Coping with the stress of unemployment during COVID

Interestingly, 2020 was both an eventful and a fairly lacklustre year. The impact of COVID is still rippling across our planet and for some, we are preparing for restrictions once again amid the threat of a second wave–meaning people like me in the hospitality sector me, will potentially be out of work for a while. It has also been a year of unprecedented downtime. Along with a few other factors, this sent me tumbling down the ‘Plan B’ rabbit hole to learn the best ways of coping with the stress of unemployment during COVID.

I moved from Aberdeen to Glasgow last year to study International Events Management. Bursting with optimism and fresh into my Politics and Policy in Events and Tourism module, I was fortunate to say yes to my first proper Events job! A week after induction, mass events were banned in the UK and I was unable to start my first day of work. Yikes.

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To begin coping with the stress of unemployment during covid, put a deadline on the lie-ins and seek stability

When you’re unable to work, there are days when you won’t want to get out of bed and that’s perfectly normal! However, it’s best not to give in to this feeling for too long and allow it to become a habit. Put a hard deadline on the late nights and lie-ins and create an action plan going forward.

With the unpredictability that accompanies a pandemic, it’s helpful to first establish some level of stability in your life early on. Housing is the perfect example. Since uni transitioned to remote learning rather quickly, some students decided to return home before full lockdowns were enacted. Others stayed to weather the storm, voluntarily or involuntarily. I was uncertain how safe a long haul flight back to The Bahamas would be or when borders would reopen so I chose to stay.

Sort out your long-term housing ASAP to allow yourself to focus on your health and job hunting during the pandemic

If you find yourself having to move in with someone from your circle, it’s very important to be honest with your host about your potential length of stay. This will prevent awkwardness or miscommunication in the long run. Where money is an issue, consider coming up with ways with your host that you can contribute to the household which are not necessarily financial; for instance, dog walking, babysitting, running errands, home-school assistance or gardening.

I had many conversations with my partner, family and friends about my housing needs until I graduated and we came up with creative solutions together. Knowing that my accommodation was secure was a major relief and has allowed me to focus more of my attention on my job search.

I’ll be honest with you, I still feel guilty most days because this set-up is far from how I planned my year and I truly enjoy supporting myself. However, circumstances outside of my control have required me to take a massive pill of humility and ask for help–and a lot of it.

Put your social capital to work to find out if anyone in your circle is hiring

Your network is the perfect place to start looking for potential work opportunities! An acquaintance could be your ticket to future employment– even if it is temporary or part-time, at least it’s a start. To begin engaging your network, causally or directly ask about employment statuses and find out where is hiring.

Once you have a lead, reach out to the potential employer to express your interest in the role, mention who recommended the job to you and attach your tailored CV and cover letter. If the position was recently filled, be gracious and state your interest in future openings.

In the event someone in your circle was recently hired, schedule a meeting with them. It’s good to know what recruiters are looking for and to learn any application hacks that might give you a leg up or help your application stand out.

Regularly remind yourself that job seeking in general is not straightforward and unemployment during COVID has created a unique challenge

It’s useful to remember that it might take months or even a year until we return to a more typical work life. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a long-distance journey and there are many other qualified job seekers navigating this unpredictable time along with you.

While you are waiting to hear back from potential employers, consider volunteering or signing up for training courses. I completed a training course to become an Independent Travel Agent and this new role has challenged me, kept me busy, not to mention made a great addition to my CV. On top of managing bookings and issuing quotes, I am attending regular industry training and working towards building a client base.

Nonetheless, if you find you are struggling to stay motivated at any point, watch career professionals in your field on LinkedIn and TED Talks to get the experts’ voices in your head. This is a challenging time. Everyone has been affected by COVID in some way; however, each day is an opportunity to decide how you are going to approach this challenge.

Create a schedule, set daily goals and determine how you will go about accomplishing them to stay motivated

Realistic goal setting greatly depends on your personality, environment and work style. You might take comfort in setting goals and giving yourself all day to accomplish them in no particular order. Alterntaively, you might prefer to design a clear timetable which lays out specifically when and what tasks need to be done.

I fall a little bit more in the former category. Still, I have found that as a creature of habit, some activities seem to happen at a similar time each day. This is what a typical weekday at home looks like as a travel blogger and travel agent with MS atm:

• 07:40 talk to my partner on his way to work
• 08:00 coffee in bed and check socials and email. Post to The Travelling MS Insta throughout the day
• 09:00 discover travel deals in my agent back office and Facebook Groups and decide what and when I want to share
• 10:00 exercise to upbeat music, shower and get dressed for the day
• 12:00 prepare my lunch, kefir prep (new interest thanks to lockdown) and take my MS meds
• 13:00 job research and apply for 3 jobs I qualify for using LinkedIn, FlexJobs and sometimes Indeed. Some afternoons I only research if I haven’t found any relevant jobs
• 16:00 meds and a snack
• 17:00 light tidying and sometimes I go out for fresh air. I need to walk more!
• 20:00 supper and watch a film or series
• 00:00 meds

Identify someone in your circle to be your point person or accountability partner to share your struggles and victories with

Do you have someone in your life who’s a good listener and gives sound advice? Make the time to meet with that individual, online or in person, and engage them in regular conversations. The topic doesn’t always have to be career advice either!

You can have (virtual) wine or trivia nights. It helps to have someone who understands you and your situation or better yet, has been through the same thing and gotten through it. Not to mention, having a different social energy around you can be beneficial to helping you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Coping with the stress of unemployment during COVID also necessitates taking breaks and being well-rested

Managing your sleep routine, diet and physical activity properly, are paramount for your mental wellbeing. Taking breaks (and a nap, when necessary) throughout the day allows you to recover and process everything around you– and I don’t mean a 5-minute break from the screen.

In addition to short breaks, take regular walks and organise a socially distant picnic with friends (depending on the restrictions in your area of course). Enjoy a guilty pleasure from time to time. Being unemployed doesn’t make you undeserving of happy moments along the way. Do the work and say yes to a treat or two.

It doesn’t necessarily solve all your problems but getting outside more and interacting with others can put your situation into perspective and serve as a good reminder that you’re not alone. Then, hopefully, when you’re in front of your screen again, you’ll feel refreshed and mentally prepared for job searching or starting your own business! We need rest to help us think logically and come up with creative solutions. If the right words for your CV aren’t coming to you at 4 am, maybe it’s time to shut off and start fresh tomorrow?

How are you coping with the stress of unemployment during COVID?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself or heard someone say “this is not how I imagined 2020.” Tbh I thought by now I would’ve already spent 6 months at my entry-level job and already started making enquiries into Events Assistant jobs. I had a plan.

Nevertheless, this time has helped me develop ways to cope with the stress of unemployment abroad. I recognise the need for creativity, determination and consistency but also for balance in my routine. This balance can be achieved by seeking help when necessary, setting goals and priortising rest along with plugging away at applications. An occasional reminder that employment during a pandemic can be unpredictable and that there are many others in a similar situation also help.

Speaking of, have you become unemployed at any point this year due to COVID or know of someone who has? Comment below with the ways that you/they found were helpful in coping with it. We would love to learn how others are getting on.

Greetings from a sunny, Autumn evening in Glasgow,

The Travelling MS x