Five years ago, I was unemployed for 4 months. During that time, I was spending most of my time alone and reading the book “Norwegian Wood” of Haruki Murakami. All were the worst choices ever that made me dig deep into depression.

Now, I am laid off again, and have more experience dealing with it.

Unemployed people presumably have a lot of time on their hands. Well, as the saying goes, “Idle hands are the devil’s tools”. So, I keep myself busy by zeroing in on my favorite things that I couldn’t do whilst being drowned in work. And a busy person never has time to be unhappy. 🙂 

Prepare a plan before resigning from my job

You should quit your job when quitting is the next step to a better life. For me, leaving that toxic workplace was the right decision whereas I do not have any better offer. I can spend my precious time and energy on things which bring me fulfillment and happiness.

Three months ago, I used to sit deep in the thought: “what would I do in the next three months after resigning?”, as I was afraid and obsessed with the previous unemployment experience. The scary truth is giving up the negative work environment just makes your life easier in a very short time, one week or maximum one month if you do not have any plan ahead.

So, I started drawing a self-improvement plan then. And when getting a clear picture of how my life will be, I have more courage to make the decision.

Create my own blog site and keep writing

This was the first thing popping up in my mind when I was creating my personal development plan. As you may know in my previous post, I used to hate writing and was bad at it. But after many turning points in my life, I discern that talent is not the key to the success of a person, but the time invested seriously in things you do.

When I write, I have a second chance to contemplate events, to know that I am still alive, to feel the world with all my senses and understand love.

I am in love with writing after all, writing as a job and writing as a hobby. When I write, I have a second chance to contemplate events, to know that I am still alive, to feel the world with all my senses and understand love. Now I have my own blog site which is still under improvement process to create my content and share it to the world. I would like to take this chance to thank Hung – my husband for his great support in building the website for me.

Anyway, if you still hate writing when reading this sentence, you do not have to do this or it will drive you crazier and more stressful. 😉

Do freelance job

The thing I like the most about freelance job is I am the boss of my time and work. Furthermore, it keeps me up to date with the market as well as the latest trends and developments that are happening.

More than anything else, it releases from financial stress. Gone are the days when you have to work a 9 to 5 to earn a good living. According to a report by Forbes, freelancers now make up 35% of U.S workforce and doing freelance job is becoming a trend in Vietnam as well. 

Operating our own business offers many advantages and much fun. However, there are many struggles that only freelancers can relate to such as late payment, lower payment, unreliable clients, vague requests, loneliness, etc. So, be prepared for anything. If you want to do freelance full-time successfully, please make sure you have the self-discipline to handle your schedule.

Travel or find other fun things which are less expensive such as reading inspirational books or watching motivational movies

Actually, I’ve just gone back home after the 8-day trip to Korea and now I’m going to Cambodia for the upcoming Charlie Puth concert. I love travelling because it opens many windows to different lands, helping me learn more about life after each trip. And now, the experiences has been much better when I can get rid out my thinking from work. 

There are also a bunch of other fun options which are free or less expensive like reading inspirational books, watching motivational movies or learning anything which is helpful with your career path – The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami, Pursuit of Happiness, The Intern, First Man to name a few.

“Make sure you go to bed everyday, knowing that you are a bit more knowledgeable than in the morning”

“Make sure you go to bed everyday, knowing that you are a bit more knowledgeable than in the morning” – Michel Le Quellec – my former CEO at Wall Street English said to all his employees including me before he left the company. He has inspired me to live a curious life, read a lot and meet interesting people everyday.

!!!Oops, just a gentle reminder: please do not read “Norwegian Wood” as I did five years ago. It is an undeniably beautiful novel but just captures grief and sadness; and unsurprisingly, it will not help if you are suffering from depression.

Exercise daily

You are the one who always complains: “Oh, I’m too busy to work out!”, aren’t you? The only reasonable excuse is now gone if you are jobless right now. So, get your lazy ass up!

Just kidding! Actually, daily exercise will make you happier. From some researches, physical activity stimulates the release of happy chemicals into your brain. Furthermore, it energizes you, keeps your body at a healthy weight, makes you look better and more confidence. Small steps, but you will thank yourself one day.

Don’t isolate yourself

Quitting your job, losing monthly income and feeling lost makes you lose motivation and enjoyment in things related to your social life. In short, you easily become depressed and isolate yourself from your friends and even your family. 

Actually, I learned that being alone is worse than interacting with my true friends. Although they said what I did not want to hear, it was actually what I needed to hear. Since all honest advice will be helpful in some ways that can get you out of the pool of stressfulness and depression. Believe me, isolation is unhealthy. Try to get away from it.

Things will get better, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but they will. Stay strong!

After all, I just want to say, think positive and positive things will happen. Keep your head up, learn new things everyday, meet interesting people, find what you enjoy doing for hours and be happy. Things will get better, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but they will. Stay strong! 🙂