On Friday, I asked the readers of Fabulous Financials to share one recommendation on how to cope during this recession. There were many helpful responses, but I chose a select few to highlight in today’s post. If you’re overwhelmed by news reports, layoffs, the stock market, housing crisis, bank failures, government bailouts and stimulus plans – here are few ideas to help you cope during the hard times and keep you grounded as things improve:
Truly Tina:
Stay connected with your support system…family, friends, and associates! I know, it’s very simple advice, but it’s critical. When people are laid off and resources begin to dwindle to an uncomfortable level, some people have the tendency to devalue themselves or their abilities or are so embarrassed by their circumstances that they become a recluse. Nothing could be more detrimental! Staying connected is not only beneficial for your professional health, but for your mental and emotional health as well. Remember that you’re not alone at this time and others are there to help you out in whatever ways they can. I live in a Metro city where depression rates are on the rise and people are doing crazy things. It’s scary actually, but people resort to unfathomable measures when they have no hope for their future.
So, surround yourself with positive people. Your spirits will be lifted and besides, you never know what new opportunity is around the bend and if you have a positive countenance and outlook you’re more likely to present yourself in such light when those opportunities to network arise.
But even more paramount than staying connected with your support system is staying connected with God. Now is not the time to cease praying. Pray even more, seek God even more, and believe even more. And remember, with whatever weakness you think you may possess, God’s strength is perfected in your weakness and He is not slow in keeping His promises (provision, protection, strength, guidance, etc.). His timing is perfect…even during this recession. Trust me!
Toya:
Volunteer for two primary reasons: 1) i am able to gain experience or contacts in a field that is not currently hiring, so i will be better able to position myself for a paying position if it beomes open. for example, i am interested in making a career change into physical therapy. so i’ve decided to spend time at a PT’s office or rehab hospital gaining more insight into the profession while developing skills to operate as a PT assistant. also, when the time comes i’ll have a PT willing to write me a reccommendation for PT school. Finally, (most important) volunteering takes me outside myself to assist someone else. It reinforces that I am not the only person affected by this season of ultimate penny pinching. The small business owner of a PT office may really need an extra hand to run the office, so she can stay afloat during this unstable time. Also, I understand that with recession can come depression. But when I’m not focusing on myself all the time I worry less and that is great for my mental health
Jocelyn:
I write down five things that I am grateful for each day. This helps me to block out all of the negative news that I hear all day on the television, the radio, the newspaper, magazines and my relatives (aka mama and them).
nofearingthemoney:
Take care of yourself. A healthy body copes with stress better. It doesn’t have to be expensive: take a long walk for free. Buy a bag of apples instead of chips. Meditate or pray before going to work to deal with women in red suits. We can’t control the markets, but we can take this time to reflect and feel better physically, which take off some of the stress of coping with the recession.
Ki
What I have chosen to do to make it in these tight financial times is to plan my purchases. Planning has forever been the thing to do in ANY event..you plan for your career, you plan your wedding, you plan for kids..you sometimes plan to kick someones…ahem. Anyway, being that I am a crafter it’s sometimes hard to not make that purchase for a notion you think you really really need. So, what I have been doing is planning items I want to make and utilizing materials I already have BEFORE running out to my local fabric or scrapbooking store. I also plan my meals a week in advance, that way I know exactly what I need from the grocery store and I don’t go in making blind purchases.
Lola:
One really needs to try not to give into the “I really deserve this XXXX (insert whatever fancy item you want right now)” mode, and try to look objectively by questioning yourself in the “Can I really afford it without taking a hit to my savings” mode. Now is not the time to add on to credit card debt so that in the case of a layoff, you can focus on using your savings/unemployment income on the essentials like your living expenses without having to scrunge up obscene interest payments on credit cards for purchases you wish you never made.
…
Try to recession-proof your job as best as you can, by consistently going above and beyond and proving your worth to the company. Everyone is laying off employees, so try to do your best to not end up a statistic in the unemployment numbers. I know companies usually say layoffs do not target under-performers, and it’s just about reducing headcount. However, personally I have witnessed/survived 4 layoffs at different companies and I have never seen the star performers let go in layoffs.
Stay connected, volunteer, be grateful for what you have, take care of yourself, plan your purchases, avoid the “I deserve this” syndrome, and – if it isn’t too late – recession proof your job. All of these comments address something important that we often take for granted. Now that the economy is suffering, it is critical that we make them higher priorities in our lives. You owe it to your community, your family/friends…and especially yourself.
Editor’s Note: The book winners have already been contacted. Some titles are still up for grabs so there will be more give aways in the future. Thank you all for participating!
[image credit: topnews.in]
