Image courtesy of Hashem Abrishami

In previous articles, I have discussed just how deeply unemployment can affect a person’s self confidence.  And let’s face it, if you don’t feel good, you probably don’t look good.  You see, another downside of unemployment is that it can do damage to your good looks.

I’m certain many of you, as you read this, are shaking your heads or snickering while thinking, “I’ve got plenty more to worry about than what I look like right now.”  And you could be right, but you also might be wrong.  So keep reading.

At first, upon receiving the proverbial axe, the pink slip, you might, that following Monday morning, revel in the fact that you don’t have to wake up at 5:30am to take a shower, do your hair and put on a suit!!!  But several months down the long and winding road of unemployment, several months into wearing the same sweats or baggy jeans, over sized tee shirts and flip flops, you just feel like… well, like crap.  (You’re not looking so hot either. You know it, too.  You haven’t been to the gym or had your hair cut in months.)  And this is only in addition to how bad you feel mentally.

You might defend your new constant casual Friday attire by saying something like “well, I wore a suit almost every day for 10 years” or “why should I get dressed up in the morning to sit at home in front of a computer all day?” (Even though this is exactly what you use to do all day when you had job!)  And somewhere in the back of your mind, you might even feel like you don’t deserve to get up and get dressed up because you have lost your job.  You got laid off.  You’ve got nowhere to go and so evidently, you aren’t good enough to feel good about yourself.  You guilt yourself into believing that you are to blame and slumming about all day in your workout clothes or better yet, your pajamas, is your punishment.

Now, I myself have also succumbed to a less than fabulous uniform of black leggings and tank tops for the past year.  And I used to be in the fashion business.  Looking good was the golden rule.  “The Devil Wears Prada” is not just a movie.  And the color of choice not just because it is always chic, but most likely an overly dramatic symbol of my mourning the loss of what I thought was my identity.  My career.

Well, with all due respect, I’m going to say this… Stop being a martyr.

At least try.  I am.

Repeat after me: “When you look good, you feel good. And vice versa.”  Your external looks are a reflection of your internal beauty… of your self-confidence and your self-respect.  And if you aren’t feeling so good inside, you aren’t looking good outside.   And you will NEVER get a job this way.  Yes, you might be sitting at home stressing over your finances, sending out resumes and praying that someone will call with a job offer.  Praying that something/someone finally gives.  But it won’t be you.

From here on out we are not just sitting at home all day in our pajamas attempting to navigate the abyss of unemployment.  WE are getting ready to go on our next interview!  We are preparing ourselves to be prepared for that next big job!  And we are starting from the inside out.

Here are some simple and cost conscious ways you can give yourself a pre-interview mini makeover.  And a much needed confidence boost.

• Keep a schedule. Get up at the same time every morning, the earlier the better (hint, hint) and eat breakfast almost immediately.  As you might have when you were working.  Read the paper or your emails, whatever it is… and then off you go!  Somewhere.  Have a destination in the morning so that you must get dressed whether it’s the gym, local coffee shop or maybe even a networking event.  A schedule helps you to remain structured and keeps you focused.  And waking up with the intent to go somewhere is motivating as well.
• Get moving!!! Waking up and walking around in your pajamas all day is not the most motivating habits.  We can all agree on that.  The best way to really feel good about you is to take care of your health and wellness.  And I am a firm believer that you accomplish this through exercise.  I don’t care if you hike, walk, run the beach, lift weights, do yoga or play a sport… Just get moving!  Get your heart pumping and get that oxygen into your lungs.  Even if you were never a big exercise fiend during your career, and used it as a pretty believable excuse, well… here’s your chance!  There are free on-line workout videos, free or donation only yoga classes… and it won’t cost you a thing to walk your dog or go for a bike ride.  Get out there, get fit, boost your confidence and find that new job!
• Get dressed up. Just one day a week, act like you have a job.  From the alarm clock, to the suit, to hair/make up… and sit down at your computer and start sending out that resume.  Dressed to impress with coffee cup in hand.  See this job search as your job.  And take it seriously.  I’ll bet you accomplish quite a bit that day.
• Pamper yourself every once in a while. Maybe once a month, or every two weeks depending on your financial situation… and definitely before a big interview… treat yourself.  Whether you go get a manicure or do it yourself, maybe a nice clean shave at the barber shop or even a facial, just treat yourself.  There are even websites that shows you how to make your own beauty products!   Or to prep for that upcoming interview, maybe a new tie?  And here’s a secret for women… update your old suit with a shorter skirt hem, or new buttons on the jacket.  A little pampering will go a long way in boosting your self confidence, and you don’t have to break the bank to accomplish it. It’s alarming to think about spending a bit of money on yourself in such tough economic times, but see the $50 as an investment in yourself, in your career and in your future. 

