Actually, because I am on sabbatical, so is Wilda. However, not one to not do anything at all, I am on a sabbatical that involves personal work … on myself. What a concept!
For some time now, I have been talking to women about self-care based on the premise that we are to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves“, and yet how many of us do a good job with the loving ourselves part? Not many of us, and in fact, not me. Since I started my own company, I have been spinning my “to do” plates in circles on top of tall poles and now they are falling down, causing my health to suffer. This is cause for pause.
Without going into all the sordid details, over the next six months my job is to restore my physical health, rebuild my immune system, strengthen my body, renew my spirit, return to the Sacred, find my voice and allow my creative spirit time to dance. I am writing about my journey in my new blog, www.thebluewoman.wordpress.com. Please join my pilgrimage as your time allows. I am open to comments and questions, and invite you to read along.
Did you miss me? I missed you! The holidays, and the “crud” knocked me off my blog for a bit, but I’m back. Check out this video and consider yourself VALIDATED and VALUABLE today and EVERYDAY!
In my last blog, I wrote about Facing the Adversity of a Layoff … and I assigned some homework. So, how’s it coming? Are you implementing any of these action items? If so, which ones? Where are you getting stuck and how can I help?
First, forward this email to everyone who is out of a job …
Exercise and eat right.
If you are drinking a lot, stop or limit your alcohol intake.
Go to your nearest Unemployment Office, file and take advantage of EVERYTHING they have to offer.
If you need to, seek professional help – start by calling your former employer’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Get out of the house at least once a day, take your laptop to an internet café and do your job searches in the presence of people – make eye contact and SMILE at a few of them.If you don’t have a laptop, borrow one or use community resources.The point is, make human contact outside your home at least once a day.Take it from me, doing this really helps.
Go to Vista Prints (www.vistaprints.com) and take advantage of their free business card offer.Fill in the blanks with all of your contact information, and make sure you have a professional email address to include – this is not the time to be greygoose or hotbabe@somewhere.com.
Find professional groups that interest you and go to the meetings.Look in the paper, on Craig’s List, and other sites like www.meetup.com to see what is offered in your area.
Get LinkedIn and network with people from your past and any new contacts you make.Ask those you know to connect you with someone they know that may be able to give you advice or link you with someone who can.LinkedIn is great for asking questions and getting some fabulous answers — use the tool.A friend and I did a Lesson on LinkedIn in July of this year.Listen to it for the cost of your long distance phone charge by calling: 712-432-3903, Access Code: 1834537.And, read LinkedIn guru, Guy Kawasaki’s archived blog article on “Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn” by going to:http://blog.linkedin.com/2007/07/25/ten-ways-to-use/.All of this is free of charge.
Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and your local Chamber of Commerce to find out about the business reality in your geographic area … you may need to consider moving to find work in your field.
Consider retraining – check with your nearest community college or university for more information.
Invest in yourself and your future … find a career coach.From what I’ve experienced, and am reading, it is taking up to twelve-months for people to find a new job – anything you can do to reduce this time and get out of the unemployment blues rut is worthwhile.
Your life and who you are is a gift to the world around you.
