Job Loss May Spiral Into Health Problems. 5 Ways to Stay Healthy While Unemployed

In today’s economy, losing a job has become a common, shared experience for many people across the nation. Unfortunately, health can quickly take a back seat as we busy ourselves with providing for our families and doing everything we can to get employed again. If you’re working to get a new job, you can’t afford to ignore the health effects of your situation—not only for your well being, but because poor health can hinder your chances at a new opportunity.

Unemployment Hurts Health

            Studies have proven it—losing your job can screw up your health. Linn et al. reported that after unemployment, men showed more symptoms of depression and anxiety, and were more likely to visit their physicians, take more medications, and spend days in bed sick.¹ Another study in the scientific journal Demography found that people who lost their jobs were in much higher danger of developing a number of medical conditions than the general population.² Heart attack, diabetes, stroke, and hypertension were among those conditions. Even the fear of losing a job can take its toll on your health. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that people who are waiting for the shoe to drop suffered serious health consequences.³

            Losing a job is hard enough without having to deal with the added expense, stress, and difficulty of a health condition. Besides, being in poor health can hurt your chances at a new job. If you’re feeling sick, lethargic, or depressed, you’re less likely to get back in the job market, and will lack enthusiasm for any interviews you may land.

Tips for Staying Healthy

            How we manage stress is always more important than the stress itself. Try to look at your job loss as an opportunity to reevaluate your life and your priorities, and to get healthier.

1.      Maintain a regular schedule. This is often the first thing to go when you lose a job. You sleep in, stay out late, take naps at odd times of the day, and soon you’re feeling depressed. Create a new schedule for yourself that includes time for job searching, exercising, meals, updating your resume, perhaps creating a web site, putting together a portfolio, and studying books and magazines in your field of expertise.

2.      Eat healthy. When you’re feeling down it’s easy to reach for the chocolate and donuts. Remember—this isn’t a vacation. Stay on regular meals, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and choose low-fat sources of protein. This may be a great time to try new recipes!

3.      Get fit. Get involved in a community sports team, take up golf or raquetball, or try a class at the local gym. Getting into something new will help keep you feeling positive while trimming up your body.

4.      Connect. A job loss can leave you feeling isolated. Reach out to family and friends, and consider volunteering at local community or religious organizations. Attend professional conferences if you have the resources, and track down old colleagues.

5.      Journal. Bottled up emotions tear the body down. Writing your feelings in a journal releases negative emotions and helps you see your situation more objectively. You can also use the journal to track your progress. Recording successes like weight loss, connections made in your field, job fairs attended, interviews attained, and more can help you realize that you are making progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

References

1.        Linn MW, Sandifer R, and Stein S. Effects of unemployment on mental and physical health. AM J Public Health. 1985 May; 75(5): 502-506.

2.        “Job Loss Can Make You Sick, New Study Finds.” Science Daily. May 8, 2009. Accessed 7/25/09 at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090508045310.htm.

3.        Davis, Tracy. “Job loss—or fear of losing one—takes health toll, University of Michigan expert says.” The Ann Arbor News. January 31, 2009. Accessed 7/25/09 at: http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/01/job_loss_or_fear_of_losing_one.html.