From Redundant to Resilient: 5 Lessons I Learned
Losing a job is one of life’s toughest curveballs. It shakes your confidence, your daily routine, and sometimes even your identity. A year ago I went through redundancy and was unemployed for a couple of months. Naturally, I felt frustrated, angry, sad, and often anxious. These emotions, along with many others, are normal in moments like these, and it’s important to give them space to be felt and expressed.
However, not everything about this period has to be negative.These are the lessons and tips that helped me navigate through redundancy in the best way possible:
1- Make Yourself a Routine
Routine creates stability in unstable times. With no work obligations, the temptation to do nothing is high. Allowing yourself a few days to rest and recover is perfectly fine. But it’s important not to let this become a habit. Creating a routine is key. It gives you a reason to get out of bed at a reasonable time and provides you with a sense of purpose. Without this, the risk of slipping into feelings of depression or helplessness increases.
For the first two or three days, I gave myself permission to sleep in, wake up without an alarm, and do absolutely nothing—almost like grieving the job I’ve lost. But after that, I quickly returned to a routine that mirrored my work hours. Why? Two reasons:
It made me feel productive and gave structure to my day.
It kept me ready for the moment I’d start a new job. Staying in the rhythm of a working day made the transition back much easier.
2 - Looking for a Job Is a Job Itself
Structure your search to avoid burnout and boost productivity. At first, anxiety pushed me into overdrive. I spent entire days—from the moment I woke up until I went to bed—searching for jobs. I scoured every website, applied for every position I could, and obsessively tweaked my CV and cover letters. It was exhausting and only added to my stress.
I quickly realized this approach wasn’t sustainable. So, I reframed job hunting as a job itself, dedicating a specific part of my day to it. This became my part-time job within my routine.
Every morning, I sat down at my computer and worked as a “job seeker” but only for a few hours. Having this clear boundary reduced my anxiety and allowed me to focus more effectively on my applications.
3 - A Time for Personal and Professional Growth
This period can also be an opportunity to reflect, grow, and refocus. Use the extra time to explore new possibilities. Maybe it’s time to pivot into a career you’ve always wanted or upskill in your field. There are plenty of free resources and online courses available to help you learn something new.
For me, this became my second part-time job. After job hunting in the mornings, I spent my afternoons on personal and professional growth. I worked on free courses to sharpen my skills and invested time in self-exploration, treating this time as a chance to better understand myself and what I truly wanted for the future.
4 - Use This Time to Clear the Clutter
Decluttering your space helps declutter your mind. This can be the perfect time to address all those tasks you’ve been putting off because of work and lack of time.
Visit your doctor for those long-postponed medical check-ups. Call someone to fix that leaky sink. Declutter the garage or tackle the garden. These chores might not be glamorous, but crossing them off your list can bring a sense of accomplishment.
5 - Enjoy the Time
Small moments of pleasure protect your mental health. I know—it’s hard to think about joy when you’re worried about rent, bills, and an uncertain future. But taking small moments to step away from your worries is vital for your mental health.
When I struggled to stick to my routine, I gave myself permission to take a break. I’d make a cup of coffee and go for a walk along the river, listening to a favorite podcast. Other times, I used the unexpected free time to reconnect with friends or family overseas—something I rarely had time for before. While this period was challenging, it also offered opportunities for connection and reflection.
Redundancy may feel like an ending, but it can also be the start of something more aligned with who you are becoming. Take this time to reset, reflect, and rebuild. It's through challenges where we grow into a better version of ourselves. As Serena Williams, the famous tennis player, once said: "I have grown more not from victories but from setbacks”