Work on Feeling Good Without Working

by Editorial Board on February 5, 2014 · 0 comments

in Uncategorized,Health & Wellness,Living with a Disability

When Social Security Disability benefits replace the income you had from a job, stop and assess how you feel about not working. While you continue to provide for your family in a different way, you may still feel dissatisfied about life without a job.

A lot of us determine our self-worth by our ability to take care of our families through the work we do. When a disability comes along and you can’t work, you may begin to feel down because you think you’re no longer able to provide for others.

Working isn’t the only way to provide for your family. Filing for and getting Social Security Disability benefits could also give you a monthly income that financially supports your family.

Work satisfaction comes in many forms: From doing a good job, from public recognition or praise from the boss, from being depended on for answers, from the camaraderie of the workplace itself.

You can still seek out this type of gratification in other areas of your life while on Social Security Disability benefits. Here are a few ideas on how to apply your expertise and life experience to get personal gratification in return.

Help those you know
Do you have a student in your household or extended family who could benefit from your advice or tutoring? What about a friend or family member with a small business who can benefit from your experience? You don’t have to do these types of activities often for them to be of great value to others. Being appreciated for the help you’re giving can be just as rewarding as traditional workplace recognition.

Volunteer in the community
Volunteer opportunities are often set up for people who can only do tasks for a few hours a week. Volunteering experiences vary from churches to hospitals to museums – and the environment may be similar to what your job was. Typically you’ll be able to put in as much time as you can handle, and you’ll often find it’s as rewarding as your paid position.

Organizational work
Join clubs or organizations that line up with your interests. After a while, you’ll learn how the group is run and you may consider taking a leadership role. Groups are usually run by an elected or appointed board, and typically the workload for board members is just a few hours a month. This type of work is similar to volunteering, and the work is very much like working in a business. Your participation in the organization as a member, in addition to your leadership position within the group, can be a rewarding experience.

Know your limitations
Your work was a constant element and large part of your life, and although you can no longer work, or even do full time work substitutes, you can do other things within your limitations. You can still find the good feelings, gratification, and sense of accomplishment you got from work through alternate activities. And when you regularly schedule these activities you’re your life, you’ll find a new way to feel valued, driven, and happy.

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