This is my third installment on keeping your sanity during a job loss. There are a lot of great sites out there popping up to help people after a job loss, and I'll share some of them at the bottom of this post. The last thing that I want to focus on is the mental health side of a job loss.

A job loss can be extremely stressful, especially around and after the holidays. Tension over expenses can cause arguments, and you'll have adjust your lifestyle to accommodate for the loss of some or all of your families income. The emotional side of the stress often leads to physical effects such as sleep loss and anxiety.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Unfortunately, there were over a million people who lost their jobs in November and December of 2008. Governments are offering several forms of counseling for stress in addition to standard unemployment insurance benefits. There are websites and talk shows focusing on these issues right now. Keep your head up, and ears open.

There is hope. I have a good friend that lost his job in the middle of December, and ended up with a job offer before Christmas. He sent out hundreds of resumes and applied to at least ten jobs a day, and was able to find a company hiring even in this tough economy. It's possible, but you have to be on your game and stand out from the pack... and it all starts with keeping your sanity!



Some links:

Coping with a job loss

AARP Job Loss Assistance

Thriving during a job loss

Librarians Internet Index Job Loss Help

Here's some more about surviving a job loss:

Last time we looked at some ways that you can prepare yourself for a job loss. With times as hard as they are, and unemployment on the rise, it's not a bad idea for everyone to be prepared just in case.

But what happens if you really do get laid off? What next?

When it happens, right at that moment, keep this in mind:

Keep Your Cool!

As much as you might want to get mad, or vent on the person giving you your notice, don't. Chances are, you will need to use this company as a reference for your next job. Be as cordial as possible, and if you can't, just don't say anything.

After it happens:

Don't Sweat it:

Sure, it sucks. But if you step in to action right away it will help keep your mental state on the right track. Start by doing a few key things right away:

• Make some calls, let people know what happened. Don't be ashamed, there are a lot of people getting laid off right now. The more people you tell, the better chance you have of netorking a new job.
• Update your resume. Sit down and update your resume to make it current, then start looking to sites like Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com that you can post your resume on and start looking for new jobs.
• Keep active in the search. A huge site for jobs almost anywhere now is craigslist.org. Click on your city or the nearest to you, and you can search jobs in your area. This site has helped more people find jobs than all other job sites combined!

The biggest thing is to keep looking, all day. Be sure to file for unemployment if it's available to you. Most states have a waiting period of a week or so, so you want to get the ball rolling. Check my last post on how to find your states unemployment information. Keep your head up. There are a lot of jobs out there, you just need to stand out and apply. It may take a hundred tries or more, and you might get shot down a lot, but don't give up!

Preparing for the possibility:

• Examine the health of your company.

Start taking a good look at how your company is operating, and it's overall "health". This will give you an idea of how likely a lay off might be.

• Get your finances in order.

Dealing with a job loss will be a lot less stressful if you have a solid budget in place and know where your money is going.

• Have an emergency fund.

Once you have a budget, adjust it to start saving some money to set aside. The general rule is that you want at least enough savings to get you through 4-6 months without income, but any amount will help.

• Know your options.

Here are some helpful links to keep at hand:

Forbes take on negotiating a severance package

State unemployment rules

The lay off survival guide

These are just a few steps to take before the lay off happens, next we'll take a look at what to do after you get laid off.

Yesterday I was in the gas station and was amazed by the case after case of energy drinks that stood in front of me. It appears that the industry that Red Bull started has turned into something pretty big.

So, continuing with my bit on healthy choices in beverages, I decided to take a look at energy drinks.

Now, I'll start off by saying this:


Energy drinks are not good for you. Period.

With that said, and as I look over at the energy drink sitting on my desk, I realize that we all know that. And, we all keep drinking them.

Today I'd like to take a look at the lesser of the evils out there when it comes to these drinks, and how to make healthier choices while staring at that wall of energy drinks in front of you.

If you are a Red Bull fan:

They do make a Sugar Free version that is, well, sugar free. The problem that I see with that is that they just substitute chemical sweeteners such as aspartame, a chemical that has been linked to several health issues, including brain tumors and lymphoma.

If you like the coffee version of the energy drinks:

Monster offers a low cal version of their extensive coffee line called "Lo Ball". It also has half of the caffeine of the regular versions, as well as fewer carbs. (this is my personal choice when I reach for an energy drink. Remember, I don't endorse drinking any energy drinks, but I fall prey to them from time to time.)

Rock Star has a "better for you" version vanilla coffee drink, called Roasted Light Vanilla. It has half the fat and calories of the regular Roasted.


Some healthier options:

SoBe makes a line of energy drinks called "Essential Energy". They are a much better choice since they use more natural ingredients combined with fruit juices. Just watch the sugar content in some of them.

There is also a product out there made by Eniva called "Vibe 2.0" that I have heard great things about. I haven't personally tried it, but the company claims that their drink uses vitamins and supplements to give you a healthier energy boost.

So, there you go. with all of the options out there... you may actually have a chance to make a healthier choice from that evil wall of well marketed energy pushers.

Watch this video about energy drinks:

So here's a shopping list of things that you should have in your home:

  Peanut Butter                               

  Dairy
Again, here's one that you hear about being a big no no. Dairy really is an important part of your diet, as there are nutrients in dairy products that actually help your body break down fat. The key is to get the fat free or low-fat versions, and stick with the vanilla yogurts.

And the RestAlmonds, beans, spinach, Instant Oat Meal, Eggs, Sliced Turkey, Olive Oil, Whole Grain Breads and Cereals, Extra Protein (Whey) Powders, Fresh Raspberries, Canned Tuna, Chicken Breast, Fruit, Green Veggies, Lean Fish, Lean Ground Beef, Long-grain Rice, and Whole Wheat Pasta.

So there's a start. Now, I don't expect you to throw out everything you have in your cupboards and run out and buy everything on this list. Just look it over, and next time you shop, substitute a healthy choice for something that you usually get. Get the fat free milk instead of the whole milk, and so on. Every little step matters on the path to healthier living. You'll not only feel better physically, your mental health will improve from the positive changes in your life!

As I was sitting on the couch this morning with my Rottweiler on my lap watching CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, I realized two things.



First, I realized that I have a hundred and twenty pound lap dog.



Second, I realized the importance of balance in my life.



You see, I love CBS Sunday Morning. I have for years... I'm not really sure if it was my Grandparents or my parents that I watched it with as a kid, but I know that my parents still watch it to this day. The reason I love the show is that it's the only news program during the week that's presented with a smile. Charles Osgood has the voice and charisma that brings a calm peace to the news. Also, the "real" news (I use that term very loosely) about world affairs and top stories is limited to a brief 60 seconds of the 90 minute program. After that, you learn about everything from the anniversary of the Charles Manson Family conviction to Bill Geist visiting a salt and pepper museum. You get commentary from people like Ben Stein who actually share an opinion, think it through, and remind you that it's just an opinion.



For me, sitting on Sunday morning with my dog on my lap and watching the lighter side of the world is really important. My schedule over the last year hasn't allowed me to watch the show, but now I have weekends off and am again enjoying a smile on Sunday morning.



For me, it brings balance to my life. It helps level out the hectic side of work, and the negative that you deal with in daily life. Over my next few posts we'll take a look at some ways that you can bring balance back in to your life, and hopefully bring a smile to your day!









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