Because of the coronavirus pandemic that ramped up early this year, many people all over the world lost their jobs. The Philippines’ unemployment rate, according to The Straits Times, was at a record high in April with at least 7.3 million Filipinos becoming jobless. But it’s not just the Philippines that is experiencing this. Jobs worldwide are affected, according to the Japan Times, and U.S. unemployment has reached 14.7%. It’s tough times, even with lockdown restrictions being eased up, because of the lack of a vaccine for the disease.
If you or someone you know is in danger of losing their job or has recently lost their job, it can be especially difficult especially now that there’s a health crisis in our midst. For overseas Filipino workers like you, you might be a lot more nervous than the average employee, because not only have you lost your job—you’re also far away from the family you’re providing and working hard for. But don’t worry: Here are 7 healthy ways for you to cope with job loss during the pandemic.
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Don’t be scared to feel it.
Give yourself time to feel the job loss. Be angry within reason, be sad, cry, let your feelings out. It’s important not to suppress what you’re feeling, because if you do, these feelings will fester within you and make you feel worse. So allow yourself to grieve and mourn—just remember that this feeling is temporary and that you will get through it.
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Reach out to friends and family.
During tough times like these, it’s important to have a good group of people who will support you. Those people are your family and friends—the ones closest to you, the ones you find yourself getting up in the morning for. If they’re with you, spend some time with them, vent, let out your hurt and frustration. If they’re in a different country or if they’re back home, reaching them has never been easier thanks to technology, so go and give them a call.
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Reflect on what happened.
Whether you’ve been furloughed or laid off, it’s important for you to reflect on what happened. Consider the factors that might’ve contributed as to why you were let go. Remember that the biggest reason is because of the pandemic waging outside, and that if your company says it isn’t your fault, then it probably isn’t. Have a clear mind to think about your performance in the past few months, the reality of the situation (i.e., there is a worldwide health crisis happening), and what it could mean for you.
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Don’t blame yourself.
But—and this is very important—don’t blame yourself. Don’t get mad at yourself; feeling that way will do no one any good.
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Consider a career development plan.
When you can, think of making a career development plan. This way, you can see how you can move forward in your career path, or even see if there are other options for you. Career sites like WorkAbroad and JobStreet have plenty of resources that you can utilize and read up on when making your career development plan.
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Find a distraction.
Whether it’s volunteering, watching movies or television shows, or meditating, it’s important that you find a distraction during these times. The distractions aren’t there to keep you from focusing; rather, they’re there so that you don’t unnecessarily channel too much energy on being nervous and sad about what could happen next. Put your time and energy to good use, and employ methods of self-care or give back to your community.
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Keep your mental health in check—and remember that you are not alone.
The most important thing that you should remember is that you are not alone in this. As mentioned, millions—even billions—of people have lost their jobs or at the risk of losing them. Remember that this is merely a hurdle that you can overcome. With your skills and experience, you will be able to find a new job in no time.
When you’ve done all that, you’ll find that it’ll be easier for you to move forward and find a new job for yourself.