This week’s topic is reader submitted. Thank you to the
Wellness Wednesday Community! Keep showing up and letting me know what’s
important to you.
Losing a job—or simply looking for one—can feel like
standing in a storm without an umbrella. It’s disorienting, exhausting, and at
times, deeply personal. Whether you’re navigating a layoff or making a bold
career move, it’s normal to feel your confidence wobble. After all, our jobs
are often tightly tied to our sense of purpose, identity, and stability.
I have a client who wanted to cry every time she submitted
another resume. Reading articles on LinkedIn about fake jobs, algorithms, and
recruiting bots. It can make it feel
like a personal rejection whenever you submit your resume into what seems like
a black hole. Some companies will
acknowledge receipt, but more often than not you won’t even know if they got
your application. Rough!
But here’s the truth: your worth was never rooted in a job
title, a paycheck, or a company logo.
This in-between space—while uncomfortable—is also full of
potential. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and reset. And the more you
can anchor yourself in self-care and intentional action, the easier it becomes
to quiet the inner critic and stand tall during uncertain times.
Let’s go over FIVE ways you can make the most out of this
time while you search for your next job/career/company.
1. Redefine Productivity
In job search mode, it’s easy to equate productivity with
sending out resumes, networking, or hitting job boards hard. And yes, those
things matter—but so does resting your nervous system.
Taking a walk, journaling, meditating, or even catching up
on sleep is not “wasted time.” It’s replenishment. It’s you recharging your
battery so you can show up sharper, clearer, and more resilient the next day.
2. One Day (or One Hour) at a Time
Some days, the confidence just won’t be there. That’s okay.
You don’t have to climb the whole mountain today. Just take one step.
Ask yourself: What’s one small thing I can do today that
moves me forward or makes me feel better?
That might mean using ChatGPT to update your resume. Or it
might mean cooking a nourishing meal, calling a friend, or simply giving
yourself a break from the pressure to “figure it all out.” It might mean binge watching tv murder shows
(my personal go-to).
Momentum builds slowly—but it builds.
3. Talk to Yourself Like Someone You Love
This might sound cheesy, but it’s powerful: the voice you
use in your own head matters.
If a friend was laid off, you wouldn’t tell them they’re
lazy or unworthy. You’d remind them of their talents, cheer them on, and
validate how hard the situation is. You’d probably say something like, “You’re
going to land somewhere amazing—you always do.”
Talk to yourself the same way.
4. Use This Time to Realign
When you’re employed, it’s easy to get caught in a loop of
doing what’s expected—chasing promotions, hitting goals, staying the course.
But when you’re between jobs, you get a rare chance to zoom out.
Ask:
- What
do I really want in my next chapter?
- What
kind of environment helps me thrive?
- What
am I no longer willing to tolerate?
Use this time to clarify what matters to you. That clarity
will help you make aligned decisions—and show up more confidently in
interviews.
I recently helped a client realize that in her next role,
her non-negotiables are Flexibility, Respect, Collaboration, and Integrity. From
this perspective she was able to search for companies that embody these values.
5. Celebrate the Wins—Even the Tiny Ones
Did you send out three applications? Reach out to an old
colleague? Rework your LinkedIn profile? Celebrate that. Small wins stack up
and acknowledging them boosts motivation.
Confidence isn’t a constant state, it’s a practice. It’s
built through action, reflection, and self-compassion.
Realize that this hurdle is temporary. It might seem scary,
but you DO have choices, and I bet you have a whole lot of people who are
willing and happy to support you while you find your way again.
On a personal note, many years ago I was “let go” from a
job. Not quite fired but forced to resign with little recourse. I thought my
life was ending. In some ways it was. The job I had burned myself out on, the marriage
that wasn’t allowing me to grow, all were ending in a fiery blaze. It was excruciatingly painful in the moment. A
story for another time.
Many years later though, do you know what I remember about
that time? The friends who supported me.
The amount I went to the gym and how fit I got. The cute guy I met and later
married. And the new job that took me to a new city (and a 50% salary
increase). I didn’t know it in the moment, but it wasn’t the end of my story,
just the end of a chapter that led to a story I didn’t want anyway.
The Bottom line. Your Break Isn’t a Breakdown This
season doesn’t define you—it refines you. And sometimes the greatest
transformations come from the pauses, not the hustle. So, breathe. Take care of
yourself. Honor your pace. Your next opportunity isn’t just a job, it’s a new
chapter. And you’re more ready than you think.
I can’t wait to hear about how you turned this setback into
your COME BACK!
***
Did this topic add value to you? Please like and
subscribe if you want more topics like this, or DM me. I always love
suggestions and feedback!
And if you are too burned out and overwhelmed to even
begin to use any of these strategies it might be time to get some help. Find a
coach, therapist, or doctor who can help you reverse out of the physical,
mental, and emotional symptoms of burnout so you can get back to living in life
you love.
Remember, Self-care isn’t selfish…it’s required!
Yvonne Lee-Hawkins, IPHM, is a holistic Leadership and
Wellness coach, stress strategist, and writer, who spent 20 years in corporate
and leadership functions. When she is not working, she loves to go on nature
adventures with her family, in the Pacific Northwest where they call home. You
can find out more on her website,
or follow her on LinkedIn,
Medium, or Instagram.
If you want some help finding your next move, or with
general wellness, schedule
a call here.