And most importantly, the true golden rule…

• SMILE. It is originally you, and completely free.  And it is priceless.

Like I said, you will never get a job with hunched shoulders, a brooding disposition and a disheveled look.  Yes, unemployment and a seemingly endless job search does a number on your self-esteem, but only if you let it.  Stop punishing yourself and moping about the house.  Start motivating and get out there.  INVEST in yourself… in your looks, your health, your well being.  And in your future by find that new job!

Don’t forget… smile.

“People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile.”  Lee Mildon

Melisa Verrecchia is a freelance writer and former fashion diva.  She is also co-writing a book entitled: “Unemployed: The Single Girl’s Guide to Getting By in Los Angeles.”

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

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While Wall Street claims that the recession has run its’ course, the jobless rate continues to hover at more than 10 percent and millions of people are experiencing prolonged unemployment.  In fact, in a recent report put out by Rutgers University entitled “No End in Sight: The Agony of Prolonged Unemployment,” experts state that economic improvements have had little to no positive effects on those still searching for work.  Eight in ten people who lost their job in the recession have yet to find a new one, and those that have found work have been forced to take a pay cut, work without benefits or take a job they don’t like.

Unemployment itself is bad enough and prolonged unemployment, described as those who have been searching for more than 6 months, is quite simply put… a nightmare of the very worst kind.  People have lost their homes, sold valuable possession to make ends meet, borrowed money from friends, dipped into their retirement funds, overlooked medical care and the list goes on and on.

Let’s not forget to mention the physical and emotional toll that joblessness takes on a human being.  Insomnia is on the rise, and it goes without saying that stress levels are too.  Anxiety, anger and depression are all results of this economic debacle the world is facing.

In fact, as you read this, you might even be nodding in concurrence because of your own harrowing experience or that of a friend or relative.

Those of us who are out of work wonder if we will ever find another job again.  We wonder “what happened?  I was so good at my job.”  But then, after 6, 7 months, even a year without a job… a year of sending out resumes into the world wide web to seemingly anonymous employers, of waiting for those anonymous employers to respond, a year of rejection emails… a year of trying to hold your head up high as you walk to your mailbox anxiously awaiting your next unemployment check (of course, that’s only if you’ve been approved for an extension)… we can’t help but wonder “was I really good at my job?”  “Will I ever get hired again?”  “Do I even want to continue working in that field?”

And that brings me to my point… as difficult and challenging as unemployment – of any amount of time – is… could this also be a chance to re-evaluate your career path?  To re-invent yourself?

In an article I wrote a few months back, “The Upside of the Economic Downturn: Why Being Unemployed Isn’t So Bad” I asked:  Is this a chance at your dream???

Think about your life before your first job.  What was your dream?  Not your goal or your plans, but your dream… that far away, far-fetched idea that you spent late nights discussing with your college buddies.  Did you dream of owning your own business?  Or maybe you wanted to become a writer, nurse, lawyer, or singer?

There are certainly a lot of factors involved in making the decision to reinvent oneself.  And it is a personal decision that one must make oneself.  This piece has not been written to suggest that you neglect your responsibilities of paying bills, caring for your children or finding a job.  But, rather, it was written to suggest that in the 8 hours a day you spend looking for that job, I think at least 60 minutes could be taken to work on achieving your dreams as well.

Here are a few tips to help start the re-inventing process:

• Stop thinking of yourself as being unemployed. Make a personal affirmation to convince yourself that you are not unemployed, but taking another path towards a different career.  When someone asks you, “What do you do for work”… Instead of telling them you don’t work, tell them what you want to be doing, what you will be doing.  I was in the fashion industry for 10 years before losing my job.  I’ve been unemployed for a full year and in this time; I have rediscovered my passion for writing.  It is still challenging for me, when asked, to answer someone that I am writing rather than answering that I am not working.  But, the more you speak the positive; surely the more you believe it.
• Redesign your resume. Evaluate your resume and redesign it to highlight the skills you already possess for this new field of interest.  For instance, my experience and major responsibilities in the garment business were focused on merchandising and trend spotting, but I also wrote all types of reports from analytical ones to trend and color reports.  These skills are now listed first on my resume.  I bet if you really look at your former job experience, you will find a hint of your college career dreams hidden in there.
• Get a part time job, volunteer or do freelance work in this new field. If you have always been an accountant, but have forever dreamed of being a nurse… then why not volunteer at a hospital while researching what is required of you to become a nurse?  Or have you always wanted to act?  There are always casting calls for extras.  And there are boundless freelance writing gigs posted daily on the internet.
• Take a class. An old colleague of mine has just entered her second year of law school.  I am looking into brushing up my writing techniques and researching classes in the area. How about a local program that focuses on entrepreneurship if what you want is to run your own business.

