There are many reasons as to why someone might not be able to work anymore. Maybe you’ve been made redundant out of nowhere? Maybe you’ve gotten sick or injured and need some time off? Or maybe a loved one needs caring for, and you’re the only one who can step up to the plate? It’s a hard time in anyone’s life, and you need to treat yourself with care as you proceed – otherwise the stress can be overwhelming, and you may find yourself getting ill.
But no matter what it is that’s preventing you from bringing an income into your household, you don’t have to fall into the pit of disaster you may be expecting. As long as you know what you’ve got to work with (in terms of your current financial health), and you’ve got a plan for the future, you don’t have to be overcome with stress. And with that in mind, here are the best things to do if you find yourself suddenly unable to work.
Understand What You’re Going Through
This is the first thing to wrap your head around, even if you think it’s a non-issue you can just move on with. Because when it comes to being in a position like this, you’re going to be all over the place! Leaving your job is one thing, moving on to something bigger and better is another, but being turfed out for a reason that might not be your fault can leave you totally adrift.
So take a moment to realize where you are, where you wanted to go, and how you can adjust now to make things balanced for you again. How can you change your goals going forward? This is a setback, absolutely, but it’s not something that’ll hold you back forever. Keep that in mind as you work through it all; you need to switch up your entire daily routine and structure, you’ll need to come up with a more strict budget, but you DO have the energy to get through it all. Everyone is a lot more resilient than they realize, and you can fall back on this sense of inner strength no matter what direction you’re pulled in.
Focus on Your Mental Health
Your mental health may be at risk right now, especially if you have been blindsided by the loss of your job, whether that’s temporarily or permanently. Not only is it a knock to your self confidence in one way or another, but it can also make you feel like you’re never going to get a job again. And that’s something you should immediately address if you feel it.
A bit of self care goes a long way, of course. But make sure you’re talking to the people around you and building yourself a support network. Remind yourself that you’ve got skills, talents, and a good amount of experience, and there’s a lot you can put out into the world that other people can benefit from. Once you’re sure you’re in a good place, it’s time to start fighting and advocating for yourself again!
Think About Passive Income Streams
A passive income stream is a good way to supplement your bank account during a time like this. Of course, passive incomes work at any time, but they’ll be especially important for your health and wellbeing right now. Opening up a blogging website and writing about your life experiences, for example, is one of the best ways to get the ball rolling here. After all, you can monetize this kind of quality online content, with sponsorships and affiliate programs, and you can guest post for money here and there too.
Aside from this, you can also release an online course for people to sign up to, as well as write ebooks that offer advice and insight to other people in your position. Even just pricing one of your books for $0.99 could mean you rake in around $100 a month when you first publish, which could be a crazy amount for you at this moment! And the more you establish your name, the more people are going to buy, and that number can start to grow fast.
Get an Attorney on Your Side
If you were dismissed from your position without a good reason, or you’ve had to drop shifts based on something happening in your personal life, it’s a good idea to get in touch with an attorney’s office. The best attorneys will always have a game plan to follow in terms of either getting the compensation you deserve, or to allow you to return to work without much issue in good time. How should you get the ball rolling here? Get online and do some research.
Find out where your local attorneys are, which are the best reviewed, and who specialize the most in what you’re dealing with. Most initial consultations are either free or half the price they would usually be, so you won’t have much to lose when it comes to shopping around for the right support. And in most situations having a professional like this in your corner can make you feel so much stronger facing down the problem, which makes it all the more worth it.
Consider What You May Be Entitled to
There are a lot of benefit programs out there to help people in situations where you can’t work. Looking into these programs, and seeing if you’ll be entitled to any, is a good little way to bring in a renewable stream of money. And this is especially a good idea if you’ve got a family that relies on you too; a bit of cash here and there is no bad thing, even if you’re not quite comfortable with the idea of taking benefits yourself.
After all, unemployment funds like these are just for temporary periods, and they can provide some real peace of mind when you’re either looking for a new job, trying to build a company of your own, or you’re out of work due to a personal situation. You may also be able to get help from a local charity or community fund in your area; once again, do a bit of research and see what options are out there. It’s never a bad thing just to look!
Talk to Your Boss
If you’re still employed, now’s a good time to strike up a conversion with your boss. After all, this is your chance to renegotiate what’s going on, and make sure you have a full and proper understanding of the big picture. You need to know where you are when it comes to your old position, or your current contract, and how you can move on by either closing the door or reopening it.
For example, you could take this time to advocate for a new part time contract, if you’ve had to cut back majorly in terms of your shift hours. People who’ve had to deal with an illness or care for an ailing family member will find the most success here; it’s a clear sign you know how to handle your responsibilities, and any employer will hold that in high regard. But if you don’t find success here, you can shut the chapter and find something else that really does suit you.
Talk to a Doctor
And finally, if you’re not feeling good at all, it’s time to talk to your doctor. There could be something serious going on in the background that you don’t know about, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You need to know what your health is doing and how you can promote your own wellbeing during this tricky time, and that’s hard to do alone. You need a bit of insight here, even if you don’t want to follow the advice on offer.
Booking an appointment with your normal doctor is a good start; they could refer you to a specialist, or they could recommend certain therapy courses you can look into in your own time. Similarly, you could search up a therapy directory and see what counsellors are in your area – a short course of private therapy could be all you need right now. However, it’s better to ask for a professional opinion first and go from there.
A Final Note
If you find yourself in a position where you suddenly can’t work, for at least the foreseeable future, don’t let yourself panic. Yes, this is a shocking turn of events that would throw anyone. But it’s not one you’ll never get out of; there’s a lot of hope for the future for you.
Take your time to work out what to do next, and make sure you keep tips like these in mind as you go. Working out how to help yourself can be tricky, but it’s what you need to do most right now. And hey, passive income streams can go from 0 to 100 in a matter of weeks!
