I’ve recently found myself in a place I never imagined I’d be – unemployed. The company I worked for went through a merger a few years ago. I survived the merger but ended up in a role that was very different than all of my previous job experience. I gave it my best but I hated it. So when I recently got the opportunity to leave with a severance package, I decided to go.
The last few weeks have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but I truly believe this was a good decision for me. I hope to be working again in a few months, but here’s what I’m doing during my extended staycation.
What I Plan to Do While I Am Unemployed
Filing for Unemployment
Did you know that accepting a severance package does not necessarily disqualify you from receiving unemployment benefits? I discovered this when talking to a recruiter who had experienced a layoff herself sometime back. I decided to file to see what would happen. I’m still waiting on the decision, but if it turns out that I am ineligible I won’t be any worse off than I am now.
Working on my mental health
Did I mention I hated my job? Trying to make it work really took a toll on my mental well-being. I have also felt a lot of shame after telling people I am no longer working. Now that I have some extra free time, I’ve decided to schedule some time with a therapist to help me reduce my stress and work on my emotions. I hope to be in a better place before I start something new. I’m also exercising more to increase my endorphins. There’s nothing like a nice walk to help clear your mind!
Spending some quality time with my kids
My children won’t be little for long. I’m planning on taking them on some fun adventures while I am jobless. We’ll spend some afternoons at our favorite parks, go see our out-of-town friends and family, and play hide-and-seek in the middle of the afternoon just because we can.
Learning some new skills
I was at my last company for over 10 years. The job market is much different than the last time I was searching for a new position. I am taking a programming course on Udemy to improve my resume and, hopefully, my chances of getting a position that will make me happy. The course has been challenging, but also kind of fun. Today I learned how to code a hangman game!
Being unemployed is scary, but I still feel like I made the right decision. With any luck, I’ll be gainfully employed after enjoying a fun summer with my children. If it takes longer than that, I still think the improvement to my mental health and the extra time with my kids will be totally worth it.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Not many people like talking about being unemployed since we are in such a hustle and bustle society. Just the feelings of shame and anxiety alone that come with telling someone you are, “In between” jobs is enough to make anyone stressed! I’ve been there, but I learned so much about myself during that time! I learned it’s okay to rest and explore my options. I learned that I could reinvent myself and go into a career field I didn’t think I was qualified for at the time. My encouragement to you would be to not allow fear of the unknown to hold you back from what’s really in your heart to do! Even if that means taking a longer gap time or not returning to the workforce in the traditional way. It’s okay to operate outside the box! It is possible to find something you are passionate about without settling! Blessings to you!