In this article, my intention is not to take a stand on the current health care debate in the United States. Those readers who know me probably know my views on the health care issues. However, as a professional counselor and a writer on issues related to mental health, I do not feel that this column is an appropriate setting to express my political views.

Despite all of this, I believe that there is at least one aspect of the health care discussion that is not debatable. The current U.S. health care system leads to a lot of emotional stress for employed and unemployed Americans alike. I planned on discussing research exploring the relationship and correlation between the current U.S. health care system and associated stress.

However, I was shocked that I was not able to find any research or discussion on the subject. Therefore, I hope that this article serves as a comfort to those people who are stressed by our current health care system,  a recognition that your stress is being recognized,  an awareness that you are not alone in being stressed out about health care and also a resource that will provide coping techniques.

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Given my current line of work, people are oftentimes surprised to learn that I was an economics major in college. I found economics interesting and a great way way to develop keen critical thinking skills. However, there were basic assumptions inherent in economic theory that I found flawed. One major assumption, was that consumers are rational about how they spend their money and buy goods and services. However, I questioned if consumers actually spent in a manner that led to maximum value from their money? It seemed to me that people often spent money on goods and services that they did not even need, and certainly did not make them happier. C’mon, is buying an $80,000 Hummer or a $100 pair of jeans really going to make a person’s life that much better?

After a bit of investigation, I was pleased to see that empirical research has been done on the very subject that I had privately wondered about; money, happiness, and if a correlation (and of course causation) exists between the two. With unemployment comes greater scarcity of funds, and therefore during tough economic times it is all the more important to use our money in the best way possible. I hope this article helps provide the impetus to do so.
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We all know The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly known as the Stimulus Bill, provides for a monetary boost for many parts of the U.S. economy. And since it is very expansive everyone, from small businesses to state governments, is cashing in, and rightfully so. The money is there, so one might as well take it and muffle the blow of the recession or offset it completely. What many people might not know is that the Stimulus Bill provides a substantial amount of money to nonprofits. Besides filling budget gaps and shortfalls, the stimulus money will expand nonprofits’ services and efforts, creating many jobs. This recession has changed the way a lot of us look at the economy and job market, and as a consequence many of us have had to widen our horizons. 

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Inter-generational rifts. They seem to occur all the time; in the family, the home, out in the streets, in the halls of Washington DC and in the workplace.  I’m guessing you experienced inter-generational rifts growing up, and at times probably still experience such a rift. Think back. The Baby Boomer’s of the 1960’s being labeled as too radical by older generations. Parents and grandparents being flabbergasted by the baggy clothes that permeated the 90’s. General differences continue to exist today, which makes sense, given people are partially a product of the time period they grew up in.

For example, I have heard people from Generation X (people born between 1960 and 1980) say that people from Generation Y (people born between 1980 and 2000) are not independent enough, while I have heard people from Generation Y say that people from Generation X are not comfortable enough expressing their feelings.

Now I am not here to stereotype, or make a complex phenomena simple at the expense of integrity. People from the same generation often have vastly different personalities, differing values and goals, in addition to different worldviews. However, research has shown that individuals from particular generations have tendencies towards particular behaviors and worldviews (Denham & Gadbow, 2002). For purposes of this article, I will be talking about Generation Y; the recent changes in values and worldview that have occurred in Generation Y due to the economic recession and how said changes can effect job prospects and mental health for the unemployed and employed alike.

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For those of you who are tired of watching GDP tick down; for those that are tired of watching the unemployment rate lose its sense of gravity- there’s officially a better way. A few better ways, actually.

Everyday economists are getting creative with the way they assess the economy. For years, the Hemline Indicator predicted the state of things. The shorter the skirts, the better the year. The premise is that when the stocks are up, people feel better. When they feel better, they feel better about themselves. And they show it by showing off their legs (at least the females). 

Then there’s also the Bikini Indicator: in years when an American graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, the Dow Jones outperformed the average by 7%.  

This recession’s different. It’s the worst since the 1930s, blah blah blah. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Or so argues the Hot Waitress Index. It’s point: in good times, attractive women can always get a job in sales. Or the wilder ones can pull in $2k a night wrapped around a pole. But when the times are tough, those opportunities dry up with the rest. And so they wait tables.

Anyone have an index of their own they’d like to share?

Has anyone out there ever felt like Michael Corleone in The Godfather III. “Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in.” For example, you’re enjoying a pleasant Sunday with your family and/or friends. Perhaps some baseball, bbq and swimming. Sure you’re unemployed, but the sun is out, it’s a beautiful summer day and mostly, what’s better than some quality time with friends and family? Then something happens to suddenly shift your mood 180 degrees.

You turn on the TV for a bit, and as you are flipping channels stumble across a news report featuring the dire state of the U.S. economy, possibly talking about unemployment rates, forclosures or personal economic tragedy. Or, perhaps the radio is on FM, you are in a state of euphoria, not only spending quality time with friends and family, but also listening to the inspiring lyrics of Bruce Springsteen. The station goes to commercial and you decide to see what’s on AM radio. 1010 Wins (A New York radio station, I promise I won’t usually be New York centric!) comes on and you hear, “This is 1010 wins, you give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world. Our first story, more Americans unemployed then ever, will the economy ever get better?”

