Give yourself a break. Take off the pressure. Panic won’t speed up the process of getting another job, if anything it will slow you down and get in your way. Be kind to yourself.

When you get made redundant you might jump straight into writing your CV, searching for jobs that match your previous job title, writing applications, but there are so many others things you should be focusing on. You aren't just getting a job. You are dealing with shock, you have to give yourself time to digest and reflect, you are dealing with yourself and yourself can be brutally unkind.

Mental health support is not often offered when you get made redundant. But that's exactly what’s needed. If you are lucky you might get help to do your CV, update your LinkedIn, find jobs to apply for. But what you really need is help with your mind and the stories it's telling you.

While you are trying to write all your greatest achievements and think of yourself as the best potential candidate you have voices in your head busily telling you that you aren't worthy and you lose your confidence.

We are programmed to believe that when you get made redundant, you brush up your CV, you get a new job. Done. We are encouraged to ‘be positive’ and move on quickly. But it's very far from a linear process. When you lose your job there is a world of emotions and feelings that need acknowledging and respected.

Losing your job is one of the most stressful moments of your life. Your mental health can take a huge hit as you suddenly have time to think, you are in panic, you are in shock. But at the exact moment that you are needing to keep yourself at mental peak fitness, you are struggling to keep yourself feeling good, feeling confident, feeling focused. The last thing you are wanting to do is go out and shout to the World how great you are.

It might feel counter intuitive but the best thing you can do when you first lose your job is nothing. Be kind to yourself. Ease off the pressure. Slow everything down. Give yourself time. Even if it's the first hour of the day, doing nothing, letting yourself rest, pause, meditate. It will clear space for better thinking, and more energy to focus on building your strength, thinking about what you want to do next, celebrating your achievements and landing that ideal job, not just any job.

Instead of scatter applying to any job that vaguely looks like something you could do, slow down, get focused, think of your ideal job, research it, find out about the employers. Put that energy and passion into creating an application you enjoy putting together, it will make you stand out from other applications. It won’t feel like a drag.

Maybe losing your job is time for you to do something completely different. Don't dismiss losing your job as ‘not the right time’ to do something different. It’s exactly the right time to follow those thoughts. Get in touch with people who already do what you are thinking. Ask questions, share your thoughts. Being vulnerable, sharing where you are, asking questions will help support you and reassure you that you are not alone.

When you lose your job you need to prioritise you for the good of everyone. Being kind to yourself will help you move on faster. It’s not an indulgence, it's a necessity. Keeping mentally fit and healthy puts you in the space to get exactly the next move you want.

If you’ve just lost your job your first task is to acknowledge your feelings. It’s ok to have many different emotions. Be kind to yourself, feel good about yourself, and your next move will be an enjoyable experience.