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Beat the recession, and do it yourself
November 3rd, 2008
The obvious thing about this recession is that it will be tough.
However, for once in times like these, people don’t have to play by the old rules and just take whatever the world throws at them. There are plenty of possibilities.
There are some very basic things that will make all the difference:
- Keep the budget under control
- Watch your health
- Don’t wait for things to happen, or not happen
- Don’t stop moving or thinking
- Explore the world, find the opportunities
- Whatever the problems are, destroy them
Keep the budget under control
This is basic realism. Don’t spend if you don’t have to, and don’t use up time and money running around. Make single swoops, get what you need, and get back to the main game. Budgeting isn’t difficult, just annoying. If you don’t do it realistically, it can be a problem, but otherwise it’s a necessary nuisance.
Watch your health
This can be a marathon, so pace yourself. Do things on a time frame where you can eat, and get proper rest. Eat good food, not junk food. You need actual nutrition, it keeps you a lot healthier, and you can function without feeling tired or distracted.
Make sure you get enough sleep, and don’t disrupt your routines, because you have to have the energy. Drink some extra water, even if it’s only a glass or so a day. You can actually dehydrate, when you’re mentally flat out, because it’s a high energy routine.
Forget stressing out, it’s a waste of time. If you want to worry about it, do it about ten years after you’ve dealt with the problems. You don’t actually have time to worry, if you want to really go to work on getting rid of the things causing the worries.
Don’t wait for things to happen, or not happen
Time is precious. The quicker you get things done, the better. Other people’s time frames can look incredibly slow, even if you’re only talking about a few minutes. There’s also the added danger of expecting other people to look after your interests, and counting on them.
That’s not only risky, it means you aren’t covering all the bases. You always need a few things happening at once, to make sure you’ve got options, and to keep moving forward regardless of particular situations. You may also need time and space for your other ideas, and waiting for someone to pick a phone is a particularly frustrating experience.
Example:
You’re waiting for a call on a job. You’ve put everything on hold, because this is supposed to be the cure-all phone call. A whole day is spent getting nervous and not getting that phone call. Not much else happens, because you’re too jumpy, and you’re rehearsing for the phone call.
Of all things you could be doing, this is definitely the least productive. It’s perfectly natural, perfectly understandable, and perfectly useless.
It also means you’re being dependent on one thing happening.
That’s a potential problem of itself. The thinking is There’s a problem, this is an answer. Problem is it may not be the right answer.
Any life situation needs more than one possible course of action. Survival is a lot easier with a choice of moves.
Make sure you’ve got a range of possibilities.
Don’t stop moving or thinking
One of the real risks of unemployment is stagnation, mental and/or physical. Lack of possibilities also means lack of stimulus, and lack of motivation.
Just what every unemployed person needs, a sort of hideous normality.
Try this:
Point yourself at something you really want to do. Do it.
Check out something you find interesting and maybe useful. Do it.
Above all else, if you’re feeling stuck, try different ways of thinking of a problem. Introduce a new element into the situation, or a new approach.
Don’t, ever, stick to approaches you know aren’t working.
Get out of anything that isn’t productive, or is just using up time and patience.
Explore the world, find the opportunities
There are always opportunities, but they can take a bit of finding.
Following on from the ideas in the sections above:
The belief that there’s only one way of getting through a situation is probably the worst way to approach that situation. If you lack information, you’re lacking possible solutions.
You do need to go looking for alternatives. A few minutes on the net can give you much more information than you started with. You might need a lot of new information, too, if you’re working with things you learned years ago.
If you know how to use your transferable skills, you’ll know you have a lot more job and career opportunities than just getting another job. If you don’t know, you really do have to learn.
Example
Everyone has a skill set. Usually it’s used in one basic career motif, which has defined their normal job options. With a bit of additional training, or even quite new training in something else, they can become eligible for far more work, often better paying work, because of additional skills and added value.
If you’re not looking for these things, you’ll never find them. Hit the browser, start thinking and start looking.
Whatever the problems are, destroy them
Survival strategies in tough times means 100% Effort, All The Time. The tougher the times, the tougher you have to be.
Even worrying is a luxury.
You don’t have time to worry.
You’re busy.
In fact, you’re very busy.
You’re in the process of doing a lot of things:
- Checking out online courses for career moves and job upgrades,
- Getting the training or added qualifications you want,
- Exploring new job possibilities, where your skills can move into new areas,
- Doing your homework on where are the best places to post a resume,
- Contacting targeted employers and getting information and advice,
- Sharpening up your interview techniques for value adding to employers
A problem is solved when it’s utterly destroyed.
It can’t be a problem any more, because you’ve learned how to deal with it.
You’re making a whole new life, whether the recession or anything else likes it or not.
Sound like fun?
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