The outbreak of COVID-19 has affected our lives in many ways. The government has imposed lockdown and cessation of movement in most parts of the country. As a result, most companies and businesses have closed down due to massive losses in profits. Many workers have been laid off while the lucky ones have been forced to work from home.
Since people associate jobs or sources of income with a sense of purpose and responsibility, the increasing rate of unemployment has resulted in mental agony amongst the affected individuals. One thing you should note, however, is that losing your job is not the end of life. You have to get yourself together and stay sane for the better days ahead. This article looks at things you can do to reduce stress because of unemployment during this pandemic.
- Think of Other Ways of Making Money
Losing a job is not only financially tragic but it also affects your mental health. Even as bad as it may look and sound, it should not be the end. After accepting your current situation, you should start thinking of other ways to make a living. The internet is not just flooded with negative information, it also has some positive and transformative ideas. If you conduct your small research on the internet, especially YouTube, you will find so many ideas of what you can do to make money with so much less capital. For example, if you learned a certain DIY task, made a video of the process, and posted it on YouTube or other social media platforms, you may receive job requests or get paid for the watch hours by YouTube. Now that is a problem solved and less stress.
- Learn New Hobbies
Hobbies work by taking the mind away from the stress-causing situation. However, distracting your mind from the stress does not mean that the stress is gone; it is still there. What you will be doing with the hobbies is reducing the amount of time and energy you spend thinking about the current jobless situation. The best thing about hobbies is that they might end up turning into money making ideas. Take for example learning the DIY waste paper and concrete lamps shade making. This is something that can make so much money for you since it is a unique idea.
- Seek Counseling Services
The most appropriate and effective way of dealing with stress due to loss of work is by seeking professional mental health help. You may not afford it in your current financial situation but there are several hotlines you can call toll free. Most psychological counselors are now volunteering to offer free counseling services to people most affected by the effects of the pandemic. You do not even need to go to them physically, as most psychological counselors are now offering online sessions via the Zoom platform. However, if you can afford professional mental health help, please pay so that other less privileged people can make use of the free services.
- Physical Workout
Among the many ways of dealing with stress is by engaging in physical exercise. As you work out, your body sweats and the heart beats faster. This makes the blood circulate better in your body, leaving you healthy. In the same process, exercise enhances the production of the feel-good hormone endorphin, while eliminating the stress hormone, cortisol. The ripple effect of physical workout is that you will be left feeling relaxed, calm, and happy, as the stress is eliminated. Be sure to combine your workout with positive thinking and healthy eating for the best possible results.
- Avoid Fake News
Propagandists and fake news media have hijacked the COVID-19 crisis and are now spreading fake news. Fake news impacts on mental health by making people stressed, anxious, and very afraid of their future, safety, and wellbeing. You can reduce stress caused by fake news by choosing to consume less news and if you do, ensure you verify its source.
Is everything terrible news? While the momentary effect may not look encouraging, COVID-19 has introduced a few open doors for industry development that could convert into expanded open doors for work in the mid-long run. The only thing we can do for now is to keep doing what the health department advocates – staying positive and keeping safe. Doing this plus implementing the aforementioned tips will go a long way in helping you deal with the unemployment distress as a result of COVID-19.