And lastly, but most importantly:

• Believe in yourself. Being out of work takes a toll on our self confidence, but we must remind ourselves of all of our personal accomplishments.  We were good at our jobs, in fact we were great!  We achieved sales goals, beat deadlines, impressed bosses and even ourselves.  And we can do it again. 

Again, I’m not suggesting you stop looking for a job and pick up your paint brushes, head to the beach and seek your inner Picasso while your bills stack up and your kids wait for you at the dinner table, but if you are going to take a pay cut, or a job with no benefits, rather than it be a job that you hate… why not look for a job that can get you just that much closer to achieving that far-fetched college dream!  As Bob Dylan says, “a person is a success if they wake up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.”

Melisa Verrecchia is a freelance writer and former fashion diva.  She is also co-writing a book entitled: “Unemployed: The Single Girl’s Guide to Getting By in Los Angeles.”

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

Related Articles:

The Upside Of The Economic Downturn: Why Being Unemployed Isn’t So Bad

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Image courtesy of Andy Warhol

My father is my hero.  The greatest man I know.  Honestly.  As I have matured through the years, I realize this more every day.  And I am more and more grateful for him every day.

He is a quiet and reserved man… a hard worker, and very successful in most facets of his life.  He spent his entire 45 year career at one company, starting out as an intern making 75 cents an hour to spending the last several years as CEO.  Surely he has weathered several economic recessions, witnessing and even overseeing his fair share of lay-offs, salary cuts and disgruntled employees.  He was fiercely dedicated to his work, and sacrificed a lot of time with his family to fulfill his responsibilities and accomplish his career goals.  He traveled often and spent endless hours at the office.  He was never a 9-5, 40 hours a week, employee.  More like 60-70 hours.

He raised four kids with my mom to whom he is still married, and surely bares a few grey hairs as souvenirs of our ongoing antics.  He has had his fair share of personal challenges as a father and a husband.  And although I am not a mind reader, as most people do, I assume he probably has a few regrets along the way.  Yet, everything he has ever done, he has done with his family’s best interest in mind.  He spoiled us… but not rotten.  He sent us all to college and grad school, and gave us every opportunity to better ourselves through education, travel, community service and family responsibility.  During the summers, he sent each one of us to work once we turned 16 because he felt it was important for us to learn the value of a dollar.  We learned a lot more than that from him.

In fact, more than my BA in Literature or the 18 months I spent in grad school, it’s what my father has taught to me through his own experiences that makes me a better person.

As a kid, I didn’t recognize any of this.  I just thought… “He’s never around.  He must love his job more than me.”  I was horrified to be working all summer at his office while my friends hung out at the beach.  And while he went on and on with his ‘life lessons’, I just thought he was trying to ruin mine.  I was never ‘daddy’s little girl’ because I didn’t think he had time for me.  Until very recently, I never realized he was preparing my two sisters and me to be women, not girls, and my brother to be a man.

Now, I am not saying my dad is perfect.  In fact, he’d be the first to tell you that he is far from it.  He has made his mistakes, facing his own personal and professional challenges.  And he has failed.  He is human.  But in light of my own personal and professional difficulties these days, I find myself reflecting on some of those life lessons of his that I used to ignore.  And they actually help me get through the really rough times.  I’m not claiming that any of my father’s ‘lessons’ or anecdotes are wholly original… and maybe you have heard them before from your own father or another influential figure in your life.  If not, I’ve decided to share them with you, in case, as you read this, you are having one of the really rough days.

