Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 11 Creative Ways to Save Even More Money

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below from The Financial Diet, Chelsea Fagan and Erin Lowry share 11 creative ways to save more money. These tips can come in handy at any time but particularly during a period of unemployment or underemployment. Watch the video for more.

How to Practice Self-Care After Losing a Job

Losing a job ranks rights up there--along with death, divorce, or a move--as one of the most stressful and difficult times in a person’s life. 

A job loss can lead to anger, depression, and solitude and it’s very important to develop healthy habits during this time of unemployment.

Take the following steps to create a regime of self-care.

Focus on friends and family. Seek out and spend time with those you are closest to. Meet up with a best friend for a regular lunch appointment and spend some extra time with family. Be open with those close to you about how you’re experiencing the job loss and accept the support of others.

Let’s get physical. Pay attention to your health. Now you have some additional time to ensure you can fit in a daily exercise routine, whether it’s yoga at a nearby studio, joining a local fitness club, biking across town, or simply taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood. This time will also stimulate creativity and just might stimulate some ideas regarding your next career move.

Embrace the pillow. Get adequate sleep. Make an effort to avoid staying up late to watch television or staying on a computer or mobile too long getting lost in the world of social media. Instead, go to your library and pick out some great books to read in the evening before falling asleep. Good sleep will provide you with energy and a positive attitude to continue on with the other healthy practices your implementing.

Resist the bottle. This is a time to avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Drinking will not change your situation and will only make it more difficult to practice other healthy habits. This might be a great time to avoid alcohol and instead make a switch to a healthier diet that make you feel more energized and optimistic about your situation.

Turn down the pressure. Take some time to minimize expectations and resist the temptation to put too much pressure on yourself to find a new job or make a decision about a career path. It can be difficult to make clear-headed decisions when we feel under pressure. Implement a daily practice of calm breathing, meditation, prayer, and positive affirmations to quiet the voices in your head, reduce the pressure, and set aside expectations.

When you develop habits of self-care—deepening your friendships, getting adequate sleep and exercise, eating well, and developing positive thinking patterns—you’ll be better equipped to handle a period of unemployment or under-employment.

5 Things to Do When You're Unemployed

There can be nothing more discouraging and disheartening than long periods of unemployment and it can be easy to sink into a malaise and do very little. Before you know it, months have passed and you've made little progress toward obtaining a new job.

Below are five things you can do to make the time during your unemployment more profitable for you in the long run.

1. Get clear about your strengths. Develop a focused understanding about what your strengths and skills are. Be able to concisely state what it is you would bring to an employer. If you're not sure, speak with an employment counselor or read some work by Marcus Buckingham to help you assess your strengths.

2. Stay social. It can be tempting to withdraw and isolate from others during a time of prolonged unemployment but be sure to maintain your friendships and attend social gatherings. Your friends can help you stay motivated, and can even provide leads to job opportunities.

3. Learn something new. You might not be able to afford to take a class while you're unemployed but there are many free classes available online, or through your local library. Speaking of libraries, reading a book can be a great way to acquire some new knowledge or understanding.

4. Set a schedule. Live as if you were working. Don't allow yourself to simply sleep in and watch TV throughout the day. Set an alarm and get up at a reasonable time, get in some movement or exercise, and plan some time for job searching or career development every day.

5. Stay positive. Finally, work at remaining positive. You can do this through a daily meditation practice and by surrounding yourself with uplifting media, messages, and friends throughout the day. An optimistic attitude will help you negotiate the difficulties of an extended period of unemployment.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 6 Happiness Tips to Boost Your Health and Performance

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 6 Happiness Tips to Boost Your Health and Performance: "A key habit we developed in daily meetings was to have each team member say what someone else had done to help them that day. Expressing gratitude helped to bring the team together and make everyone happier and healthier."
• 17 Simple Habits That Make You Look More Professional: "Taking risks, and going against the grain is part of growing. Being willing to challenge yourself shows others that you are serious about growth."
• 17 Ways to Get Along, Especially When Negotiating: "Look to their positive intent, especially when they appear to have none, and you are more likely to eventually bring out their more positive side."
• How to Stand Up For Yourself: "Learning to assert yourself starts by understanding that you are not trying to control what other people do, but rather you’re controlling your own actions."
• 5 Smart Things to Do When You're Unemployed: "Volunteering for a charity or local community organization can be a great way to keep your skills up to date or help you learn new ones, expose you to new fields and give you something to put on your resume for this time period."

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Simple Steps to Get Started with a Budget

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The Forbes video below identifies some simple steps to help you get started with a budget. Whether you're unemployed, under-employed, or retired, these steps can help you gain better control over your finances and live a more stress-free. Identify what your motivation is for budgeting and follow the additional tips in the video.

