Roseleen Mc Nally

Newsletter March 2009 
WWW.ROSELEENMCNALLY.COM 
086 889 8433 

I am sure that you know someone, if not yourself who has been
affected by redundancy - friends, family or colleagues. For many,
redundancy is a life changing event and it spells the death of a
lifestyle (at least in the short-term) that the individual and
family has become accustomed. We spend on average 40 hours a week
working so our career is an integral part of our lives. For many
their job is directly linked to their status, they define their
lives by their career.  This newsletter will give you tips on how
you, your partner, family member or friend can overcome any
difficulties facing them during this time of change - it will allow
them to see this an opportunity for change, personal growth and
exploration.
 
When you meet someone how often, is the first question you ask
'What do you do for a living? For about 10% of the population this
is a question which there are dreading having to answer but it does
not have to be that way.  There is very little stigma attached to
being made redundant now, as it is happening to many people as a
result of a downturn in certain industries and sectors.  Losing a
job,results in further losses such as: 

-Financial security; 
-Self esteem; 
-Sense of providing for family/partner; 
-Friends as we become more separated from our colleagues; 
-Social network; 
-Routine and structure; and 
-Status and function. 

Redundancy is both devastating and liberating. On one hand, it is
very tough knowing that you have lost your job but on the other
hand you may think that losing your job does not seem like such a
bad idea after all. There are a minority of people who may be
relieved that they have lost their job as it allows them the
opportunity to escape an existence to which they could see no way
out - they see it as freedom. Some people may use it as a positive
experience to change direction or pursue something that they've put
off. I know someone who was let go from their job, they cried for
two days over the shock of it but then they confided that they felt
guilty because a part of them was relieved that they didn't have to
go back into their job. 
 
However, nothing changes the fact that being made redundant from
your job is physically, mentally and emotionally draining.
Redundancy affects people in different ways. It is said that
redundancy is up there with death and moving house as being a very
stressful experience. When we are stressed everything looks worse
than it is. Even the small and ordinary challenges can seem
unbearable. It is said that an individual will go through the 5
emotional stages: 
 
Denial - They do not believe it is happening to them. When a person
has been told they are being made redundant, they usually go into a
state of shock so they may not take in all the information being
told. The person may not tell their partner, family or friends. By
not acknowledging it they believe it is not happening. 
Bargaining - They try to convince their employers to take them
back. 
Anger - Their emotions will swing up and down. They may take anger
out on family members or begin to 'bad mouth' their previous
employers. 
Despair - They now begin to worry about providing for their family,
finances, finding another job. The person may feel like 'it is them
against the world'. 
Acceptance - They begin to accept the situation. The person may
begin to take control of the situation and be proactive. 
 
BEING MADE REDUNDANT - STEPS TO BEAT THE STRESS 

If you or anyone you know has been made redundant there are many
things that they can do to help themselves during this time. Having
been let go myself from a job in the past, I understand the
roller-coaster of emotions that an individual goes through, the
effect of being redundant has on the mental and physical body. Here
are my top tips on how to cope with redundancy: 
 
   1.   Do Not Take It Personally 
 
Many people will take redundancy as a personal attack. Redundancy
is not about you not doing well in your job, it is about your
company or industry sector not doing well. It may feel personal but
it is not. Your job has been made redundant, not You.
 
   2.   Count your blessings 

Make a list of all the things you have to be grateful for in your
life under the headings - family & friends, health, relationships,
finances, career, personal growth. By doing this you will see that
your career is one element of your life - you have so many positive
things in your life to be grateful for. 
 
   3.   Take Control 
 
A fundamental basis of life coaching & NLP is that you cannot
change the world around you but you can change your reactions to
it. So while being made redundant is stressful, consider at least
one positive from the event e.g. Do you get to spend more time with
your kids and partner? Do you get to rest your mind and body as
your existing job was so stressful, do you have time to do some
form of exercise now, Do you have time to actually consider what
you want to do? Do you have time to reconnect to the things you
loved to do - write, paint, cook etc? 
 
Focusing on the negative can take its toll on your mental,
emotional and physical body. Instead of thinking that it's all over
and there is nothing you can do about it. Try thinking 'How can I
attack the problem in manageable pieces'. Do not predict the worst
that could happen ask yourself 'what is the best thing that could
come from this?' you might surprise yourself with the answer! 
 
   4.   Take Care of the Essentials First 

By sorting out the essentials first you can then focus on yourself
and what action you need to take. The essentials mainly being food,
housing, clothing, finances e.g. bills, mortgage, redundancy pay,
direct debits, school fees, car finance etc. By sorting out your
finances sooner rather than later you can plan what to do with any
savings or redundancy money you may have and it will allow you to
take control of your finances. 

   5.   Check your entitlements 

Go online or contact your local Citizens Information Bureau to
determine what entitlements you are allowed. Claim any payments you
are entitled to which can help fund you during your work
search/break. There are many websites which can help you see what
you are entitled to but the best way is to meet someone from these
organizations face-to-face.    

   6.   Prepare a budget 
 
Do a budget for the next 6 months which will focus you on how to
manage your money. Write out your spending for the past two months.
You can use your bank statements and credit cards - list all
recurring payments, once off expenditure, any unexpected
expenditure and when it is due e.g. car insurance, school fees,
savings, credit card debts, loan repayments, house bills etc. This
will allow you to see what your outgoings are, what are the
essentials, is there anything that can be removed/decreased?
Remember to budget for something for you and your family to look
forward to. Whether it is a holiday, a weekend break or day out
include some fun into your budget. 
 
