By Dr. Gaby Cora

In this survey carried at Rutgers, two thirds of the respondents who lost their job expressed feelings of depression. Most surveyed were laid off with no advance notice. Living on a paycheck, most borrowed money from family and friends. Most responders experienced increased relational problems with their partners and family members, had trouble sleeping or increased their alcohol or drug consumption.

What can you do if you lose your job?

1.    Get organized to bounce back as soon as possible: Most of those who were laid off did not have any retraining or company-sponsored smooth transition. Although you may expect this from your employer, this is ultimately your responsibility. Update your résumé, write a list of all your best skills, write down each and every work-related positive experience or “win” that you have had and, once prepared, start searching for other positions where you could incorporate transferable skills from your previous job into a new job opportunity. Even if you had years of experience in one industry, keep an open mind and search in other industries.

2.    Talk with your spouse: you are in this together: remember, together in good and bad times? Address your own concerns and acknowledge the fact that this is, indeed, a very stressful time for you and for your family: you cannot do this alone. Brainstorm about immediate ideas or possibilities about improving your situation and think of other possibilities that may be helpful in the long-term. Assess your financial situation. Make sure that you are not spending in some areas where you could cut down your expenses and look at additional ways in which you can increase your income.

3.    Talk to your kids: our kids have been brought up in greater affluence than we were raised. Tell them you are in a tough situation and discuss ways in which everyone can contribute to improve the challenges even with the little things. May be they can help by taking on additional chores, may be they can help with their brothers and sisters, may be they can help with each other’s homework and so on.

4.    Socialize with others: one of the biggest challenges is people tend to isolate from family, friends or other business colleagues out of feeling down, unsuccessful or just embarrassed. Acknowledge these feelings but avoid dwelling on them: whatever is lost is lost and the faster you can move on the more resilient you will become.

5.    Stay healthy: smoking, drinking, using drugs, eating junk food or avoiding exercise won’t help you in any way. Use my Managing Work in Life® with LOVE formula to increase your resilience as you move on into your next opportunities.

By Dr. Gaby Cora

Keep it. Many seniors who could retire are staying at their job in the States. They have given their life-long dreams to retire because of the drastic loss of retirement funds and the uncertainty the future holds. Many have decided to keep their secure job – and steady paycheck - as long as it lasts.

Many who have lost their job and who are desperately seeking for new opportunities are facing an even tougher market because of this situation. Many Americans 62 and older are staying healthier and active at their well-valued job whereas the newer generations may be struggling to get a position.

What can you do?

1.    If you are 62 and older and you have a job, you are using the right strategy as you keep your benefits and steady income. In addition, health coverage, regular activity and a healthy lifestyle will keep you active and positive along the way.

2.    Create savings opportunities: many in their sixties were unable to retire because of massive loss of money in the Stock. Save money and think wisely when investing at a low risk, if you desire to use this money when you retire.

3.    If you are younger and out of a job, consider part-time job options and continued education. Prepare yourself by becoming more competitive. This will be a great way of spending your time, energy and money.

4.    Keep a positive outlook: whether you are young or ready to retire, keep a positive attitude toward the future: the more positive the better you will transition into a job (if you are new to the workforce) or into your next life phase.

5.    Stay healthy: above all, continue to take good care of yourself. Use The Four Pillars of Health as your core toward a healthy and fulfilling life experience.

By Dr. Gaby Cora

Many worry about having a job during the recession, taking vacation doesn’t even cross their mind.

With busy week schedules, many try to maximize their recreation time on a daily and weekend basis rather than formally taking time off.

Interestingly, generation Y seems to be slightly more worried than generation X about whether or not they will still have a job when they come back as per this study.

Younger employees and women employees may also tend to make their vacation plans while at work…

Thoughts?

There are many cultural differences around taking time off. For example, it is very unusual for employees to take more than one week off in the US. In other countries it is not unusual to take vacation for several weeks. Except if you are the boss…  

By Dr. Gaby Cora

Many feel gloomy with concerns about the current economy, increasing gas prices, the war, foreclosures, and the challenges of doing more with less. Everyone talks about recession depression. Many worry as they now restrict their expenses including starting the morning at Starbucks. Following my Friday television interview on Recession Depression, these are some key points to keep in mind as we deal with these challenges:

MD, Executive Wellness Coach Warns that Recession, Hiring Freezes, and Real Estate Downturn are Creating High Levels of On-the-Job Stress

Gas prices have topped $4 a gallon, corporations have instituted hiring freezes, and the amount of foreclosures continue to hit record numbers. As a result, South Florida has become one of the hardest hit regions in the country.

“With the news so grim, it’s no wonder that there has been an increase in executives, leaders and managers suffering from stress and corporate burnout,” said Gabriela Corá, MD, MBA.Dr. Corá, a medical doctor and psychiatrist, executive wellness coach, and author of Leading under Pressure, warns that if executives and entrepreneurs are working 16 hour-days to produce more with less, they should be on the lookout for stress-related medical problems. “The question that executives and entrepreneurs should be asking themselves is, ‘Do I need a doctor or a business coach?’