Samantha Higgins 3m 852 #covid19
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
A Comfort Among COVID-19
There are a lot of people who are currently unemployed due to COVID-19 and the inability for many industries to do their jobs. Losing a job can be such a traumatic experience. There’s an intense feeling of rejection. There’s also a major loss of income. It’s also pretty embarrassing for many people to endure. If you have a friend who’s recently lost their job, there are so many important factors to consider when you approach them. You never want to say the wrong thing that offends them. At the same time, you want them to know that you’re available if they need you. In order to be the best, supportive friend you can possibly be, consider some of the following ways you can actually be helpful.
1. Be a listening ear
When a friend loses their job, they might have a lot of questions and conversations happening within their own mind. In many cases, they just need a chance to vent. Knowing this, don’t be so quick to offer advice. Give your friend space and room to vent as they need to. If they ask for your advice, be careful when you give it. Some advice might be too much too soon. Try to be discerning of the friend you have. You tend to know how much they can handle when they’re in the right mood.
2. Ask
It might seem really simple, but one of the best ways to support a friend is to ask them what they need. Ask them about how they’d like your support. Each individual has different needs and concerns. For some people, a listening ear is all they need. For others, they might love for you to keep your ear to the ground for any job openings in their field. It really depends on the person. As you find out how you can help them, do what’s in your capacity. You don’t want to overburden yourself at the same time.
3. Give them something to look forward to
Many whose jobs were jeopardized were those that worked in the travel and tourist industries. If your friend was one of those affected by the lockdown they may be itching to get out and travel again.
While traveling is on lock down for now. When things open up again you can give your friend something to look forward to. If they are hoping to get back out there as soon as quarantine is lifted, consider getting them a gift that they can look forward to using when things open back up again. Giving your friend a special travel gift can help to give them hope despite our current global situation. Some of the best gifts for travelers include eye masks, new luggage, and passport holders.
4. Offer groceries
There are very few people who will turn down a good meal. If you’re a genius in the kitchen, surprise your friend with a home-cooked meal. Drop it by their home to make them feel a little better. If you know their favorite meal at their favorite restaurant, call the restaurant, place an order and get it delivered to their house. That’s a great way to surprise them with something that’ll make them happy. Additionally, it’s a great idea to offer a practical gift like a gift card for groceries. When a person loses their job, they lose their income. By paying for their groceries, you’ll give them some extra breathing room in their steadily-shrinking budget.
5. Create budget-friendly experiences
One of the fun parts of friendship involves going out to eat or enjoying various excursions. When a person loses their job, they might not have the same capacity to pay for those awesome vacations or expensive dinners. As a friend, you can offer an alternative. Host a game night at your house. Invite your friends over for movies and pizza. When you’re hosting, it takes the financial burden off of that friend. Plus, the money you would’ve spent on that expensive dinner can remain in your pocket. Use a simple coupon to order a pizza from the local pizzeria. Order a movie on one of those streaming platforms, and add some popcorn to the mix. There are ways to have a great time without spending tons of money.
When you’re considering how to help your friends who have lost their full-time jobs, always be mindful of how you’d feel if you were in their position. When you treat others the way you’d like to be treated, that’s a great foundation to build on. At the same time, it’s wise to be mindful of what your friends actually communicate to you regarding what they need. Be honest about what you can actually provide. If you don’t have the means to pay their rent, be honest about it if they ask. As long as you respect each other’s boundaries, provide support, and be consistent, you’ll be able to support your friends during this unfortunate ordeal and beyond.
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