Like last week’s article alluded to, being unemployed or worried about unemployment today is very different than having unemployment on your mind during the Great Depression. For lack of a better term, mass media simply wasn’t as massive during the great depression as it is today. Today, we are constantly being bombarded with reminders of the state of the economy, even when we are least expecting it or least ready for it. But, why all the negatively regarding the economy in the media?  Why, not more success stories of people and businesses thriving; people and businesses who are essentially spitting in the face of all the naysayers regarding the economy?

I would contend that the mass media’s concentration on negative news reports about the economy follows the overall trend and pattern of the mass media (for example, nightly news), typically concentrating on negativity as a whole. After watching the nightly news, a person may think that our society is on the brink of self-destruction. Instead of  news stories about people helping out other people, an innovative new idea or a local success story; gun violence, drug crimes and general fear dominate the news.

Alas, the question still has yet to be answered, why all the negativity in the mass media? For one, negatively seems to sell. Despite oftentimes being considered the fourth branch of government, a watchdog if you will, the media is also a business. Being a business, your favorite radio or television station is doing all it can to increase profits. Higher ratings, lead to greater add revenue, which lead to greater profit. If reporting the news in a negative, albeit skewed manner is what maximizes profits, so be it.

Most importantly, what can be done by you, the individual, the faithful reader regarding all the negativity constantly entering homes, neighborhood bbq’s, and in turn increasingly anxious minds everywhere. First, attempt to get some truly fair and balanced news regarding the economy (no, I am not talking about Fox News!). Upon hearing a negative news story, search the internet for a positive news story about the economy. These positive stories are out there, they just require some searching. Also, when negative news about the economy gets you down, think about all the reasons why you are likely to achieve gainful employment soon; you are a hard worker, experienced, enthusiastic, well spoken, etc.

In the end, this article is about controlling your own thoughts, emotions and outlook when it comes to unemployment. Not providing a radio bit, or television news story the power to change your mood at the drop of a hat. You can rise above this phenomena. Take a 360 degree viewpoint (as opposed to the narrow, negative view the majority of mass media takes)  by looking at positive economy news, in addition to reminding yourself why you are such a desirable employee! Let’s take the power back; controlling our own happiness, thoughts and feelings, as opposed to allowing Tom Brokaw the power to do so.

Patience is a virtue. Do we really live by that saying in our society? I would say we do not. We have instant coffee, instant communication, instant entertainment and instant access to a plethora of information via the internet. I am not saying all of the “instants” we are provided with in our society are a bad thing, in fact I believe in many ways it has made our lives easier.

A  university student has a research paper to write, he or she no longer needs to slept down to the library, instead all the information can likely be found online via online journals. You are meeting someone for dinner and are ten minutes late. Well, just take out your cell phone and text them, as opposed to ten years ago, where the person would be standing around for ten minutes wondering if you were on your way. However, all of these “instants” do come with a price. I would venture to say that we have become less patient as a society. From becoming frustrated by waiting in a five minute line, to feeling a sense of anxiety and frustration when a relationship takes time to develop, we often seem to expect everything to happen now, rather than later.

Which is why being unemployed now is probably much different then being unemployed during the Great Depression was. With different societies come different experiences and I would argue our “instant” society is less apt to deal with extended unemployment. The problem is, extended unemployment is currently the norm, as opposed to the exception. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in July 2009 the average unemployment duration (in weeks) was 25.1 and the median unemployment duration was 15.7 weeks (the median skewed upward due to outliers on the longer duration of the unemployment scale).

25 or 15 weeks are far from instant. So, what can be done? Remind yourself that successfully working through unemployment is a process, as opposed to an instant result. For example, the process of job searching and applying for jobs often, in addition to building connections, will probably lead to landing a job, however most likely not instantly. Derek Jeter (sorry Red Sox Fans!) was once asked what has made him so successful during his baseball career. He simply said, “I have had a lot more good days then bad.”

Look at unemployment in a similar fashion. If you have a lot of good days (regarding both mental health and job searching techniques) the end product will likely be positive. However, at the end of a week of hard work job searching it is natural and alright to feel a sense of disappointment that you have not received any call backs and that the much sought out job has not been offered yet. At this point, remind yourself that despite our currently societal norms, patience can still be a virtue.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. A nice old saying for the age old economic down turn we have seen time and time again. Economic downturns are as consistent as the weather; inevitable and unpredictable. Each time we find ourselves rushing to understand how it happened, who to blame and how to fix it.

What I have noticed more now than during previous economic downturns is people coping more. With unemployment at a 20-year high, this downturn has hit us hard. Individuals are willing to sacrifice more to remain employed - an unfortunate scenario or a possible realization that certain jobs were overcompensating - and even take the initiative to suggest these cuts before they get the axe. Those already part of the unemployed have a tougher predicament; they don’t have a job that they can negotiate aspects of to keep. But, a new development (something I initially thought was mad) has evolved: working for free. YES, I did just say that.

As Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a’chang’n” and so people are as well. They’re adapting to the changed environment. And so, us drones have migrated to a new idea of dealing with unemployment; a novel one at that. Think about it. You just got the boot. You take a few days to a week to assess your predicament and then jump back into the fray to look for a job. Maybe you anticipated your exit for employment and have already started the search; good for you. Either way, you most likely have some free time and having a blank spot on your resume for however long it takes to find a job is not always nominal.

Working for free might just be a great way to fill that gap, gain some new skills and possibly widen your job search and increase your contact network. It’s a great way to keep your resume looking fresh. Think of it as working an unpaid internship that will help you get gainfully employed. So, don’t look at it as a sign of desperation, but dedication to polishing your resume.

Of course you can always get a job waiting tables and get a little green in your pockets, but then again you may be able to work somewhere beneficial to your career because you’re willing to do it for free. Besides the usual non-profits you can work for, many companies are looking to hire free labor or are asking their employees to work for. Just a few months ago, British Airways asked some of its employees to work a month for free.

Companies have something to benefit from this situation. Not only do they get free labor, but additionally it is also a great way for a company to create a pipeline of talent to draw from when the economy turns around. When a position does open up in the company or the company begins hiring again, it will most likely look internally to fill positions. For both the employer and employee, it brings long-turn benefits. You’re training new potential hires from which the company has its choice and as an unpaid employee you’re gaining experience with no contractual obligation. You work as long  and as hard as you want. What’s the worst they can do, fire you?

Despite it actually being illegal for a company to have you work for them for below minimum wage, many are people are finding that working for free gives them more appeal when applying for a job along with countless thousands of other applicants. Some individuals argue that if you have the skills for the job, you should be paid for it, but with a lot of companies having the work but not the revenue to hire, it may be a win-win situation.

Often times once you have been unemployed for a few months this can be a decision between having an indelible white space on your resume or keeping your skills sharp and mind in the game. It may seem like an act of desperation or the sign of a true devotion, but in the end it will likely yield long-term beneifts.

When you are an employee, on any given day, you can lose your job through absolutely no fault of your own. It’s just business. And it’s not just people with jobs at huge, publicly-traded companies who have to think twice. Privately-owned companies and “Mom and Pops” lay off too. And remember, there’s no such thing as a civil service, or non-profit sector, “job for life” either.  I know, because I’ve been laid off twice myself during my professional Corporate America career.

The first time, I was laid off during pretty good economic times, after the fourth merger in a row of the mega bank I worked for at the time. One day it’s a “dear colleague” memo on your desk, “great news we’re merging with another mega bank to make the ultimate mega bank.” The next it’s the old “your position has been eliminated. Congratulations, you’ve been downsized due to the merger.”

The second layoff happened almost exactly a decade later. I was laid off from a fairly small private company exactly one day after I got the highest possible performance review they gave.

The first time I was laid off, it rocked my world because even though the rumors about layoffs had been swirling for awhile, I was still naïve enough in my corporate career to believe that if I worked hard enough and did the best possible work, I never needed to worry. I simply wasn’t ready to be involuntarily separated from my job. I hadn’t stopped working and moving up the corporate ladder to reach that achievement of “laid off VP of Marketing” in sixteen years, since I also worked full-time to put myself through college.

But there was a huge difference the second time around. You see during the years between my first and second layoff, I had a secret. I was leading a double life-the good employee by day, entrepreneur at night and on weekends.

It wasn’t easy working full-time while being a start-up entrepreneur on the side, but then again few things in life that are worthwhile are easy. And ultimately it was worth the sacrifice, because when job layoff number two happened out of the blue, it didn’t knock me for a loop. This time I was ready because I had a Plan B. I took my sideline business full-time without missing a beat, kissed the ground I walked on, and never looked back.  I had taken control of my livelihood and my life.

Everyone knows their own circumstances, and after being laid off, maybe you need to work full-time and be an empowered entrepreneur on the side, or maybe you can afford to make the leap and give full-time entrepreneur a try.  No matter how you look at it though, protect yourself and realize that in today’s workplace, having a “Plan B” is not just a nice to do, but a matter of survival.

Guest author Melanie Jordan is the founder of SunLover Publishing, LLC, a well-followed podcaster, and the author of several books. Check out her newest volume: “What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know™ - Achieving The Life You Were Meant To Have By Making Money From What YOU Know!“. Copyright 2009 SunLover Publishing LLC.

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I was walking down the streets of Chicago, enjoying a pleasant, but seemingly average day.  I looked up, and a sign in big letters stating, “50% off all books” was staring me in the face. Being one who can’t pass up a good deal, I decided to walk in the store and check it out.

Perusing through the store, I found a book titled “What Should I Do with My Life” by Po Bronson.  Intrigued, I read the back cover, and sure enough the book was a collection of stories (a social documentary if you will) about people who were engaging in career exploration, attempting to find career’s that fit their identity, personality and that they were passionate about. Little did I know, this book would change my life.

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