Decide whether you will clear all or part of your debts with your
savings/redundancy money. Contact your bank in relation to changing
the term or repayments on your mortgage, car and loan repayments.
Contact the financial institutions so you can gather whatever
information you need to make an informed decision on your debts. 
 
   7.   Keep in a Routine 

Make sure your day has structure so you do not fall into the habit
of sleeping late every morning and watching TV late into the night.
The structure of a routine keeps you alert and reinforces a feeling
of self worth. By keeping to a routine, you are also preparing
yourself for getting back into employment. There are people who
will get up at their usual time, put on their suit and do their
days work (job hunting, exercise, networking etc) so they keep up
the routine of being at work. They are 'acting as if' - the mind
does not know the difference between what is real and what is not.
By staying in bed all day hiding under the duvet - what are you
getting done? How would you feel? 

   8.   Take Stock and Do Your Goals 

Write down your goals, get organised and take action. The act of
putting your goals and objectives on papers helps you maintain
focus and activates your mind towards achieving them. Focusing on
what you don't have will only create more of the same. Focus your
energy in the right direction. 

   9.   Use the Opportunity - Re-evaluate Career 
 
You could look at being made redundant as an opportunity for change
and personal growth. Write down the skills you have (you might even
ask friends or family for their input as you may be hard on
yourself during this period) and consider the kind of job you want.
Perhaps you would like to try something else? What others
industries use your unique skills and strengths? How could you find
the opportunities available to you? What would have to happen for
you to change career or find a new job? You may have been so busy
in your previous job that you did not fully explore other avenues. 
 
Redundancy can offer you the chance to take a step back and
re-evaluate your life, your finances, your ambitions, your dreams
and your future. Although it may be tough financially at first it
can provide the stepping stone for starting the next stage of your
life. 

There are many possibilities available to those who are made
redundant: 

-New job, same field; 
-New job, different field; 
-Consultancy work; 
-Temping/Part time work; 
-Opportunity to gain new training skills; 
-Start your own business; 
-Voluntary work; 
-Return to education; and 
-Travel. 

Hire the services of a career coach if you want to clarify what you
want to do and plan a strategy to get there. You may also consider
using the time to update your CV and interview skills. 

   10.   Look after yourself 

For many looking after themselves physically and mentally is the
last on the list when they are working hard, long hours and
managing a family. Use the time you have now to do things that you
have put on the long finger. Exercise, even walking, can help bring
down stress levels and will make you feel better. Also exercise it
a great opportunity to allow yourself to leave all your thoughts at
the door and concentrate on you for that specific time. Give
yourself something to look forward to. 

Write down 5 fun and recreation activities that you tried to do (or
stopped doing) while you were working or did not 'have the time'.
Consider doing at least one of these activities now when you have
the time. Take the time to do the things you enjoy. Spending your
time worrying will only wear you down and leave you less likely to
cope. There are plenty of places which are offering discounts for
those who are unemployed so use this opportunity to do something
that you like and will enjoy. Check out the internet for those
organizations offering discounts or go for long walks in
Glendalough, Dun Laoghaire or someplace where you feel relaxed. 

   11.   Get support 

Instead of thinking you have to handle this alone, reach out and
ask for support. Try thinking 'I need some support to get through
this who can I go to?' When we are stressed we usually withdraw
into ourselves so know that having support will help you get
through this. Use family, friends or other organisations to get the
support you need. 

Talking openly and honestly about how you feel can be like opening
a door. Talking puts you back in control and reveals the choices
available to you. Many people feel they have to be strong and
handle it all by themselves so they do not burden family or
friends. But by holding in your emotions they will continue to
build up until they are unbearable or you become irritable and
short tempered. Either way, talking to someone will help you
realise that you are not on your own and help to reduce tension. 

   12.   You will survive 

Remember you are not alone. We hear the statistics everyday so if
you find the news depressing, stop listening to it. There have been
recessions before and we have survived. There will probably be
recessions in the future but we always survive. Look at the word
'recession', a recess means a short break and period to adjust
before moving forward. You are in a recess, things will start to
move again but you may need to make some adjustments prior to this. 

********************************************************************


Special Offers
 
Life Coaching & NLP 
 
Offer 1
 
2 sessions for the price of 1 - valid until 31 May 2009
You can use the 2 sessions for yourself or 
You can give one as a gift to a friend.
You can use the 2 for 1 for Life Coaching, Career Coaching,
Redundancy Coaching or NLP.  So whether you want to see if Life
Coaching is for you or want to address a specific issue then
contact me.
 
Reiki
 
Offer 1 
 
2 sessions for the price of 1 - valid until 30 April 2009
You can use the 2 sessions for yourself or 
You can give one as a gift to a friend.
If you know someone who is suffering the emotional rollercoaster of
being made redundant or dealing with the stress of having a family
member redundant, then reiki can help them release the stress of
the events, clear the mind of the thoughts running through it and
give them time out to relax.

 
********************************************************************
 
   
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who could benefit from
this, feel free to forward it to them! 

Not a subscriber yet? Like what you've read? Sign up to get future
issues delivered straight to you: http://www.roseleenmcnally.com 

Until next time!
Roseleen Mc Nally
Dublin Holistic Centre, 16 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2 

Unsubscribe to this newsletter