What I Learned from Unemployment

By McKenna Sweeney

Unemployment is often seen as disappointing—or even embarrassing. I know this because I am currently unemployed. When I got laid off, I cried for two whole days, and you probably would have thought I lost a loved one. I was down bad. Cue Taylor Swift, because yes, I was absolutely crying in the gym.

That feeling of embarrassment and uncertainty about the future was heavy—and honestly, it still is at times. I’m fresh out of college, just starting to find my groove in the 9–5 workplace with coworkers I genuinely enjoyed being around. I was being told almost daily by my boss how well I was doing, only to have the rug pulled out from under me.

For the first time in my life, I found myself without a job—and with a lot of time to sit with what that really meant. This season challenged my confidence, my patience, and the way I define success. It taught me lessons I never learned in college, internships, or leadership roles. Lessons I didn’t ask for, but ones I know will stay with me.

So instead of letting unemployment exist only as something unwanted, I want to reframe the narrative. Here are some of the positive outcomes and lessons this season has given me—even when it hasn’t felt positive in the moment.

Redirection Instead of Rejection

Losing a job felt like failure at first. But with time and reflection, I realized it wasn’t rejection—it was redirection. Being forced to pause allowed me to question whether the path I was on was truly aligned with the kind of work and environment I want long term.

Unemployment interrupted autopilot and gave me space to reassess what actually fits me, not just what looks good on paper.

Mental Health Recovery and Healing

Burnout doesn’t magically disappear once a job ends—but unemployment gave me the time and space to actually address it. Without the constant pressure to perform or prove myself, I could focus on emotional stability, healthier routines, and mental recovery.

This season reminded me that mental health is not something to sacrifice for productivity—and that healing is still progress.

Rest Without Guilt

Rest felt uncomfortable at first. In a culture that glorifies busyness, slowing down felt wrong—especially without a job.

But I learned that rest isn’t laziness. It’s necessary. Giving myself permission to slow down helped me think more clearly, regain energy, and approach my next steps with intention rather than desperation.

Time for Hobbies, Curiosity, and Creativity

Unemployment gave me something I rarely had before: time.

Time to revisit hobbies I had pushed aside. Time to explore interests without turning them into side hustles. Some of these things were simply joyful, while others revealed skills and passions that connect directly to the kind of work I want to pursue.

Hobbies aren’t distractions from your career—they’re often clues to what fulfills you.

Rediscovering Passion Within Work

Without a job title to define me, I had to rethink what fulfillment actually looks like. This season helped me separate what I genuinely enjoy doing from what I felt pressured to pursue.

Unemployment clarified my values, my boundaries, and the kind of work environment I want moving forward. It helped me reconnect with passion—not just in life, but within the work I choose next.

Final Thoughts

Unemployment is not easy, and it’s not something I would have chosen—but it hasn’t been empty.

It has been a season of redirection, healing, rest, and rediscovery. A chapter that doesn’t define my worth but is quietly shaping the way I move forward.

If you’re in a similar place, know this: you’re not behind. You’re learning, recalibrating, and becoming more intentional—and sometimes, that’s exactly what growth looks like.