Things I Did to Stay Sane During Layoffs

                I work in the animation industry and if you have been keeping up with the news, the animation industry, entertainment industry on a whole, has been going through it. Plainly put, there are no jobs. I was laid off a while ago and things are still very tough. I spoke a bit more about that here in this video on my Youtube channel.

Today, though, I mostly want to talk about what I did and still am doing to deal with how bleak things are.

I Tried Something New

I don’t know how to drive (still kinda don’t) so I did the written test and started in car lessons. Granted, I had already begun this process before I was laid off and had paid for some lessons already, but you can still do something new, and it can be free or not your choice. Just pick something you never did before and try it.

 Another example, I bought some roller skates last summer when I wanted to learn how and they have been collecting dust ever since. I just picked those up and started to practice in my apartment. Find a thing, try it out, if it doesn’t work find another thing. You don’t have to be good; I am still very rocky on skates, but it’s fun and helped me to destress.  

Created More

I, like many other people fell into the trap of work always, create less. I was tired at the end of the workday and wasn’t very motivated to draw or create anything for myself. This wasn’t very good for me because I am an artist. I need to be creating something and the more I wasn’t, the more miserable I would get.

 For you, this could be writing, making music or some other creative outlet you enjoyed. At first, I was truly unmotivated to even start drawing anything, which, looking back was necessary, like I said above “to lick my wounds” but creating can really bring healing and peace. Again, it doesn’t have to be good, just do it for you.

Revived a Hobby

            This is very similar to the tip mentioned above. As a kid, I read a ton of books and as I got older, somehow I forgot that was something I really enjoyed. I read one book a year which isn’t the end of the world, but I wasn’t exactly using my time better otherwise (the curse of social media). Late last year, I decided to tackle a trilogy because I love them and usually when I start the first book I’m hooked (for better or worse) and since books aren’t cheap, I also joined the library. This year I’ve read eleven books so far and I love it. Feels amazing to disappear in a few new worlds and get out the pit that is Instagram.

Went for Walks

            I’ve been back in the gym for my mental health and to sleep at night, but I wasn’t getting enough time outside and wanted to change that. If being outside is a norm for you, you got it made. My husband and I have been making an effort to go for nice long walks, short ones if time doesn’t allow and it really helps us to wake up or get out of slump. There are studies out there, somewhere that says being out in nature is good for the soul. As a person who thrives by the sun and shrinks up whenever there is a cloud day, I don’t really need a study to know that. This being said, I still have to actively make sure to get outside and not submit to lazy habits.

            So, these are a few of the things that I am still doing during this period. They keep me sane, and I wanted to share. If you have any suggestions of your own, please tell me in the comments. I really want to know. That’s it for me, see ya!