How to cope with unemployment

How to cope with unemployment

 

As South Africa faces a sharp rise in the unemployment rate, there’s no doubt that those who find themselves without a job may be facing countless challenges. As a society, we don’t speak enough about how the stress that comes with being jobless can take a serious toll on one’s physical and mental health.

 

Being unemployed can leave you feeling anxious and uncertain about your future. However, this feeling of uncertainty after job loss is something that isn’t uncommon. Whether your contract has just ended, or you were fired or retrenched, you may be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions such as shock, denial, frustration, anger and depression.

 

While losing your job can become quite overwhelming, here are three things you can do to regain some control over the situation, ease your anxiety and maintain high spirits.

 

Take care of your well-being

Losing your job may leave you questioning your abilities and self-worth, however, allowing yourself to grieve is a completely normal experience. Although we all grieve differently, finding a healthy outlet to provide you with relief will help you deal with the loss and eventually assist you in moving forward.

 

Focus or pursue activities that will bring you joy or a sense of peace. Whether it’s expressing your creativity or trying a new hobby, avoid letting the job search consume you. Make time for yourself, have fun, rest and relax. Say it with me, “Self-care”.

 

Ask for help

Unemployment is something that can have an impact on your whole family and anyone else living with you. Instead of carrying your problems alone, speak to someone you can trust. Express how you feel and what you’re going through. Their support may be able to help you get through when you feel like you’re in your darkest hour.

 

Even if it means putting your pride aside, leaning on the people who care about you allows you to let off steam and have an emotional release. If you aren’t able to speak to a family member or to someone you can trust, contact crisis lines such as the National Depression and Anxiety Support Group (0800 456 789) and the Unemployment Support Group (011 234 4837) for help. Always remember that it’s okay to not be okay and there’s no shame in anything you’re feeling. 

 

Don’t give up!

You don’t have to accept defeat. This is just a setback, not the end. Continue the job search and be proactive. Try not to get too comfortable just sitting at home and use this time effectively to achieve your goals and continue your job search. Update and polish your resume or CV and cover letter and ask yourself whether your resume reflects who you are and what you’re capable of. If it doesn’t, then you have to go back to the drawing board and think carefully about what you would like to include and exclude to showcase yourself.

 

Coping with unemployment can be stressful. Even though these steps may not prevent unemployment, they can help you alleviate some of the stress and anxiety you may be feeling. By following them you’ll be able to come out the other side still a winner.

 

In the words of Queen Beyonce Giselle Knowles “If you feel insignificant. You better think again… You’re part of something way bigger. Not just a speck in the universe… You’ll never lose, we are winners.”  

Everything you need to know about SA’s unemployment rate

Everything you need to know about SA’s unemployment rate

As South Africa continues to make its economic recovery millions of South Africans have been left jobless. From retrenchments to contracts not being renewed, losing a job can be one of life’s most stressful experiences. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t unique to South Africa but ours is one of the highest in the world. Everywhere we drive or walk, we see countless homeless people or beggars standing at the robots (aka traffic lights), trying to make ends meet. Consistently measuring an unemployment rate of above 20%, we face massive socio-economic challenges such as poverty and inequality that have a ripple effect on all who live within our borders.

 

According to data Statistics South Africa, South Africa’s unemployment rate has had a staggering increase of 7.5%, taking the country’s unemployment rate to 30.8% in the third quarter of 2020. There are now fewer jobs in South Africa than there were at the start of 2020. 

 

Despite the first quarter being when we experienced the COVID-19 hard lockdown and severely limited economic activity, the second quarter unemployment stats only showcase a fraction of the devastation of the pandemic. 

 

While the official figures take into account the labour force who are unemployed but are actively looking for work, the total unemployment figure includes anyone who has a job, wants a job and those who aren’t looking for work.  There is quite a big difference between the official and expanded definition of unemployment, which raises a lot of questions as it all comes down to who is or isn’t counted. Ultimately, this means that to be counted as being officially unemployed by StatsSA, unemployed people must be actively looking for work.

