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Can we talk about layoffs for a minute?

Maybe for some people a layoff isn’t a big deal. It happens. It’s a business decision. Move on.

I get that.

But for employees who invest their heart and soul into a position, who truly own it and bring their A game to work each and every day, to suddenly be let go is DEVASTATING.

It was 2009 when a layoff rocked my world. I didn’t even know the organization was having financial struggles, so it came as a complete surprise.

I remember walking into my co-workers office and asking her, “Help me to not freak out.” Fortunately, I was at a workplace that tried to handle such things with compassion. I had as long as I needed that day to box up my belongings and say my goodbyes.

I’ve worked with clients who were not that fortunate. Instead of time to process what just happened, they were immediately escorted out of the building by security. Yikes! At my husband’s previous company several years ago, the company had a mass layoff a few days before Christmas. They gathered the affected employees downstairs to let them know and then didn’t allow them back into any portion of the building. My husband (though he was glad to still have a job) spent the day boxing up people’s stuff and rescuing their lunches from the company fridge.

I don’t share this to criticize employers who have to lay off staff. I know that it is a complex decision and a difficult task for all involved.

But I share it because I don’t think people understand the emotional turmoil a layoff can cause unless you have experienced it. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that people don’t often talk about.

➡️ The sense that you no longer have control over your own destiny. (Do we ever really, though?)

➡️ The feeling of worthlessness at being tossed aside like a worn-out ink pen that is no longer useful.

➡️ The sense of embarrassment when your job search continues longer than you ever imagined it would.

➡️ The panic that sets in when you begin to add up all the monthly bills your paycheck used to easily cover.

And so much more.

For me it led to many sleepless nights and a growing sense of frustration over a job search that seemed to be going nowhere.

If that’s how you are feeling today, I want to encourage you that it DOES get better. This is just a temporary bump along your journey. Yes, it sucks. But you will emerge stronger on the other side.

Here are a few things that helped me cope:

Surround yourself with supportive people.

For me this was my husband and some other coworkers who had experienced the same thing. It could be your group of best friends, an online job seekers group, a club you enjoy, a church group – find your biggest cheerleaders and talk with them often!

Take time to grieve.

It is important to allow yourself time to process your emotions. I didn’t do this when I was laid off. Instead I immediately jumped into job searching. That approach didn’t serve me well – but I’ll save that story for another day. Just take my word for it…emotions you haven’t taken time to deal with can spill out at the MOST inconvenient times during your job search.

Practice self care.

Don’t spend every waking moment on your job search. Take some time to rest. You need breaks to reset your mindset. Exercise, meditate, pray, spend time in nature, binge watch Netflix – whatever you need to nourish your body, mind and soul.

Understand that your job (or your lack of one) is NOT your identity.

This is the biggest lesson I took away from my layoff. I had allowed my self worth to become tied up in my job title. If I was no longer a writer/producer for the prestigious international organization where I had worked, then who was I? Would anyone ever read my stuff again? Would anyone want to publish it?

Guess what I learned. With or without that job I was still a talented writer, a dedicated, stand-out hard worker, and a good person. AND SO ARE YOU!

Keep running your race with endurance and don’t give up. The finish line will eventually appear and you will cross it as the winner that you are!

You’ve got this!