Issue #6 — Laid Off & Learning: One Month Later

Hey friend,

A few weeks ago we talked about what to do right after you get laid off.
This week? We're checking in at the one-month mark — that weird stretch of time where the adrenaline has worn off but the future still feels fuzzy.

It’s easy to feel like you should’ve “figured it out by now.”

But LaToya Zamill reminds us that sometimes, the real work starts after the noise fades.

✍️ REAL TALK: “I Was Doing Everything Right, But I Still Got Laid Off”

LaToya was laid off in January. One month later, she published a reflection that reads like it came straight from the collective layoff soul.

She did everything “right” those first few weeks:
✔️ Rebuilt her resume
✔️ Applied to 60+ jobs
✔️ Kept to a strict routine
✔️ Put on a brave face

But under the surface? Burnout.

It took three weeks before the tears finally came. That’s when something shifted.

She stopped cold applying.
Started walking.
Started journaling.
Started being honest — with herself.

And in that clarity, she realized this wasn't just about work. It was about standards.

Sometimes, the layoff isn’t the loss.
It’s the permission slip.

To stop shrinking.
To stop settling.
To stop being the “good employee” at the expense of your actual life.

🧠 LATOYA'S ONE-MONTH TAKEAWAYS

1. Feel it. Don’t fake it.
   Give yourself permission to fall apart a little. It's honest — and necessary.

2. Stop panic-applying.
   Cold applying rarely works. She switched to referrals and warm intros.

3. Protect your energy.
   Frantic motion isn’t progress. Job search with intention.

4. Make space to listen.
   Daily walks and journaling helped her reconnect with herself.

5. Untangle self-worth from your title.
   Her layoff helped her see how much her identity was tied to her job.

6. Raise your standards.
   This isn’t just about getting a job. It’s about finding one that fits you.

👉 Read the full post on Medium

🎯 THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: YOUR ONE-MONTH CHECK-IN

Even if it’s been 4 days or 4 months — take 10 minutes today and write down:

• What have I learned about myself since being laid off?

• What can I stop doing that’s not working?

• What small ritual helps me reset?

• What would make the next month different?

🧰 RESOURCES

• 🧘‍♀️ Stoic App — Journaling, mood tracking, emotional check-ins

• 🤝 The 2-Hour Job Search — For getting hired through relationships, not cold apps

• 📊 Let Go Weekly Job Tracker — Coming Soon

🔥 FUEL FOR THE WEEK

🙋‍♀️ HIRING FROM THE COMMUNITY

Coming soon! We’ll be sharing job leads from trusted folks once they start rolling in.
👉 Submit a lead →

💬 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

If you’ve recently been laid off and want visibility, we’d love to spotlight you.
👉 Fill out this short form →

📬 What’s Coming Next

In future issues, you’ll get:

• Layoff roundups

• Job leads from the community

• Templates + tools

• Survivor stories

• Mindset shifts

• Alternative income ideas

• And more quick wins like this one

This is just the beginning. We’re building something real here — together.

🌟 What I Want You to Remember

You are not behind.
You are not broken.
You are not alone.

This isn’t just about finding a job — it’s about finding you again.

Give yourself grace. The world asked too much for too long, and now you get to ask what you actually want.

One step, one breath, one small win at a time — that’s how we build something better.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.

— Win
Fellow layoff survivor, creator of Let Go Weekly