If you are a new grad trying to break into your first role, or someone who has lost their job because a company tried to have AI replace your work, it might feel particularly dire right now. You may be wondering if you need to make an entire career pivot, or if the degree you just got was worth the cost.

“The Upside of Being Laid Off? Ok, whoever wrote this article must be a paid actor for my old company.” Or maybe you aren’t thinking exactly that, but something to that effect when you read the title of this article. I get it. Trying to put a positive spin on something that upends your entire life sounds like a corporate HR manager putting a happy spin on awful news that you know is BS.

Sometime in late 2020, I found myself becoming more and more frustrated with looking through my social media feeds. Here I was, stuck at home after having to cancel multiple international trips that year (that darn Coronavirus), while looking at a feed filled with influencers who were still taking lavish vacations that apparently ignored every social distancing rule. I was beyond irritated. I was scrolling through my phone trying to understand why I was out all of this money

If you have landed on this article, chances are you are grappling with a pretty major decision right now: To vacation or not to vacation: that is the question. You have everything planned out. Hotels confirmed, flights booked, and you (or you and your family) are already jazzed about getting out of town for a little while. Then the worst happens. You get the dreaded layoff call.

Not to mention, I had worked my way up and spent the last 10 years learning the ins and outs of everything we did. I couldn't seriously be thinking of throwing all of that effort away to start somewhere new, could I? In the end, I did make the leap. And now, looking back, it was the best decision I have made for my career, as I went to a company with a positive growth outlook that is actually serious about investing in an employee's career growth.

I will admit it: I love to spend money. If I am bored and out and about in a city, I might start ducking into local shops to see if there is anything I “need” inside. If I hear anyone throw out the word “happy hour,” I am the first to ask when we are going. This desire to spend money to have fun is not actually a problem in some cases (experiences over things, for example), but it becomes a lot more difficult when there is no longer an inflow of money to speak of.