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Unemployment: The Healthiest Time of Your life!
Featured Author:
Michelle Pfennighaus
Michelle Pfennighaus is a holistic health counselor and registered yoga instructor based in Boston, MA. For many years she suffered from debilitating anxiety and digestive disorders until finally healing herself through changes in diet and lifestyle.
Michelle received training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a 200 hour yoga teacher program. Currently, she works with clients all over the country to improve their health and happiness. She also offers cooking classes and workshops for groups.
To learn more about Michelle, visit her website FindYourBalanceHealth.com.
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Michelle Pfennighaus
October 08, 2009
When I heard the news that I was being laid off, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. My face grew hot, my stomach tightened, and I felt a little unsteady on my feet.
So far, unemployment felt awful.
Over the next few days, the knot in my stomach slowly unwound itself. I woke up in the morning and remembered, “I don’t have to rush to any meetings. I don’t have to commute. I don’t have to drink office coffee!”
And somehow my internal clock reset itself. My 3pm snacking habit disappeared and I stopped getting the Sunday night blues. It’s amazing how much stress from work had been influencing my emotional and physical health.
Sure, unemployment is different for everyone. I’d been laid off before – and that time all I did was worry. This time I used the opportunity to develop a longtime passion and start my own business. But even if you just got laid off and have zero idea what comes next, consider this an opportunity to focus on YOU for a change. Start by leveraging what you have (extra time) and make some healthy changes in your life to start feeling your best.
Find some freebies.
Lots of gyms, yoga studios and similar facilities offer free passes to new students. Since you suddenly have no routine to adhere to, you can mix it up! Try as many new activities as you can without spending a dime of that unemployment check.
Sorry Rachael, 30 minute meals are for working stiffs.
Why throw dinner together when you have all this extra time? Think about baking your own bread or simmering homemade soup. Foods like these link to http://www.findyourbalancehealth.com/2009/03/six-hours-to-simmer-and-other-benefits-of-unemployment require little effort besides keeping track of the time. It’s also a great way to save money.
