I have had plenty of clients, friends and family tell me that looking for a job is a full time job in and of itself.
Many are unwilling to accept entry into the class of the underemployed.
I can sympathize with this and have seen first hand the dedication and effort needed to obtain employment in this depressed economy.
Maybe this is not such a bad thing as it seems that work is good for your health.
Unemployment can Kill You
Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but according to a recent study, being unemployed is in fact bad for your health.
In a recent study conducted in Finland, Professor Pekka T. Martikainen found that mortality rates increased dramatically for individuals who had been unemployed in prior years.
Another study conducted in the United Kingdom had similar findings showing a direct correlation between loss of employment and mortality.
This is not at all shocking to me. Being unemployed not only fosters poor health habits, it can take a tremendous toll on a person’s mental well being.
Job loss can lead to grief, depression, fear and anxiety.
These emotional grenades lead to stress and stress can take a terrible toll on one’s physical health.
De-stress Today
Today, April 16, 2014 is National Stress Awareness Day. So, for anyone unemployed, underemployed or employed, be conscious of your mental health and take some deep breaths.
My colleague Cathy Moran explains the mental impact of being in debt and how this dominos into every aspect of our lives.
Usually, unemployment and being in debt go hand-in-hand. Job loss is one of the main triggers for bankruptcy.
Easier said than done, but if you are unemployed, keep your head up.
If possible, take advantage of your unemployment, get out of debt and keep at that job of finding a job.
Things will improve and you will get a fresh start.
Image courtesy of bottled_void (Flickr).