Life for an organiser when COVID-19 takes your job

It’s been less than a week since I had my last day in a role of 5 years. I’ve been unemployed before but that was right out of university. I was a whole different person then, and it feels so different now with bigger, adult things on the line - like a mortgage!

I underestimated the effects that this would have on me as someone who loves to create order out of the chaos around me. It appears that in a role as an administrator I got a bit of that OCD tendency out in a healthy, professional way. The combination of both unemployment and lockdown has really brought this home in the day to day. I find myself planning and replanning my meals for the next fortnight, changing my Pak N Save click and collect order every few hours, rearranging cupboards that had no business being rearranged, and repotting my plant babies when they probably would have been perfectly happy where they were. 

I realised that if this need in my life wasn’t acknowledged, appreciated and redirected I’d be sending myself down a really unhealthy rabbit hole in quick time. This is how I’ve been managing the early stages of my redundancy/lockdown crossover.

Improve your budgeting skills

I realised that one of the key stress points around this whole process for me was finances and knowing if we’d “be ok” in the interim and if so for how long. We needed a really robust personal budgeting system that we could use. Then it was a case of putting every outgoing in there, and being realistic about it; it’s better to overestimate than underestimate. Once I knew what I was spending, it let me work out what was actually needed and what wasn’t. This really brought home why that extra dollar here or there may actually really matter later. It’s given me a baseline wage I need to bring in, which both informed my job search goals, and established the fortnightly allowance available from my redundancy so we don’t burn through it too quickly.

Update your professional brand 

When I was happily employed it was really hard to prioritise the time to focus on this, so as soon as I got the news this was my focus in my down time. I wanted to create a brand for myself using my CV, cover letter, professional website, LinkedIn and even my social media accounts. My employer's culture and performance team offered a fantastic service where they gave feedback on applications I was working on. I cannot stress this enough, if your workplace offers this, take them up on it. It was unbelievably useful to have feedback from an actual employer (not discounting the fantastic feedback I’ve had from my mum and family, of course!).

Allow yourself the time to heal

I like to be on the go all the time. I want to feel like I’m doing the next thing that’s taking me closer to my goal, but it’s also important to acknowledge that a redundancy/job loss is actually a huge hit to my sense of self too. It’s crucial to allow that space to be super productive one day, while feeling down the next. Everybody’s human!

With social distancing well underway, it can really help to have some things to do that are purely for enjoyment. Reading, gaming, arts and crafts and hey, even writing are back on the cards and it's a great opportunity to get some joy from things that may have fallen by the wayside due to everyday busyness. Libraries have apps that let you take books out online for free, and plenty of games are free right now due to the lockdown!

Make yourself a routine with all of that

We’re at the stage now where I’ve ticked off most of the key elements in my list so now it’s a case of me popping all this together into a daily routine that helps me keep as much normalcy as possible. I wake up at the same time. I plan my meals for my “work day” the same way. I do my goals work in the morning for a few hours, checking Seek, applying for any jobs, browsing LinkedIn, and if I’m feeling creative, maybe a little writing. Next, any chores, some down time, then my workout at the usual time. I give myself little goals each day of what I want to achieve so I feel I’ve accomplished something and stay motivated.

Ultimately, it’s a situation I hoped I’d never have to be in, but it’s becoming more and more common; It’s about survival for companies and individuals alike. For me, it has really helped to feel secure knowing that I’m doing as much as I can in the circumstances. I know what I can afford, I know that I’m presenting myself the best way I can, and I’ve found a way to make a daily plan in this lockdown that keeps me in a solid mental space. It’s about taking the time you need, while still keeping an eye on the world moving around you and preparing for a triumphant return!