Were you recently laid off from your job? Are you confused about where to go from here? Follow these five steps to emotional and financial freedom!

If you were just laid off, contact the unemployment office to begin receiving weekly checks. Then, rejoice! When was the last time you were able to sleep in an extra hour? Finish that project you started last year? Take your son or daughter to school? Walk the dog in the middle of the day? Finish going through the piles of paperwork in your office? The possibilities are endless. Consider this the mini-vacation you couldn't take when you were employed, and make sure to get the rest and relaxation you deserve!

Remember that hobby you had before you got hired two, five, ten or twenty years ago? The one you set aside because there was too much work to do? It's time to get back into it. Are you a photographer? An athlete? A fisherman at heart? Something else? Doing what you love clears your mind and opens up new possibilities. And people who do things they love lead longer, happier, healthier lives.

How much did you make at your job? If you were there for any amount of time, chances are, you deserve a lot more than what you made. Think about all the skills you've amassed over the years, as well as all the experience you gained. Then, create a new idea of what you should be getting every month. Be happy that you no longer have to accept low pay for your high-level skills and abilities.

After you get a little bit of mental rest, get refocused and take the steps necessary to secure your emotional freedom. Make a list of the things you enjoy, and then the things you never want to do again. Make a promise to yourself that you will learn from your experiences and never again accept a career that will take you away from what you really love, or force you to deal with things you despise.

Chances are, once you get some much-needed rest and actually take time to reflect on your previous life, you will find that staying home is a much nicer option than working for someone else and dealing with the commute, dress code, rules, micromanagement, and stress of yet another impending lay off. Take some time to research opportunities and find a business you can run from home, online. Consider what you love doing, and make sure this business will leave you with enough money and free time for it.