Being unemployed can be an extremely stressful time for a person. The uncertainty of the future, dealing with the constant question of when work will come along, wondering how you will pay for your bills.
In the midst of the stress and uncertainty can come some positives.
-Learn new skills. This could mean a number of things. If you have the means to go back to school and learn a trade, finish a degree or catch up on old classes, being in the job search mode is a great time to do this. Not ready to go head first into school, do some book or internet studying on something you are interested in. I have a friend who like to learn a new skill every year…many for personal fun….but regardless he is learning something new constantly.
-Work on projects at home. For you husbands, it is the dreaded “honey do list”. Take advantage of the time off and work on the little, not so little and maybe even the larger projects that you have put off for weeks, months and years. In the midst of job searching, I am trying to knock out at least one home project per week. Sometimes it takes longer or I can get more than one done, but at least you can feel like you are accomplishing something.
-Volunteer your time. This is one of my favorite things to do. There are so many organizations and groups that are looking for volunteer help that YOU could be a huge asset. Not sure what to do or where to start? The United Way, Salvation Army, local rescue missions and food pantries are in constant need of volunteers. Junior Achievement (one of my personal favorites) is always on the look out for professionals willing to spend one hour one day a week with elementary, middle or high school classes teaching them about community and finances. The great thing about Junior Achievement, they provide you with everything you need.
Even if you only have a couple of hours per week, that is more than enough to volunteer in your community.
-Join a Job Seekers group at a local church. Networking isn’t just about BNI, Chamber or business gatherings. The faithful that are job searching network as well. Many churches offer Job Seeker groups that gather weekly or bi-weekly for encouragement, teaching and job sharing.
-Spend special time with your children. If you are a job seeking parent, your life is filled with stress. You need to take time everyday to take a “stress break”. Take a walk with your children, go to the park, head to a lake or a beach, play a game in your backyard, go to the library, go on a scavenger hunt…the opportunities are limitless. Being out of work is time to create “Backyard Moments”…the little things that your children will always remember.
Share some of your ideas on what other job seekers can do to improve themselves.