 

While the latest unemployment figures paint an alarming picture regarding the country’s unemployment crisis, Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi states that despite these figures, South Africa will eventually improve their current economic crisis. 

 

Even if you didn’t love your job, it may have provided you with some structure or a purpose in your life and suddenly finding yourself out of work can leave you questioning your identity or what the future may hold for you. Being unemployed may also affect your overall mental and emotional health, which could eventually lead to depression and anxiety.

 

While the stress and worry can feel overwhelming, there are quite a few resources that are available to make the transition slightly easier. The first of these resources to consider is the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) so you can get a steady stream of income while you are finding your way.

 

Most importantly, while the situation may seem bleak right now, it’s not the end and the country is on the path to economic recovery so things will improve.

How to deal with burnout

How to deal with burnout

Dream job or not, you’re bound to encounter work related stress from time to time. However, the stress can be overwhelming and result in burnout. 

Although burnout isn’t a medical diagnosis, some medical experts believe that other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can be a result of it.

How do I know I’m experiencing a burnout?

Does your job make you feel stressed or do you dread going to work? If so, then you may be experiencing symptoms of burnout. While there may not be a quick fix way to handle or deal with burnout, there are a few ways you could help alleviate, avoid or recover from it.

Step back and take a break

If you’re experiencing a total loss of motivation and no energy then it’s time to step back and take a break. You may not be able to go on a full vacation, but taking a few days off for your mental and physical health can do you good.

During this break,  try to shut yourself off from work and to focus on things that genuinely make you happy whether it’s spending time with your family or simply relaxing and watching your favourite tv show or movie. This is the perfect time for a little self care.

Get some rest

It goes without saying that when you’re stressed, you look for ways to unwind and destress. One way you can fully give your body the break it needs is by getting enough sleep. With enough sleep you’ll be able to restore and protect your well-being and mental health.

Manage your workflow

Try not to say yes to every task you get then prioritise and work based on your capacity. Keep a checklist or a to-do list to help manage your workflow while staying organised.

Be realistic and ask yourself whether or not you’ll be able to meet the deadline and whether or not it will affect your overall progress and performance. 

While you may not be immune to experiencing burnout, by simply understanding what causes it and how you can deal with it, you’ll be able to create a happier and wholesome working environment for yourself.

Keep an open mind and try not to prioritise the demands of work over your mental and physical health.

Written by Aaliyah Fortuin

The benefits of working remotely

The benefits of working remotely

As South Africa continues to make its economic recovery as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses’ have had to make the difficult decision in closing their doors and working from home for the employees’ safety.

What does it mean to work remotely?

While it may seem daunting at first, working remotely can be quite efficient and less stressful. The most obvious advantage is you get to cut out the hours you spend sitting in traffic.

Remote working or ‘telecommuting’ means that instead of coming into work, you can work in any environment whether it’s at home, your own office space or even a coffee shop. Thanks to the digital age, you can complete assigned tasks, projects, campaigns, communicate and manage your team anywhere, as long as you have a laptop and stable internet connection.

The benefits

Growing in popularity, remote working has gradually changed the way we work, the tools we use and how we communicate with others. What was once a rarity in most sectors, has quickly become a defining feature for the future of work.

Better life balance

Offering workers more flexibility in their hours, employees can now choose the time they wish to start and end their day, while still ensuring that their hours required are met. This is extremely beneficial as it allows you to have control over your schedule especially when it comes to your personal life needs.

Less Travelling

With so many South Africans relying on public transport to get to work, working remotely lightens the burden and stress of travelling into work. By working from home, employees no longer have to worry about the stress of getting to work on time or sitting in traffic, allowing you to focus on getting more rest or simply having more time to have a healthy breakfast.

Geograph Location

One of the key benefits of working from home is having the luxury of having control over your location. While some employees may have not had access to the tools and resources needed to work from home, those who do can work from anywhere, anytime. For employers, it lightens the load on paying for office rental space, especially if they’re located in a city with a higher cost of living.

Offering quite a few benefits, it is clear that working remotely won’t just be something that works at present but instead could be something many more businesses will continue to implement in the near future.

Written by Aaliyah Fortuin

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