Being made redundant is quite common but it’s one of those things you never expect to happen to you, so you’re never prepared for this big change in your life. It’s scary, it’s awkward (mostly when telling your relatives and waiting for their pity smiles and head tilts – you know the ones) and it can at times be depressing. I wanted to share with you some tips that helped me get through my redundancy period and I hope that they help you too.

1. Enjoy your time off. 

When I was made redundant people told me to just relax and enjoy my free time before a new job came along but that is easier said than done! I think you should try though. As long as you are doing all you can job-hunt wise, try not to worry about what is going to happen in the meantime. As my Grandma used to say - don’t worry about things you can’t change.

2. Try to leave the house every day. 

Don’t get me wrong, sitting around in your PJ’s having a Netflix binge definitely does do the soul some good, but getting out the house definitely helped clear my mind and reduce stress. I would go sit in a café and do some job searching or write a new blog whilst having a cup of coffee with a friend.

3. Volunteer. 

I had a lot of trouble coping with my boredom when I was made redundant, I’ve had a job since I was 15 so I had no idea what to do with my free time. I decided to look into volunteering for some of my local charities to help with the homeless crisis in Brighton which breaks my heart but that’s a whole other story. So if you’re having the same problem check out what you can do to get involved in with your local community.

4. Be honest. 

Sometimes the hardest thing is to do is just telling the people you love how you are feeling. I found myself getting pretty down and not communicating this to anybody and expecting people to know what I was thinking. That’s no way to live! If you’re feeling rubbish, tell somebody! Then your other half/friends/family can support you as much as possible.

5. Get drunk. 

Okay, so I’m definitely not telling you to start necking bottles of wine before the postman has even arrived, however, getting yourself dressed up and heading to town to get good and merry with your best friend definitely helps once in a while. Who doesn’t feel good after a couple of G&T’s and dancing to some cheesy songs?

WARNING: You will not feel good the next morning.

Overall, just try to keep in mind that this time in temporary and will pass with a new and exciting opportunity at the end of the tunnel.

This post was written by Jess, who also runs a food blog at jessandjoshcook.com. Shortly after writing this post, she's got employed! Congratulations, Jess and good luck with the new job.