A Guide to Keeping Your Hopes Up During a Long Job Search

 

 Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

Searching for a job can be an extremely draining experience. At first, it seems simple to develop a cover letter and update your resume, but when a job search wears on, you can get pretty worn down. When a job search lasts for more than a month or two, this can become exceptionally true.

If you have been searching for a job for a while and are tired, feeling discouraged, and just want a break, it’s time to employ some rules that will help you to stop overextending yourself. Before engaging in a job search, it’s vital to take some time to develop good habits that will help you stay motivated and optimistic.

Remember that Job Seeking is Job Within Itself

Many people take for granted the amount of energy required to conduct a job search. Neither your mind nor your body are prepared for the activity. In order to become skilled at job searching, you’ve got to put yourself out there every single day, and get used to the idea of searching for a job as its own occupation. Like any other daily job, you may eventually get tired and bored with job searching. So give yourself breaks in between, and even give yourself room to adapt to your “learning curve.”

Take Care of Your Entire Self

You may be used to thinking of yourself as a “worker” and now that you’re out of work and searching for employment, you’re struggling to regroup. A job search can be a great time to get on-the-ball physically and mentally.

For instance, you might have been accustomed to physical activities before you started your last job, but let those die down as you traded them for hard days at work. Whether you’re into running, basketball, or something else, you now have the time to get back into your physical activity and improve your body. It’s also important to watch what you’re eating. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat, so develop a diet that will keep you lean and energetic, focusing on greens, fruits, and other high health menu items. Working out and eating right will revitalize every aspect of you, and you’ll feel much better.

On the emotional side of things, it’s good to pay attention to how you’re feeling during your job search. For emotional drain, which can be pretty taxing, keep a journal to help you stay focused and encouraged. To keep your mind calm during a stressful job search, try meditation, prayer, or even yoga.

Conducting a job search for a long period of time is definitely a tall order. It’s something you don’t want to take for granted because the wear and tear can drain you before you know it. This makes it important to watch all aspects of your health, so take occasional stock of how you’re doing physically, emotionally, and mentally. This will help to prepare you for not just the job search, but also interviews, and essentially your first day on your new job.

Author: Heather Eagar