[jyl]

My company closed its doors in mid 2015. I first went in one direction on the job search, then after six months realized that wasn't the right direction, rethought it, and the redirected search bore fruit quickly. My time off was good. I spent a lot of time with my kids and my wife, was a big part of their lives in a way that I hadn't been for some time, got very relaxed . . . Of course looking for work wasn't all fun (only about 50% fun) and there were downs as well as ups, but in the end I look back at that period very fondly.

But it can go the other way. I have a good friend whose layoff hasn't had a good outcome, so far. He is too quick to tip over from realism to pessimism, lacks drive and self confidence, can't sell himself, but at the same time doesn't seem to be ready to take lesser work or re-invent himself . . . He's well over a year unemployed now, hasn't even gotten close on anything, and I don't think things are getting better.

Set yourself tasks and timetables, approach job hunting like a job, but appreciate that it isn't actually possible to spend more than half the "work day" looking for work - unless jobs are as plentiful as leaves on the trees in your field, there's just not that many leads to chase down - so use the rest of your time productively. Having fun is productive.