Day One: It's Official

I finally figured it out. I know why companies let people go on Fridays.

For me the first few days, which happened to be Saturday and Sunday, were fairly normal. Perhaps I shouldn't say "happened to be" as I feel it is likely VERY intentional. I think a business has figued out that by letting a person go on a Friday, it means they have at least two days to calm down.

With a weekend, one is typically off anyhow. They spend time with friends or family members. They socialize. They relax. If a person is laid off on a Friday, they have those two days to think, to recover, to make a mental plan.

Besides time to collect one's thoughts, I think it is rather crucial that the said laid off have time to feel "normal." You wouldn't be working on those days anyhow. Those first two days after the impact, well, it just seems like any other weekend. You break from work, and life feels normal.

I have to say even on the official Day One, the first day I typically WOULD have been at work but am not, it still feels like perhaps it is a long weekend. With Memorial Day right around the corner, a three-day weekend doesn't feel so odd.

But, as the spouse headed to work, the kids boarded the bus, and the house emptied, it felt very strange. I seldom am alone these days. Those with children often are not, forget about even a date night with the spouse. So to have a house, so quiet and still, for the entire day all alone ... well, it was very odd.

I'm taking the good advice of many a friend, commentor and family member, who suggested in order to stay sane, you just have to keep moving. I treated the day much like any other, and worked my butt off. I reworked my resume after researching tips online. I spoke with every contact I had, from networking events, former co-workers, to my friends and family, to my best friends from kindergarten to my high school Facebook connections, networking acquaintences, and even former business competitors. Basically, I've asked anyone I could think of to tell me if they may be or know of someone hiring.

I scoured the typical job websites, adding my resume to anything that would let me. I feel like I've lost a pet or something, and about one step away from truly plastering my resume on telephone poles and local bulletin boards.

I cleaned up the house. I made a list of projects around the house I could get to. Some were things I'd been putting off for years, and with my new-found free time, I supposed I could get to them now.

I cleaned out my shed. I sorted and washed laundry. And then, it was lunchtime. I guess time moves more slowly in this crazy new land.

I suppose, like any change, this will take some time to get used to. Day one is done. I'll keep you posted, and pray that this suddenly unemployed professional can soon find a way back to the working very soon.