Take a Day

Lay-off Tip #6: Make sure to take one full day to enjoy having no commitments

Once you get past the hurt and the anger of a lay-off, you start to move into freak-out mode. This is perfectly normal - where will I work next? How will I get health insurance? Can I really live off unemployment? How many jobs should I apply for each day to stay productive? Are people judging that I don't have a new job yet?

That is definitely important and you want to make sure to set yourself up for success (and a decent income!). However, it is equally important to take time (at least one full day) for yourself. To not worry about what will happen on the job front. To not e-mail people at your former job. In short, to just be.

Tomorrow is that day for me. Along with three other laid-off friends, I'm hosting a special lay-off day. Starting at 10:30 a.m., we will be drinking mimosas, eating cheesy potatoes, watching movies and just enjoying life. A personal pause if you will.

We really don't do this enough. So regardless of your situation, make sure that you take time for yourself. Give yourself a day to have a personal pause and cut yourself some slack. It's really difficult to always be "on."

And what I've found is that a little champagne and pinot noir go nicely with a personal day :)
Cheers! Rachael