Ways to Avoid the Anxiety of a Layoff During the Recession

There is a point when one realizes that a layoff is imminent in his or her job. When this realization happens, you might feel the anxiety and tension mount internally within you. If you are not in the first wave of layoffs, the anxiety you feel still remains because every day the recession lingers you wonder if you are the next layoff victim. Anxiety reactions are common during a recession. Recession worries can lead to a “fight or flight” response that is a normal reaction for the human body when it perceives a threat–in this case a threat to one’s livelihood. This reaction to the threat of a layoff can also keep adrenalin secretion at a high level making the person exhausted. One way anxiety due to the threat of a recession layoff can be avoided is by taking steps now to prepare for that day. Let’s look at a few ways this can be done.

Working longer hours does not make your job recession and layoff proof. Working longer hours makes you exhausted which could increase your anxiety level. The productivity in relation to the number of hours you work is ruled by the law of diminishing returns. The law of diminishing returns states that at some point, more effort does not produce more or better results. Don’t sacrifice valuable time away from your family and friends in order to “take a bullet” for your boss. You will get burned out at some point and then you will go through a layoff anyways.

Avoid the anxiety of eviction from your job by preparing for the day. Office workers with cubicles tend to bring in a lot of personal items such as books, plants, pictures, and other things that make their cubicle a “comfort zone.” However if you are surprised by a layoff one day, you might not be allowed to go back and get your belongings. The company will have someone else pack the goods and make them available for pickup. This can cause anxiety for you. It’s better to start taking personal things home just so that you are prepared for the day. Doing this has a way of mentally preparing you as well. You would also be wise to remove any personal files and contacts from your work computer because you will most likely have your computer access terminated (sometimes even before your layoff).

Don’t drown your anxiety of a pending layoff. Don’t pick up habits that people oftentimes do to suppress the anxiety they feel about the fate they predict. Specifically, don’t drink too much alcohol to deal with the stress. You will waste valuable time and money. Just think, during the several hours you waste at a Friday night happy hour imbibing, you could be updating your resume and preparing for next week’s job search. For much less than the cost of drinks at happy hour, you could spend some time with your kids or even go out for a peaceful dinner.

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