Life after Employment

CEBU, Philippines - Life after employment…sounds unnerving isn’t it? We are familiar with the phrase “life after death”. We read so much about it or see it in a lot of movies or TV shows. I have seen a recent movie barely touching on the subject of life after employment. The movie was Up in the Air starred by George Clooney (go watch this; not only because of George Clooney but it is one of those movies imitating life in a feel-good way.)  It’s about his job. He works with a consulting company, which is hired to face the employees of their clients, and tell them they are fired. And then they give this brochure to the fired employee showing what they can do with their life after leaving the premises of their employer. Sadly, one of them committed suicide. Death after getting fired I would guess has a high percentage. But let’s not delve into that...death after employment. It sounds tragic. Let’s talk about life after employment, in whatever circumstance you arrived at, at that point where you are no longer part of the work force, whether you got fired or retrenched, or you simply decided to retire (early or compulsory), or you resigned from your current employer for whatever reason.

You may be someone with a blank expression, staring far away, lost, and feeling the weight of the world bearing heavily on your shoulders. You may be the opposite person feeling the weight of the world removed from your shoulders and you feel light and free. But both of these persons will be faced with a reality of what to do next… here are my suggestions:

1. Realize you are Alive! After taking that last step out of your company’s premises, you are still a living, breathing, thinking human being, taking that walk, that journey to a life outside the walls of the office you have been working for many years.

2. Detox! You are leaving the company and yet you still carry with you all those stress, heartaches, and negativity. Detox yourself. Throw all those baggage away. Why carry old burdens to your new life? Detox physically! Go run a kilometer or two everyday. Eat those fruits and vegetables. Watch the TV shows you missed without becoming a couch potato. Listen to music. Take yoga or martial arts. Remove all those toxins accumulated in your mind and body.

3. Do not be a Victim of Self-Pity! Self-pity makes you vulnerable to physical and mental torture and if you can’t handle it, it will lead you to do something like that woman in the movie earlier mentioned.

4. Do the Old or New Hobby with Passion! Revive an old hobby which you were passionate about but never had the time to do, or start a new one that you have always dreamed of doing. You don’t have the extra money? It happens to anyone. You can either be creative, or be realistic. Your dream may be too farfetched to come true for the time being. Postpone it for better times but let it not deter you from doing other stuff like reading books, writing your thoughts and experiences, taking photos with your old camera, trying out cooking, doing cross-stitch or crochet, start gardening and growing your own vegetables in your garden organically. There are a thousand and one things you can fill up your time, many of which are doable and simple. Remember, your most valuable resource right now is your time. And you’re the boss of your time.

5. Soul Searching? Do this as part of your detox if you feel the need to do so, to help you mentally or spiritually decide what to do next in your life.

6. Enjoy Quiet Moments! You need to give yourself a break, away from the noise inside and outside your home or surrounding. Give time to listen to yourself, to your inner voice. Take long walks on the park or beach.

7. Spend more Quality Time with your Family. There is no better time than this moment to spend with your children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and other relatives.

8. Reconnect with old friends or establish new ones. One way is through the internet. Do you have an FB account (Facebook)? Call them if you still have their numbers. You will never know what opportunities will come up.

9. Plan the Next Step. There are people who consciously plan what they will do next before they have left their employment. Some would venture into having their own business. Entrepreneurship is becoming an economic trend nowadays. Others would go abroad for greener pastures. Others would like to pursue another employment which they would find more challenging or satisfying.

10. Walk the Talk! Whatever you plan under number 9, do it. Being unemployed doesn’t sound great but if you have a plan, then it changes things because now, you are a Person with a Plan.

And most of all, Remember Invictus! “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” There is indeed Life after Employment. (Contributed article)