Kinsa Group Blog

“Here we go again…”

“Why does everyone else seem to have all the luck?”

“What else could possibly go wrong today?”

Admit it.  At one point or another, you’ve had thoughts like these.  I know I have.  But while it’s perfectly normal to occasionally fall prey to negative thoughts – especially after losing a job or some other stressful event - you must guard against falling into a pessimistic mental rut.

When you’re stuck in a mode of negative thinking, you miss out on opportunities to improve your day and your situation.  Negative thoughts drain your energy and can even threaten your health.  So if your attitude could use some improvement, try some of these tips to eliminate negative thinking:

1. Recognize when you’re thinking negatively.  Pay attention to your internal dialogue and send up a mental “red flag” when you’re thinking pessimistically.
2. Realize that negative thoughts breed more negative thoughts.  Remember, you attract what you focus on – whether it’s what you want or don’t want.
3. Remind yourself that the negative thought is only that – a thought.  In fact, what you’re thinking may have little basis in reality.  Instead, your thoughts could be the result of projected fears about situations that rarely end up manifesting.
4. Find a positive thought replacement.  Rather than fighting against negative thoughts, try to replace them with more positive ones.  Picture a different scenario; affirm something to yourself that’s positive and self-supporting; remind yourself of a recent positive experience.
5. Use humor and fun.  Negative thoughts stress you out.  Change the energy of the situation by thinking of something funny or doing something enjoyable.  The key is to not let your negative thoughts have power over you.
6. Try creative visualization.  When something goes wrong, close your eyes and visualize a positive outcome.  Let yourself see what you want to happen like a movie playing behind your eyelids.  You’ll stop negative thoughts in their tracks and focus your mind’s energy on potential solutions.
7. Take a break.  Even if you’re up against a deadline, take five minutes to stretch, take a brief walk or talk to a friend.  Any respite, albeit brief, will help you reset your attitude and tackle your problem from a more positive perspective.

One More Tip…

If you’re stuck in a negative mental rut because of your job circumstances, Kinsa Group can help.  As experts in food & beverage industry recruiting, we specialize in matching experienced professionals with rewarding career opportunities. 

A small positive action like registering with our recruiting service can break your cycle of negative thinking and start you on a better career path.  So take control of your situation by envisioning yourself in the job you really want – then contact us to turn that vision into reality.

“Rightsizing.”  “Staff reduction.”  “Position elimination.”

Regardless of what you call it, a layoff still hurts when it happens to you.  And in today’s economy, it seems to be happening far too often. 

But while you may not be able to control whether or not you lose your job, you can control how you handle the situation.  I recently read a great article on this topic by Amy Levin-Epstein entitled “Laid Off? 7 Rules for a Graceful Exit.”   In it she outlines practical steps to handle your job exit with aplomb:

1. Don’t freak out.  Although it may be difficult, try not to take it personally.  Realize that it’s a business decision, and that you’re not going to change anyone’s mind by debating the issue.  If you need to vent, seek out non-colleagues, a career coach, or other professional help.
2. Negotiate your exit.  Before you leave the table, ask for what you need most:  letters of reference, outplacement service, extra insurance coverage, moving costs, or even reinstatement if the economy improves.
3. Fine-tune your to-do list.  Instead of trying to tie-up every loose end in your job, focus only on the most important priorities (this includes your need to find a new job).
4. Save your contacts.  Download your address book ASAP.  These contacts may be your best avenue to new employment, so start reaching out to them immediately.
5. Be kind to yourself.  Being laid off is traumatic.  Ease the blow to your system by exercising, eating and sleeping right, and engaging in enjoyable activities.  Stay connected by interacting with others in a way that showcases your talent – be it via a networking group, charitable organization, or even a personal web site or blog.
6. Update your networking protocol.  Networking isn’t new, but the technology used to accomplish it is.  Beyond reaching out via phone and e-mail, use Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to round out the mix.  When using social media for networking, only post information you’d want a potential new employer to read.
7. Drink responsibly.  If you choose to grab a good-bye drink with former co-workers, err on the side of sobriety.  After all the steps you’ve taken to make a graceful exit, you don’t want to spoil your efforts by publicly drowning your sorrows in tequila shots. 

Recently Laid Off from the Food and Beverage Industry? 

Kinsa Group can help.  We specialize in matching talented food and beverage industry professionals with leading employers across the nation.  Search jobs here.