Your job loss just happened to you. Accept that you may feel disoriented for a while. This is totally expected. Don’t be too hard on yourself the first few weeks after you’ve been laid off. If you accept the emotional, even traumatic, side of being fired and let it run its course, you will most likely regain your ability to jog much faster than rejecting your emotions.
How to better adapt to your new situation? Three things come to mind: “Do nothing,” mentally disconnect from your former employer, and enjoy your leisure activities as usual.
“Do nothing”
You can enjoy your morning coffee at 10 am You could walk around your neighborhood at 11 am before watching some nonsensical TV shows for a laugh at lunchtime. In the afternoon you could catch up on the crime novel that has been languishing on your porch. Then you could take the kids to soccer instead of your spouse. Just be as lazy or as active as you feel like. There is no right or wrong. You relax and get used to your new status as someone “in between jobs” or “starting in a new direction.” In fact, relaxing for a while can be the best method to calm down. At this point, take it easy and don’t stress yourself thinking about the future.
Mentally disconnect from your former employer
A great way to detach from your former employer and let go is to avoid contact with your former co-workers at the office, unless they are close friends of yours. You must realize that the old company is now history. Every contact you make, every minute you spend feeling sorry for those who were laid off or are still employed there is only extending your agony. Resist the urge to keep your disappointment or anger at your former employer alive and keep it from moving forward quickly.
The best thing to do is “declare victory.” You do this by telling yourself that you had a good time with your former employer; You met some great people, had a good career, made some good money, learned a few new tricks… and now you’re ready for better things.
Sit back on your couch, close your eyes, and review the last few months or years at your former employer. Think of the laughs he had, the successful things he made happen at work. Then close this chapter forever. Be satisfied that you had a good job and still have a roof over your head…unlike many others in the world. Count your blessings. Your job is gone, but your life is not over. You will find another job since you had one before. There is no need to despair.
Enjoy your leisure activities as usual
There is no reason for you to stop doing your usual leisure activities. Pursuing what you like in terms of sports, cultural or social activities is even more important now: mix and mingle, be active. Having continuity in your life should help you regain your emotional balance. Don’t stay at home all day and hide. Go out and enjoy life as much as you can.
Doing these three activities for a week or even a few weeks should help you let go of the past. Keep in mind, however, that this adjustment period should come to an end over time. There are so many other important things to do after job loss.