Website design By BotEap.comWhile many of your colleagues and friends may be out of work during these difficult times, you are reading this article because you are employed. However, you realize that feeling safely employed does not mean that you are safely employed. Many people will lose their job at least once in their life involuntarily, regardless of the level of hierarchy, permanence or identification and commitment to the company.

Website design By BotEap.comHere are 4 steps you can take now to prepare for the risk of losing your job years in advance.

Website design By BotEap.comStep 1: save, save, save

Website design By BotEap.comThe best time to save is when you have a full job. You get a regular paycheck and potentially a bonus at the end of the year. How much should you save for the proverbial “rainy day”? I suggest at least a full year of living expenses. This may be higher than many financial advisers recommend, but having a year of money in the bank, put on secure CDs or savings accounts, feels pretty good. It is an excellent insurance policy and will give you peace of mind. If you also receive severance, your money will easily be extended to 15 or even 18 months, not counting any unemployment benefits you might be receiving. The less you are financially dependent on work, the better you will be mentally and the better you will cope with job loss should it occur.

Website design By BotEap.comStep 2: create your “wish list”

Website design By BotEap.comThe second step for you should be to create your “wish list”. Don’t forget to involve your spouse. Talk about unfulfilled dreams and discuss what the two of you would do if one or both were fired. Would you stay, take a dream vacation, start something new together, or even move? Reflect on all the things you never had time for during employment; Losing your job could allow you to catch up. You save valuable time, a real gift for yourself. Write the results of your reflection on a piece of paper and revisit them from time to time. It may all be a long way off now, but having this sheet of paper handy to pull out if the ax falls off can go a long way.

Website design By BotEap.comStep 3: Think ahead of time about the circumstances where you would even leave on your own.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat if you do have a secure job forever? Will you ever be able to fulfill the dreams that you wrote before on paper? You may need to ask yourself a tough question: “At what point in my life does the exchange of work and money versus time, time to travel or start something new tilt in favor of the latter?” You may find that you don’t want to wait for someone else to decide for you. In that case, set a date to quit or take a break.

Website design By BotEap.comStep 4: Consider Which Parts of Your “Wish List” You Can Start Implementing As You Work

Website design By BotEap.comThe older you are, the less time you have left to fulfill your dreams that you have not yet realized. You also have a higher chance of getting sick or even dying. So, once you have your “wish list” you may want to see what you can do while you work. Maybe take shorter trips, use your company’s sabbatical or part-time policy to take time off for a dream vacation, change your work-life balance to get involved with a charity, or decline new assignments at the job. work that would be too taxing your health. Anything you can get from your “wish list” or that can help you live longer, do it. Time off may be more valuable to you than the associated reduction in pay.

Website design By BotEap.comIn short, enjoy your career to the fullest, save and don’t forget to live life. Have your “wish list” ready. Like fire emergency training at your workplace when they show you where the ladder is out of the building, having money saved and your plan in place are your ticket to happiness when you get off the corporate bus.