>Let this brochure help you.

>Posted on our company’s intranet was a brochure called “Managing Job Loss Stress”. Here is a sample of some of the helpful tips:

• Don’t panic. It is likely that your initial reaction to the announcement was shock, even though you may have suspected it was coming. You may have trouble concentrating, and you may feel a little anxious. You may be angry or sad.
• Sometimes we react emotionally and say or do things that we later regret. You may be hurt, but don’t let those emotions elicit negative actions. Instead, take a “timeout.” It works for the pros on the ball field, and it can work for you.
• Take a break, especially if a weekend is approaching. Get something accomplished around the house. Get the small projects out of the way. Accomplish short-term goals. You’ll feel better having done it.
• Don’t rush out and tell everyone you need a job.
• Don’t overreact. While this may not be the time to buy a new boat, it is also not the time to ration toothpaste, cancel cable or pull your child out of day care.

Take a timeout like the pros do? What the hell?!? On a bad day, the freaking pros make ten times as much money as I do and play a game for a job. A more realistic piece of advice would be to take a look at your budget and start figuring out what you can do without for a couple of months while you pound the pavement looking for another crappy job that will end up sucking more life out of you.

I say, do rush out and tell everyone that you are looking for a new job. If you are going through a big layoff, those cubicle jockeys who used to chat with you at the water cooler are now going to be your competition in a job search. Use every angle you can!

Oh yes, those short-term accomplishments such as cleaning the cat box and doing the laundry always help ease the pain and indignity of being laid off.