• Never measure your own success against another person’s success.  The man who shovels dirt all day long and LOVES his job is just as successful as the millionaire CEO. No matter how much money my dad made, he never put a monetary value on his accomplishments.  A successful career, as he told us, is never about the money but more about your achievements, more about loving what you do.  Achievements and accomplishments, personal and professional, make a person rich not money.
• Remember the people you meet on the way up, they are the same people you meet on your way back down. Being king of the mountain can be really lonely at times.  And you will never be king forever.  All along the way of your personal success story there are surely people – teachers, coaches, bosses, co-workers, family members – who have taken a moment to pay you a compliment, show you support and even those who dedicate their time to walk along side you as you climb the mountain of success.  Never forget them.  Ever.  A salary increase, a promotion, more corporate responsibilities… these are all great things, but they don’t make you any better or different than the accounting clerk, receptionist or the woman who serves you lunch in the office cafeteria.  Furthermore, every time he received an award or made some sort of speech, my father always thanked my mother.  He made sure to let everyone know that his success was always a team effort… and that team is his wife and his children.   He couldn’t have done any of it without us.
• Keep your head down, do your work and let the crap fly above. Office politics are a drag… family politics are a drag.  Focus on what’s in front of you… keep away from gossip and arguments that do not concern you.  Extract yourself from these meaningless and energy depleting situations and you will be better off in the long run.  Never allow pettiness to derail you from your goals or compromise your values and integrity.
• Always give back to your community. If you are fortunate enough to give, then do so.  Simple as that.  Give your money… or give your time, but give to your community.  Your community is who you are, a community is what you make it.
• People are not born lucky, they create their luck. With hard work and persistence anything is possible.  My father doesn’t believe in luck… he never has.  He believes in diligence.  He believes that through perseverance, no matter your obstacles, you can accomplish anything you want.  It wasn’t luck that saw him climb the corporate ladder from a file clerk in the accounting department to the CEO of a major company.  It was dedication to his job.  It isn’t luck that my mother and father are about to celebrate their 47 year anniversary, it is the hard work they put into being a couple… being a family.  And you don’t get a day off from the work you do as a married couple, as a family.  Luck, for my father, isn’t something that just happens to a person, it’s something a person has total control in creating for themselves.
• You don’t ever want to be the richest guy in the cemetery. Money isn’t everything.  In fact, it really isn’t anything.  In the end, you’re no more rich or poor than the guy buried next to you.  If all that you have left behind is a fortune and no one with whom to share it, then what was it ever really worth?  My father, no matter how much time he spent in the office, rarely lost sight of what was truly important… family and friends.  Love.  As much as he loved his job, and he loved his job, he has always loved his family more.  We always came first.  And surely this, he learned through my mother.  My father, no matter how busy, and with my mother’s little reminders, always took time to enjoy the people who matter most.  Time, as we know, is fleeting… and we can never get it back, so there’s no use in wasting all of it on building a financial fortune if in the end that is all that you have to show as your legacy.

Whether it’s this difficult economy, and being unemployed for the past year, or searching for someone with whom to share my life, I find myself thinking to these lessons, and to my father, often now.  Many people who know my father, or hear about him, just see him as a very wealthy man, a corporate success story.  A suit.  A CEO.  They define him by how many zeros are at the end of his paycheck.  His career is quite a story, without a doubt.  It’s the American dream come true.  What they fail to see, what I, as a child, failed to see is what it took to make this dream a reality.  What we fail to see is that the American dream is not about the money, but about the ability to accomplish our goals, to raise a family and be able to provide for them, to better ourselves by bettering our communities, to give back, to love ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbors and our community.  This is the American dream… and anyone of us can make it come true, no matter how many zeros are at the end of our paychecks.  This is what I learned from my father.

Melisa Verrecchia is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain and a freelance writer.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

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According to those who follow the cycle of the moon, the solar eclipse that took place on January 15 is actually the day we should all be making New Year resolutions.  Whether it be January 1^st or the 15^th, we all tend to feel pressure to ‘resolve’ ourselves to do something when January rolls around: lose weight, workout, spend less, make amends.  Ultimately, when we revisit New Year’s Eve on that same year, we look back and realize we have fallen short, or even worse, haven’t accomplished any of these resolutions.   And if we haven’t had enough champagne to dull the nagging sense of failure, we are left feeling a little defeated, maybe lazy or worse, without real direction in our lives.

Why do we torture ourselves like this?

