I got fired. Layoff anxiety kicked in immediately. 

The recession ravaged the startup and tech world, and it finally caught up. So, sometimes, actions are needed. 

No hard feelings. 

That’s not to say it doesn’t sting. It does. 

I’ve been on the other side. I’ve told people: “We have to let you go.” 

I know it’s not easy, and there are larger factors at play. Still, the impostor syndrome creeps in–what if it was me and my quality of work? The question is common, and it can trigger plenty of anxiety. If this had happened a year ago, my mental health would’ve suffered. Fortunately, things are different this time, and I’ve been able to use the tools at my disposal to deal with the many emotions that losing my job can trigger. 

Anxiety at the thought of joblessness

I wish a Ph.D. in overthinking existed so I’d be a doctor by now, but that doesn’t exist (not that I know of), and my mind still plays tricks on me. Unfortunately, overthinking is common, and getting negative news only triggers it. 

Writing is challenging. There’s more competition, and the AI revolution has caused some companies to change their view on the value of writing. As a result, it’s not the same quality, but many are willing to ditch our creative minds in exchange for a couple of prompts. 

Questions happen. Are you good enough to stand above the rest and make a name for yourself? More importantly, is this something you want? Or, an even deadlier question, what do you want? It’s normal to feel anxiety at this moment. 

If I weren’t, I’d say there’s something wrong with me, but that’s where anxiety plays its game. All is not lost–this is a new door opening. 

View yourself with clarity instead of layoff anxiety

I’m a numbers nerd so, I have a pretty, colorful Excel sheet with all my income and expenses. Moreover, I check on it constantly, updating the ins and outs so, when I got the news, the first I thing I did was look at it. 

Well, no. That wasn’t the first I did. I went to the gym to blow off some steam, threw my back out, and checked out my Excel sheet. My runway (or mattress, as we say here in Costa Rica) was good. So, it allowed me time to look for the next step in my career with ease. Fortunately, it is plenty of time. As a result, I could pay my mortgage, credit cards, dog food, and vet (no joke, that pooch is expensive). I knew I had some months of mental peace. 

Not only that, my relationship with my previous employer had ended well. As I said at the beginning, there were no hard feelings. So, I could have recommendations, which are a small gesture, but one that can help you immeasurably. I’ve always found value in ending relationships adequately (all kinds, lol). 

Then, and this was the most crucial thing: what did I want to do? I had already checked my surroundings for any immediate threat and found nothing. So, what next?

These are vital questions for any change. When I gave up my engineering job to become a full-time writer, I had to ask them repeatedly. There were a lot of changes happening, especially around my income, but my passion called to me, and I took the leap. Now, fast forward some years, and it’s the same situation. 

Taking the leap as a writer 

For the past three and a half years, I have worked as a writer and loved it. So, I knew I wanted to carry on with writing. Plus, I developed some great products, from a massively popular newsletter (200,000+ subscribers) to scripts that racked up millions of views. It felt great contributing creatively to a brand. So, why not contribute to myself? 

I had learned so much that, in the end, I could apply all this to a brand that could help me grow. The problem with this is that anxiety comes along with it. That’s when I have to think objectively and tell myself: I’ve done this before.

Making it as a writer is challenging but not impossible

Writing has been a challenge long before AI and before this recession (or the many that have come before). Getting someone to read your words means competing against a flurry of distractions, and that’s not easy. 

Still, I’ve managed to create an income out of it. Plus, it’s more than money, I’ve found something that I genuinely love. 

Occupy, don’t preoccupy yourself with layoff anxiety 

We don’t understand idleness. So, whenever layoff anxiety comes in, there’s a parallel though. For example, on one side, it seems that resting and taking time to be with yourself is wrong. In a matter of seconds, you’ll be left behind. The going gets rougher, and those who relax will lose. 

Also, many assume that getting fired means “having time off.” Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Layoff anxiety hits hard and there’s nothing is more intimidating than doing nothing by force. When you hear those words, your survival instinct kicks in, and you’re already searching for what’s next. After all, the bills will always come up next month. 

In my case, it was no different. As a result, my mind wandered and roamed about, created vastly overdramatic scenarios, and even came up with wild plans such as leaving everything and moving to the beach. No wonder I was anxious. 

Don’t think of what you don’t have. Instead, focus on what you do have.

People with generalized anxiety disorder tend to do this, and it’s up to your tools to do the work. As a result, scaling back fear means finding solutions. Hence, write down what you’re good in, what you’re not, and how much money you have. Also, as I have mentioned earlier, don’t forget: what you want to do is essential. 

Like I’ve said before, preparation is vital so having my CV ready helped greatly. I also reached out to my freelancing contacts  and as a result, all these exercises were subtle yet powerful ways to help me with my anxiety. 

In the end, I realized there were good things (many of which I didn’t notice at first), and these actions helped me grasp what was really happening in my life. Moreover, I discovered that I needed some time off. Whether days or weeks, it’s hard to quantify, but I know I need to be with myself for a moment. There’s nothing wrong with that. 

By occupying my mind and understanding what I needed, my confidence increased. Plus, my anxiety subsided. That alone is priceless.