Christmas Time and Unemployment

Its Christmas time and you may be out of work. If this is a recent happening, then you might be full of optimism about getting a new job. If you have been out of work for any length of time, then you may be resigned to the fact that you can’t find a job in this bad economy.

Well the fact of the matter from my point of view is that you need Christmas or Hanukkah and do your best to enjoy the season. Even when you are out of work, you need to find the simple pleasures in life and this is one of the best times to just sit back and enjoy. It is also one of the best times to find something to do that costs virtually no money, Christmas light tours.

You are thinking, I am out of work, how can I just sit back and enjoy it. I am not telling you to give up the job search or anything. I am also not telling you that magically the bill collectors will stop calling. What I am telling you is that during all of this, you need to have a glimmer of hope and happiness or you will never make it through this period of unemployment. And the longer your unemployment goes, the more you need to find times and days like the holidays to find some basic pleasures.

It is hard to be positive when the negatives keep coming. But it is up to you to find these little pleasures to help you keep your sanity. Keep looking for a job, but also take some time for yourself. Even if that time for yourself is just sitting back with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. You need to find a small bit of pampering, even if the one doing the pampering is yourself.

I also recommend for the long term unemployed, this may be a great time to sit down and examine your job search strategy. What has worked for you so far and what has not? What methods of search have yielded some interviews or at least interest? Keep those methods and find others that can compliment them in your strategy. Which methods have provided no results? Should they be kept or should these methods be abandoned for other possibly more productive methods?

Lastly, I know everyone wants to spend money on those they care about during this period. Especially if you have kids, this is a hard time to not spend money. I know I have struggled with the amount of money we have spent on our kids this year. You have to remind yourself that they will understand and that they will not be traumatized by not getting the hottest toy this year.

Find what little part of your budget that you can spend that won’t put your other obligations at risk and spend some of it. Get something for the kids and your spouse if you can afford. Or, if you are like my wife and I; don’t give presents to each other this year. We have decided Christmas 2008 is about the kids only.
You may need to make some sacrifices, but you can reward yourself after you get a new job. Make it a plan that one month after you get your new job you will spend X amount on yourself or your spouse to make up for not having the best Christmas in 2008. You can do it and enjoy the season.

Enjoy life and enjoy the holidays.