And what exactly is a ‘resolution’ anyway?  A resolution is a firm decision to do something. “ I resolve to lose 20lbs. this year.”  “I will stop smoking this year.”  “I am going to run a marathon this year.”  These are all very firm, and certainly noble decisions, but sometimes life itself gets in the way, and our decisions become our burdens simply making us feel guilty for not being able to achieve them.  What if you have spent the entire year trying to quit, but just can’t seem to put the cigarette down, or what if you’re constantly on the road for work, eating out all the time and away from the gym making it impossible to lose the weight?  Why put yourself in a specific box… why commit yourself to the possibility of failure?  Furthermore, and more importantly, why make one decision on one day that you are committed to accomplishing in one year?

A firm decision sets an expectation and more often than not, an expectation is just a resentment in the making.

Now, I am certainly in no way saying that we shouldn’t set certain goals for ourselves, or that I think it’s best to wander through life without some sense of purpose or direction, but why do this on only one particular day of the year?  Why not spend every day making affirmations about yourself that will reinforce your intentions and better prepare yourself to accomplish these ‘firm decisions’.  Affirmations, in my opinion, are far more mentally healthy and much more realistic than a new year’s resolution.

An affirmation is a positive statement or declaration of the truth or existence of something.  “I am a beautiful person, and I deserve to be healthy.”  “I am capable of accomplishing any goal I set for myself.” Positive thinking can do wonders for your mental attitude thereby making these firm decisions much more attainable.

Here are a some tips on how to make affirmations:

Think about things in your life you want to improve. The best way to create affirmations is to consider areas of your life that you would like to improve.  Would you like a better job that pays more money?  Do you want to have a closer relationship with your mother, brother or sister?  Would you like to lose weight to feel better about yourself image?  Spend some time thinking about areas of improvement and jot them down.  Be clear about your goals and this will help in making them a reality.

Keep your affirmations focused and believable. Based on the list that you have written, choose what you want now.  Be clear with yourself.  “I want to lose 10lbs” is clear, focused and concise, so don’t decide tomorrow that you think you’d look better if you lost 15lbs. instead.  Furthermore, it is even more important to keep your affirmation believable… don’t set yourself up for failure.  So, instead of saying “I want to lose 10, 20, 30lbs.,” you are better off saying “I am on my way to a more healthy body by losing weight and exercising regularly.”  Essentially, it is important to draw a line between your wants and your feelings.  You want to lose a certain amount of weight, but this want stems from the desire to feel better about yourself.  The feeling is the focus.

Always state your affirmations in the present tense. Tell your mind that your desire is actually already the reality.  If you use words like “I will” or “I am going to,” then what you are really doing is postponing the attainment of your goal.  If your affirmation is your reality, well then, you are already accomplishing it!  “I have a loving relationship with my mother” is much more positive for your mind than to say you will have this type of a relationship with mom.  By saying you will, you give yourself the opportunity to postpone that difficult first phone call or meeting with her.  Tell yourself you already have this positive relationship with mom, and you are already halfway there to achieving it.  Our minds are incredible gifts that have the power to make our goals a reality.

Always keep your affirmations brief and simple. Formulate your affirmations in your own language, and by this I don’t mean English or Italian or Russian, but rather… speak to yourself the way you speak all the time.  Don’t use long sentences or big words because this only counteracts the ability to remember them… and repeat them.

Repeat them daily and say them out loud. Preferably in front of the mirror.  You will be shocked at how awkward you feel when doing this the first few times… but DO IT!  It forces you to believe in yourself!

Write them down. And refer to them often.  It’s also a great idea to keep them in a visible place… in your office, or taped on the bathroom mirror or your closet door.

Remember you can never make an affirmation for another person. As much as we might want to make positive statements about another person in the hopes of changing them to fit our expectations, we must learn, immediately, that we can never change another human being.  We only have control to change ourselves.

Lastly, and I think most importantly, let go of your expectations. Of yourself and of others.  Life can get in the way of life… can get in the way of our affirmations.  Trying to control everything that happens in your lives will not bring us closer to attaining our goals or affirmations any sooner.  In fact, it might actually hinder you.  If you are constantly focused on a particular obstacle or occurrence that goes against your affirmations, you will surely lose focus.  Stay open, be free and accept what life brings to us, even its’ challenges.  This way you are able to continue to focus on what IS positive in your life.  And affirmations are ALWAYS positive!

Good luck.  And Happy New Year!

