What I Did on My Summer Vacation...Because I was Laid Off!

If you have recently been laid off, released from employment, decided to look for something different, or whatever reason, please take it from me that you have to keep going.? By all means take a few moments to days to get your head clear.? Do whatever you need to do and whatever has worked for you in the past.? When you start to come out of that moment, start getting yourself back into “work” shape.?

For example, I decided to keep going in my expertise of training and development by doing the following and more:

• Felt sorry for myself for a couple of weeks.
• Went through the 7 stages of grief (cause that’s what it was).
• Stayed connected to those that suffered a similar fate.
• Then got back to work…

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• Developed one class every two weeks (to stay in practice).
• Practiced presenting an older class every week (to stay in practice)
• Practiced interviewing every week (to get back into that practice…man, interviewing has changed).
• Produced a podcast on a personal level (my family and our dad with worsening dementia)

• Produced a presentation for a real estate group through a former work associate.
• Attended various HR webinars to keep that skillset as sharp as I could.
• Applied to new positions every day (but the weekend…didn’t want them to get buried with others)
• Wrote leadership articles and ideas for an additional 50+ leadership articles.
• Took free certification classes offered through the state of NC.
• Then did some things that weren’t work related…

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• Did things around the house I hadn’t thought for a second I would ever have time to do until retirement.
• Learned basic sign language.
• Took Charlie out for a walk every day, rain or shine, heat or cold…
• thus, was able to work on some of his behavior (he is currently in the T-Rex stage of dog age).
• Improved my run times back to 10 years ago (didn’t think I could at this age)…
• and didn’t get hurt because of it
• And was as ready as I could be with my new company when I started with them!

And with all of these and more I haven’t bulleted above, it was all good, it was all ok.? Not an issue at all.

And through all that…I survived.

I guess the bottom line is that I stayed busy in things that were productive.? I know I would get onboard with another company sooner or later.? In my mind, I wanted to spend time being ready for that next work adventure, while at the same time doing some things I wanted to do (not necessarily related to my career).?

Again, the important piece is to keep moving in some way with what you would have normally done if you were still working.? That way you keep that muscle memory strong and are ready for that next adventure that is coming.? And it is coming!