Tag: unemployment

Unemployment & The Effects on Mental Health. Plus: Interviewing w/anxiety

On By KSweenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Raise your hand if you’ve been indefinitely furloughed during Covid-19. I bet it has been a lot of you, myself included,  so I know firsthand how much it sucks! Sure it was kind of fun at first. I enjoyed having no work obligations while being blissfully unaware of my soon-to-be dire financial situation because I was receiving that neat extra $600 a week. Flash forward to 7 months later and all I can say is… ugh. 

I severely underestimated the role routine plays in my mental health. Having an infinite amount of time on your hands is honestly stressful AF. I’ve been attempting to achieve some normalcy to my days but it’s not as easy as you may think. I get super stressed out thinking of ways to fill my free time and I feel guilty when I feel I am not doing “enough”. I’m pretty sure I thought I’d be Rembrandt by now, reaping in the benefits of having an abundance of hours for self-improvement. However, here I sit typing this with no new skill-sets that I can think of. Oops. On the flip side outwardly, I definitely think I’ve experienced a quarantine glow up. Remember that thing I was saying about needing routine? Well, I’ve replaced it with working out. Now before you get jelly, I just wanted to include the disclaimer that I’m fairly certain I’ve developed an unhealthy obsession. Sometimes the only thing I know what to do with myself is to work out. Read a book? Nah… let’s take my 10th yoga class of the day instead. Trust me,  It’s not as zen as you may think. 

Inbetween my endless amount of exercise, however, I have found time to apply for new jobs. How many jobs have I applied to you asked? So far, 57. How many interviews have I had? 2. And don’t get me started on how many times per day  I refresh my email checking for interview requests and/pr callbacks. 

The whole process is miserable. Believe it or not, for someone with anxiety, I am actually pretty good at interviewing. Although I definitely do analyze in my head every word I said over and over once the interview is finished.  What really is breaking me though is not getting interviews. I understand the job market is a little… errr…rough right now but why wouldn’t anyone want to give the girl who just figured her shit out a chance? But seriously… I suppose my resume is a bit all over the place, but how was I supposed to know a pandemic was going to hit once I found a fulfilling job that I loved and truly respected me as an employee? I promise this last job was going to be the one that said I had been there for like 5 years… so why don’t you take my word for it and interview me…or better yet hire me? Please?!?!? Cause I am stared to get very worried. 

How is everyone else handling finding work during these strange times? Feel free to reach out because I’d love to know. And if you know anybody whose hiring….. I’m SUPER availavbile! 😉

❤ Sweeney

Downward Facing Dog > Downward Spiral Fog

On By KSweenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Woof, it’s been a hot sec! And for once it isn’t due to some self induced catastrophe…just your run of the mill procrastination! Life has been interesting lately, but in a good way. I have so much to update everybody with, but first I wanted to make this post about something I’ve been meaning to now for a few months, which if it isn’t obvious by the picture is yoga.

Awhile back I was going through a rough time. Actually… it seemed like every other second I was going through a rough time, but that isn’t what this post is about. Anyways, I had just unexpectedly lost my job and was thrown into the throes of WTF now anxiety. I was already  a huge  mess before this happend and adding this fuel to the fire did not help. Its hard to figure out what your next steps are going to be before you’ve learned to walk. So I did what any young adult without a job would do and signed up for an unlimited monthly yoga studio membership.

Let me backtrack a bit first. I had actually signed up to this studio on a Groupon BEFORE I lost my job and had really enjoyed it. I would go before work sometime and it was nice to switch up my routine. The studio was about 10 minutes from where I worked so it was perfect. And then, just like that it wasn’t anymore. I knew I was going to have to apply for unemployment and look for a new job but I wasn’t sure how long either of those would take. With my next source of income extremely uncertain I decided to take the plunge and sign up for unlimited yoga classes anyways.

I. Needed. Something. Too. Keep. Me. Going.

I started going to the studio almost everyday. What else was I going to do with my time? I was depressed, but it gave me something to look forward to everyday and a way to keep moving. I was also applying to jobs like a mad woman. Jobs I never would’ve have ever though of applying to before. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something different.

It was an extremely frustrating job search. Here I was in my early thirties and with a masters not getting call backs or interviews for entry level positions. Listen, I know a degree is fine art is going to get me a job as a banker but all the money I spent for my education must make me qualified for something right…..right?!?!?

During this time Yoga became my therapy and something unexpected happened as I started to practice more. I was no longer becoming stressed about my job search. I found myself at peace and truly believing jobs that I did not land were not meant to be. Hearing the mantras that the universe was unfolding exactly the way it should and that giving my best was always enough was incredible for my anxiety and peace of mind.

And guess what… the universe unfolded the way that it should and I got a job I love. I have less time for the studio now, but it holds a special place in my heart. It’s a tad corny but it really did bring me light during a dark time. Besides yoga I have now made a ton of other positive changes in my life as well and I am so excited to share them with everyone,  but until then the light in me honors the light in you. Namaste.

❤ Sweeney