The 72-Hour Guide
Step by step, hour by hour.
You don't need to figure everything out right now. You just need to know what to do next.
Hours 0–8
Breathe. Don’t make big decisions.
- —Feel whatever you’re feeling. Anger, relief, panic, numbness — all of it is valid.
- —Do NOT send that email. Do not post on LinkedIn. Do not call your boss back to negotiate. Not yet.
- —Tell one person you trust. Not for advice — just to not be alone with it.
- —Eat something. Drink water. If you can, go outside for 10 minutes.
- —Write down the facts: last day, severance terms, health coverage end date, any documents you were given.
Hours 8–24
The paperwork. Your rights. Who to call.
- —Review your termination letter or email carefully. Note any deadlines.
- —File for unemployment benefits — do this early, there’s often a waiting period.
- —Check your health insurance: COBRA deadlines, marketplace options, partner’s plan.
- —If you have stock options or RSUs, note your exercise window — it may be shorter than you think.
- —Save any work contacts, references, or portfolio pieces you need. Access gets cut fast.
- —If anything feels wrong or illegal about your termination, write it down now. Talk to a labor attorney within the week.
Hours 24–72
First strategic thinking. But gently.
- —Calculate your runway: savings, severance, unemployment — how many months can you sustain this?
- —Make a list of 5 people who might be useful to talk to. Not to ask for a job — to ask for perspective.
- —Resist the urge to update your resume right now. Your story needs processing before packaging.
- —Start noticing what you feel relief about. That’s data — it tells you what you didn’t want to keep doing.
- —If you’re ready, come back here and talk to Athena. She’ll help you think through what comes next.
This guide is not legal or financial advice. It's a framework for the first 72 hours — built by someone who cares.