Last week, we covered how to set up a home office sanctuary, so that you could work from home in style with sanity. But what if you’re unemployed right now?
You have a lot of company. Millions of Americans are in the same boat, as businesses and industries have come to a full stop, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. There are things you can do during this uncertain time to help put you back into the driver’s seat of your career, money, and mood.
Here are my Top Tips to turn a pink slip in a positive.
1) Don’t Procrastinate on Getting Paid!
If you’re unemployed right now and eligible for unemployment, start the application process now. It will take time to check this one off the to-do list. We’ve all been hearing the news stories about how many people have been applying recently, but don’t let that deter you. The sooner you tackle this task, the sooner you’ll start to feel a greater sense of control over your future.
Plus, as The Financial Diet’s Chelsea Fagan explains, there may be government or state assistance available to you that you don’t even know about yet. Start researching on Benefits.gov to learn what options you qualify for.
(P.S. I highly recommend Chelsea’s full video on “21 Immediate Things To Do When Your Life Feels Out Of Control”; there are lots of helpful tips.)
There is also a vast industry of online jobs still churning along — so if you’re handy with administrative tasks, writing, bookkeeping or even customer services — consider looking for some interim work if you’re not able to claim unemployment or are required to find work as a condition of your unemployment benefits. Upwork and FlexJobs are good places to start.
2) Beef Up Your CV
Over the past few weeks, productivity memes have been dividing the internet, and I am not in either school. If you feel like you can use your downtime to conquer the world and build your badass babe empire, go right on ahead! And if you need to retreat to a cozy nook and bliss out like a goddess calling in enlightenment and peace, enjoy!
But when you are feeling up for work, I recommend you start by adding a new skill to your resume. This way, when it’s time to emerge from our homes and engage again, you’ll feel better prepared to explain how you spent your time in quarantine.
Coursera and edX offer courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies, and both are free to join. You can also still volunteer remotely right now through catchafire.org, so if you’re not into being graded, or just want to put a little positivity back out into the world, this is for you.
3) Networking is definitely still a thing.
Don’t let the word scare you; networking just means building relationships outside of your usual work buddies. Once companies begin hiring again, they are going to be flooded with online applications, so it’s helpful to know someone who can help you get a foot in the door.
IRelaunch, which specializes in career reentry, recommends making your job hunt public because you don’t know who you might know that can offer you valuable advice or insights into a company you’re interested in. They also recommend teaming up with a “relaunch buddy or circle” who can share support while you job hunt, help you practice your interview questions, and research new opportunities.
One rule of thumb I really love is that we should be networking all the time, not just when we need a favor. So even if the subject of a job makes you uncomfortable right now, continue to connect with professionals in and out of your circles. Ask how they are doing, give their work or recent accomplishments a shout-out, or share something you think they’d find interesting.
For more tips, check out these “6 Rules For Networking Without Feeling Sleazy.”
4) And I Would Walk 500 Steps…
I’ve certainly extolled the virtues of exercise once or twice ????, but that’s because it’s so great for your mental health (in addition to your abs). Getting regular movement can improve your overall outlook, increase your motivation, wake up your brain, and help those who struggle with depression, anxiety or other mood disorders. And a recently published study had healthy but inactive adults perform moderate aerobic routine for about 35 minutes, four times a week, and found that “the mood benefits of exercise can linger for weeks after people stop working out.”
So, movement is essential to keeping you sane while unemployed during this crazy confinement. You can find plenty of in-home fitness classes to take in my recent survey of online activities.
If a class just isn’t your jam right now, or you don’t have space, that’s no reason you still cannot get in your steps inside your apartment or around the block. A study found that “for every additional 4,000 steps someone takes in a day, even if it’s just ambling around the block or across the room, his or her risk of dying early from heart disease, cancer or any other cause drops by 50 percent or more.”
So pop in a podcast or turn up your favorite playlist, and march in place like Beyonce.
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How have you been handling this tough time? Let us know in our The Badass Beauty Club on Facebook, so our community can support you. It’s important to connect with like-minded souls now more than ever, so let’s face this strange time together!
P.S. Join me in The Badass Beauty Club on Friday, April 10 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific for a Facebook LIVE discussion too!
LOVE + luck!
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