3 Financial Tips for the Under- or Unemployed

If you are currently out of work or working part-time and struggling to make ends meet while looking for full-time work it can be difficult to take the time for yourself to develop a financial plan.

Of course, it is critical to make good financial decisions when funds are tight.

Here are 3 tips to make your money stretch further during a time of un- or under-employment:

1. Look around your place for extra money. No, I don't mean check under your couch cushions, though feel free to do so! You likely have some things that you no longer need or want that might be of interest to others. Have a yard sale or offer items up on craigslist or ebay. If you have cds or dvds to sell use a service such as decluttr to make a little extra money. There are also many places to sell your used books online. 

2. Evaluate your bills and monthly expenses. Do you need that smart phone or can you

get by with a simpler phone for calls and texting? What about cable and internet service? Perhaps you can use the internet at your local library for a few months. Check out MyRatePlan to compare services and rates for everything from home internet to insurance.

3. Make your meals and drive less. Two of the biggest expenses individuals and families incur relate to eating out at restaurants, grabbing expensive coffees, and driving. You can reduce your expenses by making more of your own meals, brewing your own cup of coffee, taking public transit, or walking & biking when and where possible.

Implement these 3 tips and you just might find that you appreciate owning fewer things, can manage without the cable TV, and enjoy walking or biking more, even when you do get that new job.  

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: The Most Important Career Decision You'll Make

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• The Most Important Career Decision You'll Make: "If you're at a career crossroads and considering whether to leave your job this year, your fulfillment rests on one decision."


• 4 Ways to Break Free from Being "Too Busy": "Make sure to not only carve out time for yourself, but to actually acknowledge that you’re on the “leisure clock.” Don’t multitask—enjoy the downtime."


• Career Advice for My Younger Self: "Recruiters get hundreds of applications from candidates with similar qualifications and experience. It's important to produce something a bit different to get noticed."


• 7 Resume Strategies for the Long-Term Unemployed: "Either in your resume or on your cover letter, address the fact that you've had a large employment gap and give it some context."


• 8 Ways to Stand Out on LinkedIn: "If you have good recommendations and other candidates they’ve found do not have any recommendations, who do you think they’ll call for an interview?"

Should You Take a "Filler" Job While You Wait to Land Something Better?

This week I have talked to two people who accepted what they referred to as filler jobs while they looked for a solid job in their career field. It just so happens that both of these people expressed regret at their decision.

You have probably heard people say that it is easier to find a job when you have a job. This may just be more than a cliche. Let's evaluate the positives and negatives of taking a filler job.

POSITIVES

• Of course, the biggest positive is the regular paycheck that comes your way. Only you know how much money you need to pay the bills. If the filler job helps you do that, it will alleviate some of your desperation that is certain to come across in your interviews.
• When you are employed, you are naturally out talking to professionals. You can network with vendors, suppliers, customers, clients, and possibly even competitors. This will increase your referral network and may just lead to other opportunities.
• Having a job - no matter the job - will help boost your confidence that may be waning during unemployment. You will gain the confidence in knowing how to be successful in landing a job and can carry yourself with pride knowing that an employer valued you enough to make you an offer.
• You may find an opportunity to move forward with that filler company. By nature, filler jobs are jobs for which we are overqualified. Your employer may see you excelling and offer you additional opportunities within the company.

NEGATIVES

• You will have less time to dedicate to active job searching. Be sure to plan and prioritize your job search efforts so that you can continue to pursue your goal of landing a job in your career field.
• You may get comfortable and get stuck in a rut. One of the people I mentioned took a filler job and found herself in the same place 9 years later. Don't lose sight of your end goal.
• Those filler jobs may just cost you more money than being unemployed. Another job seeker took a job in outside sales and was paying more in gas and car maintenance than he was making in the sales position. Do the math before accepting the job and make sure it is the right move for you.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!


1. Why You Need to Have Fun to Be Successful
"Once I started my business, I believed more than ever that there is a great job out there for all of us. That being said, it’s not always easy to find."


2. 5 Things to Do While You're Unemployed 
"Considering your career is a marathon, not a sprint, a class can bolster your technical skills and keep them sharp. It shows you’re serious about your industry and that you invest in yourself."


3. Graduates: Kick-Start Your Career in 3 Easy Steps
"If you're a new grad and need a job or want to upgrade from your position at the local coffee shop, here are three ways to kick-start your career."

4. 6 Ways a Career Coach Can Help Boost Your Career
"You want to think of a Career Coach just like a gymnastics or baseball coach.  They are there to help you develop your skills, give you feedback to “up your game” and help you to be the success you know you can be."


5. 30 Tips for a More Successful Job Interview 
"Pay attention to all of the senses that involve you, the candidate, as you prepare for your interview presentation: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch."