Prioritising Mental Wellbeing in the Face of Redundancies

Job hunting at the best of times comes with stress. If coupled with redundancy it’s common to feel more anxious, drained, and rejected. Taking care of your mental health when you’ve been made redundant is vital. You may want to jump straight into your job search, and that’s great. You might want to take a little break to get yourself in a better headspace, that’s great too.

Whatever stage you’re at, we understand that applying for new jobs can be incredibly draining, the waiting, the rejections, there are different challenges for every individual. Remember that every ‘no’ takes you one step closer to a ‘yes’, perseverance is key.

If you decide you would like a helping hand finding your next step, our consultants can offer advice and support in finding roles you’ll be excited about whenever you are ready – so you can spend a little more time looking after yourself.

Caring for Your Mental Health During a Redundancy

If you’re feeling a bit lost, and the transition has you feeling low, what do you do? There are so many different coping mechanisms, and there’s no one size fits all answer but here are our top tips:

Put Your Resources to Use

Does your employer provide counselling? Outsourcing services? If you don’t know, ask. Don’t be afraid to take full advantage of any available support or services on offer. If available, these resources could be key to guiding your transition and managing emotional impact.

Self-Care

Remember to prioritise your well-being. If you’re having a tough time, take a breather and do something that brings you joy. Keep active, even if it’s just going for short walks and make sure you get plenty of sleep. Even drinking enough water in a day can be an achievement, and the odd slice of cake as treat can be very rewarding. Keep actively making the effort to do small things to take care of yourself every day.

Maintain a Routine

Establishing and maintaining a daily routine when you’re not working can do wonders for keeping your sanity in check. Add all those little self-care activities as part of it, and incorporate set periods for things like job hunting, networking, and skill building. Everyone has different ways of working and ideal routines so do what works best for you, as long as there is a bit of structure to it, you’ll maintain a better sense of normality and stability.

Keep Connected

Your professional network can open doors in the industry, playing a vital role in finding new career opportunities. Maintaining relationships in general benefits self-esteem and helps to decrease anxiety. Attend games industry events, join online communities, and reach out to old colleagues or former mentors. You may find support, additional guidance, or even a new career prospect!

Invest in Yourself

This may be the perfect time for you to take that online course you were interested in but couldn’t risk a distraction overlapping crunch-time. You might even want to start developing some new skills to give you the flexibility to explore different career paths altogether. Upskilling enhances employability and may open new doors, but focusing your mind on learning also keeps it sharp and will boost your confidence.

Practice Self-Compassion

This can be tough when you’re feeling low during a transition. Often self-blame and negative thoughts start to creep in. But it is important to remember to be kind to yourself and recognise that losing a job is not a reflection of your worth or your abilities. Focus on your strengths, remind yourself of your achievements, and think about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Don’t be afraid of seeking professional guidance if you need it

There is no shame in asking for help, it’s not unusual at all to struggle with your mental health when going through redundancy. If you’re struggling on your own, consider reaching out for support from a mental health professional. They can provide coping strategies and a safe space to talk about your emotions and experiences.

Our Partner Safe in our World has a number of resources listed here.