person with the right attitude and get-up-and-go needed in the new company, along with someone who has had experience of hardship and moved through it successfully.

If your career field has a heavy turnover you shouldn’t be ashamed to move forward with your head held high. You can always explain to future employers that the field had heavy turnover and termination and downsizing were common. Emphasize that you are looking for a career at a stable company where loyalty and good work are appreciated.

Just because firings are happening all around you it doesn’t mean your job is in danger. They may appreciate you more than you think. Morale will be low around the company because of layoffs. Now, is not the time to get sucked into the doom and gloom. Take action.

Recommended reading for anyone who ever feels the need to re-charge their personal or business life:

Each of us has different triggers for self-motivation. Within these 50 ideas to motivate yourself, you will find many

Click Here

“A-ha” moments. Learn to set your goals, welcome problems as opportunities and focus on what’s important in your life.

Filled with stories, quotes and insights to “Manage stress before it manages you.”

Are you ready to ignite your passion and charge your life? Mac Anderson, Simple Truths founder, shares his ideas for you to learn how to motivate yourself and ignite your inner fire.

Mac has authored or co-authored 10 books that have sold more than 2 million copies. People, I’ve found, are like sticks of dynamite … the powers on the inside but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit. Therefore, it’s my hope that as you read this little book, there will be many ‘a-ha moments’ to light your fuse, and keep it lit, through good times and bad.”

Charging the Human Battery is a book with universal appeal. Everyone understands the benefits of staying motivated and we’re all hungry for new ideas that could help us.

If you are unhappy in your job, start planning your next move and do not wait for a firing or lay off.

There is a better job out there for you. Free yourself to find it, but always remember to be careful in how you go about changing your employment. Ensure that you have a minimum of three months pay in the bank and that you have good references in place before leaving in a huff.

Dan Miller has great ideas at his web site and in his book and workbook to help guide you.

Stress and job loss can be put into perspective when one calms down.