Melisa Verrecchia is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain and a freelance writer.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

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Image courtesy of Roy Lichtenstein

With the economy being as tough as it is, and so many people struggling to find work, including many who will read this, it’s very easy to fall into a dark hole of depression and despair.  How will I find another job… when will I find another job?  How will I pay the bills, feed my kids, afford the rent? When will this economy improve… will it EVER improve? As we spend hour upon hour on Craigslist and other sites searching for jobs, sending our resumes into a black hole called the internet, these are the questions that crowd our minds.

Then, of course, there is the interview process.  Our hopes held high with that first phone call: “We were looking over your resume and really like what we see…” only to be shattered later with the second or third call (or better yet, a very impersonal email): “After going through the interview process, we have decided to go with another candidate whose skill set best fits the qualifications of the position.  We wish you the best of luck in your on-going search for employment.”

It’s almost worse than getting laid-off.  Rejection is never easy.  Uncertainty never comfortable.  Unemployment never fun.  Or is it?  Could it be?  If we looked at it from a different perspective, is it possible to find an upside in all of this?

Maybe so.

Think about your life before your first job.  What was your dream?  Not your goal nor your plans, but your dream… that far away, far-fetched idea that you spent nights discussing with your friends in college, or discussing with yourself as your mind wandered in art history class.  I wanted to write for a fashion magazine.  (And save the world.)  My girlfriend wanted to be Christiane Amanpour, traveling through the worst parts of the world exposing injustice and crimes against humanity.  I’m unemployed now… she’s a mother of two.

So… could that terrible blow to our egos when we get axed from a job we sort of hated anyway actually be a blessing, a wake-up call that it’s time to do what we want to do?  And not what we think we should be doing?

Instead of focusing our attention on all the terrible things about being unemployed, here are a few reasons why it actually isn’t so bad:

1. We can wake up in the morning and think to ourselves that ANYTHING is possible.

Gone are the days where our entire day, week, year… lives… are scheduled by the hour.  Instead of waking up at 5am – heading to the gym for a 45 minute workout, back home to shower, in the car by 7:30 and at the office by 8:45-9am depending on traffic – we can finally wake up and enjoy the silence.  We can finally wake up and enjoy the possibilities that the new day will bring to us.  Maybe I’ll do yoga, or cook a magnificent dinner for my lover, maybe I’ll start writing that book I’ve always wanted to write, or paint or sculpt or walk on the beach… or maybe, just maybe, I’ll lay in bed all day because it’s been 15 years since I’ve had the chance to do it.  The point is that we can finally decide how to spend our day because it’s no longer incrementally mapped out for us by the hour.  Better yet, we finally have the option not to decide at all, but rather to float.  We can let the day take us where it wants, rather than trying to control the hands on the clock and wishing hours away just so we can finally escape the office.

2. There’s finally time for exercise!

Gyms love to advertise with reverse psychology- which is just a diplomatic term for guilt.  “Don’t use your job as an excuse to avoid the gym… or over eat and gain weight.”  Ha!  I’m wondering if any of those fitness trainers have ever had to work a 40-60 hour week, as well as cook dinner for their kids, walk the dog, get the kids to bed and then clean up after their mess.  Unemployment, as difficult as it is, is the perfect “me” time.  Get out there and bike… or go on a hike… or join the gym.  Take a walk with your spouse for the first time in 20 years.  Start to get fit together and go home to make yourselves a delightfully healthy lunch rather than grabbing some fast food on a lunch break!  This is some much needed down time, a time to focus on you.  Get those endorphins pumping and your mood will begin to enhance as quickly as your waistline begins to decrease.

3. Volunteer

One of the best ways to feel better about yourself is by helping another who is in greater need.  Even if for only one day of your unemployment, take that time to give your time to someone else.  Feed the homeless, read a book to school children, become someone’s mentor.  Volunteering is such a fulfilling act of kindness… and the rewards are immeasurable.  We all need to be reminded sometimes that things could always be worse… and for many, they are.

4. You can finally be your own boss.

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business?  Or maybe working from home?  It can be very liberating to finally have control of your time.  You have flexibility and a better balance between your personal and professional time.  Whether you choose to embark on an entrepreneurial journey or find yourself another job in a company, it is important to take this time of unemployment to get to know yourself, and your needs thereby becoming the boss of your own life.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you will find a job again.  You will get hired again.  This economy is cyclical, and we are due for the upswing.  In the meantime, try to fill the downtime with positivity and pro-activity.  Get to know yourself, so that when you do find a new job it will not define you, but you will define the job… and where this new venture fits into your life.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Melisa Verrecchia is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain and a freelance writer.

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

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