Right now, with the economy about as stable as a sneeze, the general mood at work can get downright gloomy. Even though you’re thankful you have a job, sometimes it’s hard not to get that hang dog feeling when you see so many around you delegated to the unemployment line. As weird as it sounds, often those left behind after a company lay off suffer their own kind of depression. Not only do they inherit more work (to pick up the slack) but they’re also saddled with the guilt/relief rollercoaster of emotions that come with dodging a downsizing.
So it’s no surprise that many people today are questioning their career choices. Ironically, the slump in the economy has motivated people to re-examine their work situations to figure out if they’re in the right jobs in the first place. But in doing so you have to be careful to differentiate between:
A) Are you experiencing a temporary bump in the road at work? (Meaning, are things are bad now, but will get better later?) In which case, you just wait it out. Or…
B) Do you really need to jump ship and change careers now, before you waste any more time in a job that’s not right for you?
To determine which camp you fall in, you need to ask yourself some pretty pointed career questions, and be honest with your answers, starting with:
1) Am I Good at What I Do?
In your heart, you know if you do a good job at work. So if you don’t feel your work is up to par lately you have to ask yourself “Why?” Is it because the work is too hard? Too overwhelming? Do you find it boring? Unfulfilling? Are there some tasks you like better than others? If you feel your unpleasant tasks outnumber the fun ones, then you’re definitely in the wrong line of work. Honestly, who wants to spend eight hours a day doing something they’re not that good at?
And if you are good at your job, then the next question you have to ask yourself is…
2) Do I Enjoy the Tasks?
Just because you’re good at your job doesn’t mean you like it. Yes, the money might be great, the benefits stellar, and even the people you work with are a hoot, but if you aren’t enamored with your day-to-day work tasks then it’s going to make for really long days (weeks, months, and years). Granted, you don’t have to love everything you do (there’s always going to be those one or two tasks you could do without) but in the long run if you can’t stomach most of your work day, then it’s time to move on.
Still not sure if your current employment blues are simply temporary effects of an ill economy? Then try this next question on for size…
3) Am I Excited to Go to Work?
Okay, so you’re good at your job and you don’t seem to mind the work itself, but then how come you’re not excited to get up everyday and go to work? If your answer is “Well, nobody likes to go to work,” then think again. Most people like what they do, which is why getting laid off comes as such a devastating blow (that and the loss of income, of course).
If you really have trouble getting motivated to go to work then you have to ask yourself why that is. Outside of the work itself, it could be because you don’t click with co-workers, you hate your boss, or your work environment is less than pleasant, all of which contribute to job burn out. Whatever it is, you need to determine if it’s the career or that particular job that’s getting you down. To help you decide which is it, you might also consider…
4) Am I Overly Tired Each Evening?
Sure, we’re all tired after a hard day’s work, but if you come home so exhausted it’s all you can do to get through dinner before you go to bed, then chances are you’re being emotionally drained at work. Even though your job may not include physical activity, mental stress will zap your energy level faster than plowing a field all day by hand in the hot sun. And the funny thing about mental anguish; it sneaks up on you. Plus, it’s easy to justify it if you actually like your job. But if you can’t find a way to eliminate your stress at work, then you may want to change jobs or careers. No matter how much fun a job is, it’s never worth allowing it to add an overabundance of anxiety to your life.
If you answered Yes to any one of these questions, then a career change might be right for you, even if you still have a job. Most of the time we consider career changes AFTER we’ve been laid off, but really the time to make a shift is when you still have a job. Going back to school part time is a good start; apprenticing, interning, even volunteering are also all good ways to break ground in a new career.
Have you recently switched careers? If so, we want to hear about it. What made you decide to do it? How did you get started? Did you go back to school? Have you been happy with the move? Share your experiences so others can benefit from your newfound wisdom!
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We often think of education as a way to enhance our careers. In a very real sense, however, getting educated about and prepared for disasters can save your life and the lives of those around you. Of course, then comes the response: “Disasters seem so unpredictable. How can I possibly prepare for everything?”
Luckily, you don’t have to. If you begin by imagining yourself in a scenario, like a flood or a pandemic, you quickly realize that there are some things that you will need in every scenario. You will notice that they revolve around basic human needs. Below is my list of five things to start with:
1. First Aid
There’s a reason why it’s called first aid. It has to come first. Threatening injuries have to be stabilized before food and shelter will do any good.
Research has found, unfortunately, that most U.S. households are deplorably unprepared to administer first aid. Most households have band aids, some Tylenol, and maybe rubbing alcohol. However, most are lacking in supplies to treat larger wounds like open wounds, burns, or broken bones. Relatively few have CPR training.
A little bit of first aid training can go a long way. In almost every community, classes on first aid and CPR are held regularly. Often, they are free of cost. Take the time to get some training. Also, do your research on what a real first aid kit consists of. This time spent will pay dividends in the event of a disaster.
2. Evacuation Plan
Generally, when bad things happen, people act out of instinct, and their first instinct is driven by panic and survival. The bad news is these instincts can often lead to bigger problems. In the event you need to get out of your current situation, you can really benefit from planning out where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will meet your loved ones.
Keep in mind, your evacuation plans may vary according to the emergency. In a fire, for instance, your first priority is to get out of the house. This differs from a tornado or windstorm, in which your first priority is to find cover from flying debris.
3. Water
The human body can’t survive more than three days without water. Because water is in such abundance in our lives of modern convenience, we often forget to prepare for situations in which we may not be able to get water or, at least, clean water. While water for cleaning dishes or bathing can be neglected in an emergency, Everyone needs to have an emergency supply of fresh, clean drinking water.
4. Food
Americans often take the availability of food for granted. Anytime, we need more, we can usually stop at the local grocery store and pick up what we need. For this very reason, few of us store large amounts of food in our houses. It is worth reminding, however, that our local grocery stores are designed to carry only three days worth of goods at any given time. Their inventory is replenished regularly by freight trucks shuttling goods around the country.
In the event of a major catastrophe, like a pandemic or a terrorist attack, this distribution system could easily come undone. If drivers were frightened of a pandemic, they might refuse to deliver goods to certain areas. Highways might be demolished in areas struck by an attack or an earthquake, preventing delivery of food items. Without new inventory, grocery stores would soon be emptied of their goods. People would be left with what they have in their houses. If they had very little, the outlook would be grim.
Emergency food storage is an important part of emergency preparedness. The best of these include non-perishable items from all of the basic food groups. Of primary importance are staples like rice, pasta, or flour. Having plenty of vegetables and fruits can help keep household members’ immune systems functioning. Also, while a 72-hour supply is a good start, you may want to expand to a three- or six-month supply. You can never anticipate how long these crises will stretch out; best err on the side of caution.
5. Shelter
With houses getting tossed by tornadoes and others crumbling in earthquakes, it isn’t difficult to anticipate possibly losing your house. If you were unlucky enough to lose your home, where would you stay? This is the primary question surrounding shelter.
You need a place to sleep and stay safe from the elements after a catastrophe. Hotels, houses of friends or relatives, or emergency shelters can provide a must needed respite from disaster conditions.
If these weren’t available, what would you use then? A tent? A motor home? An igloo? These are things you want to figure out before things go bad. Even having a simple dome tent may mean the difference between sleeping safe and dry or having a cold, wet night in the open.
Preparedness can make all the difference for you and your loved ones in a disaster. Learn more about how to prepare by visiting the federal government’s emergency preparedness site.
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