Loss of status is a big change and it can have negative effects on our physical and mental health. It can be caused because of retirement, a career change or losing a job in another way. Either way, it is hard since it is a circumstance that derives from the outside factors and usually, there is not much we can do about it. However, it is important that we try to keep our mood up and maintain our health in these difficult times. It is definitely going to be better than letting ourselves go. Here are some tips and ideas on how to deal with a loss of status.
Give yourself time to adjust: It is normal to grieve and to have feelings such as sadness, anger or anxiousness. Accepting these feelings would definitely be more helpful, however, it is not going to happen overnight. Maybe you lost the privileges that come alongside your job and that makes it harder to adjust to your new life. Everyone has a different pace and you know yourself better than anyone else. Therefore, take the time you need in order to deal with this grief period, do not be too harsh on yourself and accept the situation as it is.
Meditate:Meditation has various benefits, especially for mental health. Not only it regulates our breathing, but it also makes us more mindful of what is going on around us. Thanks to meditation, it will be easier to understand that status is not everything and there is much more life can offer. Guided meditation can be useful if you are a beginner. There are several applications and websites where you can practise meditation.
Exercise: Regular exercise has many benefits for our physical and our mental health. During this time, you might need a distraction, so why not start exercising? Instead of certain harmful distractions that people occasionally turn to, such as alcohol or cigarettes, exercising regularly will keep you happy, healthy and distracted from your problem! It can be jogging, walking or yoga. Luckily, in the digital era, it is possible to find many applications or professionals that offer online services.
Consider psychological counselling: Psychologists are professionals and it is extremely likely that they have encountered a case similar to the loss of status. Receiving professional help can be useful concerning your mental health and it can also give you ideas on how to deal with loss of status.
Talk to family or friends: If you are feeling alone and a bit lost, talking to your loved ones might comfort you. They may have experienced something similar and they may be able to guide you. Even if they have not had such an experience, the support they will offer will definitely make you feel better and it would help you on how to deal with loss of status.
Move on: Once you are ready to move on, explore ways to regain your confidence. This can be joining a club, attending networking events or taking up a hobby. Meeting new people, hearing new stories and learning about other ways of living might help with what you are experiencing. In addition to this, gaining more confidence would help in the long run too, especially if you are thinking of starting to work again. These new skills and experiences will come handy in future job interviews.
Be open: Maybe your new job does not have a fancy title and you feel like the loss of status is bringing you down? Or you have just retired and you feel like your whole life has changed? In any case, keep in mind that there is so much more that you will experience and there is no way of knowing what the future will bring. If you have time, this might be the opportunity to do the things you have not had time in years.
Focus on the future: Remember that your previous job did not define you as a person. It’s often only you and a relatively small section of society that endows it with a status. You are more than that. Once you are ready, start planning your future. When you decide what you want to do, act upon it. For instance, if you have decided that you want to find a new job, start attending networking events or sending your CV to relevant people.
anger or anxiousness. Accepting these feelings would definitely be more helpful, however, it is not going to happen overnight. Maybe you lost the privileges that come alongside your job and that makes it harder to adjust to your new life. Everyone has a different pace and you know yourself better than anyone else. Therefore, take the time you need in order to deal with this grief period, do not be too harsh on yourself and accept the situation as it is.
