It’s been a month since I was RIF’ed from my job. I’m in a surprisingly (to me) positive mood all things considered. My network of friends and colleagues has been incredibly wonderful, encouraging, and helpful.
I’m trying to stay focused but not consumed. For instance, sitting at my computer doom-scrolling LinkedIn for 8 hours a day isn’t helpful. I try to keep it to twice a day for actual job search activities – morning and early evening. I’ve found that I’m even busier with other things than when I had a job. Maybe it’s that I have more time to dedicate to those other things.
So, what am I doing? How am I staying focused? How am I keeping the Black Dog away?
- As I mentioned above, I’m actively searching for a job twice per day.
- I’m posting more on LinkedIn as a way to engage and to keep my name and face out there.
- Monday: I post a short plug for a chapter and author from the Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences book.
- Thursday: In a throwback to something I did on Twitter, I’m practicing Thankful Thursdays. Each Thursday I express my gratitude for one person from my life and why I am thankful they are part of my journey.
- Friday: I write up a blog post like this one and share it to LinkedIn.
- I recently joined a group called Never Search Alone (NSA). Hat tip to Brian Dusablon for telling me about it. NSA (yeah, I know) is a book/movement that encourages you to seek help from other people to find a job, rather than the traditional “go it alone” way we are used to doing. It’s not that they are doing your work for you in finding a job, but that you are doing it together. They help you and you help them. You read the NSA book and you join a Job Search Council (JSC) which is made up of 5-6 people who are also job-hunting. You work through the exercises in the book and meet with your JSC for a minimum of 11 sessions to talk about your experience with the exercises and your respective job searches.
- I’m trying to be more social and meeting people for coffee, beer, or lunch. Being able to get out of the house and out of my head helps a lot.
- I’ve been making time to walk my dog every morning. I’d fallen off the daily walk schedule because we have a fenced-in backyard, i.e. Laziness 1, David 0. I’m mainly walking to exercise my dog but it’s also been a good level-set to start my day.
- I’m reading a bunch, mostly learning and development stuff (I know, I know. Step away.) Here’s a sampling.
- Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World by Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink
- Never Search Alone by Phyl Terry
- The Instructional Designer’s Guide to Project Management by Dr. Guieswende Rouamba
- Lost Connections by Johann Hari
- The Manual: A Philosopher’s Guide to Life by Epictetus (new translation by Sam Torode)
- I’ve been trying to meditate once a day, emphasis on trying.
Staying busy with these activities definitely keeps the rumination at bay and generally keeps my spirits up. I’m hoping that continues until I am gainfully employed again.