Losing your job is one of the most difficult things a professional could face in their career — especially when it’s completely unexpected.
And, as entrepreneur James Altucher points out in a LinkedIn post, the days following aren’t much easier.
“You can’t meditate. You can’t exercise. You can’t eat healthy. You can’t shave. Or bathe. You can’t even take deep breaths,” he says. “None of that stuff helps, you think. None of that immediately deposits money in the bank. None of that brings back your self-esteem.”
Altucher, who has been fired “so many times I can’t list them all,” says his one piece of advice that does help is to do just one thing every day.
Here are some things you could do in the days after losing your job to get out of your funk:
SEE ALSO: 14 things you should do as soon as you get laid off
DON’T MISS: 19 signs your company is about to conduct mass layoffs
Process your emotions.
Tyler Parris, author of “Chief Of Staff: The Strategic Partner Who Will Revolutionize Your Organization,” says it’s important to process the emotions you’re feeling once you’re calm.
He suggests starting by acknowledging what those emotions are. Then “figure out what you’re going to do with those emotions and how you will respond most productively to them. Emotions left unchecked will build up and, eventually, you will start acting them out in ways that don’t serve you,” he says.
Enjoy your new freedom.
Get eight hours of sleep; wake up early; exercise; take a shower; put on a suit; go into the city; and walk around, Altucher suggests. You need to keep things as “normal” as possible during this tough time by staying busy and active. You don’t want to sit home and sulk.
Let go of your resentment.
“You are going to feel resentful about people at your old job. They wronged you,” Altucher says. But remember that they’re also just trying to survive.
Make lists of all the good qualities your old boss and coworkers have, and send each of them an email telling them why you think they are good at what they do, he suggests. Also, thank them for the opportunity to work with them and for anything they may have taught you.
