30 million people in the US have been laid off because of the pandemic. Research has found that a layoff is in the top five most stressful events of a person's life.

Here's how to take care of yourself (and move forward to a better place) if this has happened to you:

1) Manage Your Stress
When you are stressed, you can't think clearly or manage your emotions.

Take 10-20 min daily to trigger your body's relaxation response through breathing, exercise, yoga, or hobbies. Studies have found this counteracts the harmful effects of stress.

2) Allow Yourself To Grieve
The grief of losing a job is comparable to the grief of losing a loved one.

Name your painful emotions as they arise, like "I feel sadness". When you do this, it turns down the intensity of the emotion, so you can move from reacting to responding.

3) Develop An Optimistic Mindset
People with this mindset are more effective problem-solvers and cope better.

Remind yourself:
- It's not because of me, it's because of the pandemic
- It won't be like this forever
- There are still good things in my life

4) Reach Out & Connect
One study found that people who lost their jobs and didn't have social support had higher cholesterol, more illness, and more negative emotions.

Ask for help.
Lean on your loved ones for emotional support.
Connect with others affected by layoffs.

More here: https://www.thenewhappy.com/articles/how-to-take-care-of-your-well-being-after-a-layoff