Coping methods for uncertain times.
The past 18 months working in tech have been sad and unsettling. My LinkedIn feed has been a steady stream of green Open for Work banners and posts by connections and connections of connections sharing that they’d been unceremoniously let go due to yet another round of layoffs at yet another tech company. A lot of industries go through ups and downs (I suppose this is the nature of business) but I don’t think the human toll gets any easier.
And so far these first few weeks of 2024 are proving that this year will be more of the same. You could spend this time operating from a place of fear, anxiety, and/or anger. Or you could use the uncertainty to do some reflecting and planning.
I’ve been cycling through moments of anxiety, acceptance, optimism, and productivity. So in the spirit of needing an outlet for my productivity, creativity, and processing my feelings + reflections, here’s a collection of coping methods I’ve been leaning on, along with my thoughts for people managers right now.
Coping methods for you.
It’s OK to not be OK. For a lot of us, our jobs aren’t just jobs. They might be part of our identities. They might be a path to financial security. They might be a source of validation. They might be a way to funnel our ambitions and energies. For me, my work is all of those things and more. So if you feel this way about your work, it’s natural to feel unsettled, anxious, or scared. Allow yourself the time to feel what you’re feeling. And if you find yourself more tired than usual or less productive than usual, give yourself the grace to recognize that this is your body’s response to the stress you’re facing.
Talk to someone. Whether it’s a therapist, a coach, a trusted mentor, or all three, talking to someone about how you’re feeling right now is a really good idea. I’ve personally had some really good conversations over the past couple of weeks. I bet there are people in your life who care about you and want to help you process how you’re feeling right now. It’s OK to seek these conversations and ideally grow from them. In one conversation with my coach, we talked about my primary fear right now and how that fear stemmed from my personal history. It was something that was always there under the surface but I hadn’t really given myself the time to identify it. Understanding my fear and why I have that fear helps me move forward. My wish for you is to have as insightful of a conversation as the one I recently had with my coach.
Make a plan. I like planning. Tough things are easier for me to tackle when I have a plan. Depending on what’s driving your fear, start working on a plan that addresses that fear (and maybe you’ll find that your fear isn’t as founded as you first thought). If one of your fears is around financial security, start figuring out how much you typically spend per month (you should probably know this anyway?), how much you have in assets that are liquid or easy to liquidate (e.g. savings, stocks, certain investment accounts), and then how many months you could support yourself without being employed. If that outlook right now isn’t looking good, remember that you can always borrow from your 401K (not ideal, I know). And if you’re not in a position where borrowing from your 401K is possible, then maybe it’s time to start setting some short term savings goals.
[I’m going to pause here and go on a tangent: last year around this time, I saw several posts on LinkedIn of people essentially chastising others for not being financially prepared for losing their jobs. You know what’s not helpful? Being the jerk who’s talking about how they have an X month emergency fund. If you wrote that post in 2020 or 2021 when there were more tech roles than people to fill them, then yes, sure, you’re being helpful. Telling people right now that they should have started doing that a year or two ago isn’t.]
If your fear is around idle time then make a plan of all the things you could do with that free time. If you’re worried about having to apply for jobs again, update your resume and/or ask someone to help you with mock interviews. I’ve been doing some reflecting + planning and there are a couple of things that I’ve been pondering for a few years. They’re the sorts of things that are both scary and exciting and I sort of feel a little silly when I say them out loud. I bet you’ve got similar things in your head, too.
Focus on one thing. I like being productive … it’s a comfortable place for me to be. Today, I’m focusing on writing + getting this post out into the world. Every day at work, I’ve been thinking about one thing that I really want and need to get done and then just going heads down and doing those things. Being productive in this way helps me focus on things that I can control.
Do something creative. I like making things … whether that’s writing, drawing when I was younger, designing my house, cooking, or my latest obsession — making cold brew coffee (more on that later). Making things feeds my soul on so many levels. It’s a way to process and express how I’m feeling. It’s a way to take my mind off whatever’s bothering me. And it’s a way to feed my need to be productive. Today, I’m processing by writing this post. A few days ago, I took a couple of stabs at drawing Doraemon … and I impressed myself. I bet if you took the time to make something you’ll feel better.
Do something active. I have an unhealthy obsession with Peloton (more on that later, too). And whether it’s lifting some weights or taking a fun ride on the bike, I always feel better (and find that I’ve found an outlet for my frustrations). I have a feeling if you gave yourself time to be active and be in your body, you’ll feel better, too.
Meditate (or not). I like to meditate and usually find it helpful in calming my mind and giving me perspective. That doesn’t mean I’m zen all the time … I actually suck at meditation (I have a busy mind). So I’m not going to tell you that meditation is the answer to everything but it might help. I’ve had some good meditations this week but I also had a meditation earlier this week where I couldn’t stop thinking about my eventual demise in a really horrific way. So mediate … or not. Your mileage may vary here.
Remember it’s just a job. Last year around this time, a mentor and friend reminded me that my job was well … just a job. I was initially crushed. I love my job! I get to do really neat things, influence products that millions (and sometimes billions) of people use, and mentor really smart + incredible people. What do you mean it’s just a job? You might feel this way about your job, too. But my mentor + friend was right. Unless the place you work is a company you founded, your job too is just a job. Whatever awesome qualities helped you get your job are yours to keep … with or without the job. And those same qualities will help you get another job.
Practice gratitude. I know … the last thing you want to hear right now is someone on the internet telling you to be grateful for what you have. But I bet there are things in your life that you’re grateful for that have nothing to do with work. Sometimes it can be helpful to remember that.
Showing up for you team.
If you’re a people manager, there’s a good chance your team is anxious right now. It’s your job to support them through this. Be vulnerable and authentic … but obviously within reason. You can share how you’re coping but still act as a steadying force. Your team isn’t going to feel any better if you’re freaking out. But you’re also going to lose their trust and loyalty if you act like everything should be business as usual. Don’t tell them that all businesses go through this — that is not helpful (and not what they want to hear right now). Yes, Gen X managers — I’m looking at you (your Millenenial and Gen Z directs have a totally different outlook on work and authority than you do).
It’s a delicate balance to play … but it’s also your job. And it doesn’t have to be that complicated.
Be transparent with what you know. Give people permission to come to you and make time to do so. Make space during your regular 1:1s to check-in. Offer to help with the things you can help with (e.g. if it’ll help someone feel less anxious if you give them feedback on their resume, you should make time for that). But don’t promise anyone anything that is beyond your control.
If you’re a middle manager like me, showing up for the people in your reporting chain is the most important thing you should be doing right now [and I’d argue you should be doing that all the time].
I hope I don’t lose my job and I hope you don’t lose your job, either. But I’m hoping this list of tips helps you get through the uncertainty of this time, whether you’re dealing with your own anxiety or supporting your team through theirs.
