Staying positive (and sane) while job searching
I hate to tell you this, but February 28, 2009 will mark my one year anneversary of being an unemployed chump. Sure, I had a temp gig for 4 (excruciating) months, but that doesn't count.
Staying positive (and sane) during a year-long-plus job search is not for the faint of heart. Here are some things I have found helpful:
Keep a schedule
Honestly, keeping a semi-normal schedule does a lot for the anxiety riddled job seeker. It makes you feel like you're in control of something while your life is actually somewhat spinning out of control. I wake up 8am-ish and go to bed 930pm-ish. I go to the gym every other morning. I check my mail box at 5pm. I brush and then floss. You get the idea.
Read, or something
I love to read books, so I'm biased. If you don't like to read, insert another relatively low cost hobby here. Knit, make bathtub gin, garden, draw, do crossword puzzles, yell at kids to get off your lawn. Do something that doesn't involve the computer (since I know you are on it all day....aren't you?). Do something to occupy yourself and get your mind off your joblessness.
Laugh, everyday
Laughing keeps your mood up, is infectious and is a mini-workout for your lungs. I recommend several doses of the ETrade Baby, daily.
Exercise
I know you hate hearing this (as I did after 10 years of being gym-free) but exercise really does make you feel better physically and mentally. I go to the gym every other day, crank up Rage Against the Machine on the iPod and go nuts on the eliptical. Then I do some treadmillin' and some stretching. I feel like a (schweaty) million bucks afterward. Plus it helps me sleep better, makes me crave healthy (well, healthier) food and decreases my feelings of OH MY GOD I'M BROKE AND UNEMPLOYED GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Repeat after me
You will find another job. You will not die because you are unemployed (hopefully). Eventually, somewhere, some way, somehow, you WILL find another job. It may not be the perfect job. The perfect job probably doesn't even exist. But you will find something, and you will be just fine.
15 comments:
Mmm...bathtub gin
Hey Lance you sound a little like Homer Simpson in that comment ;)
Aww. I feel for you! Keep your eye out for another temp job to fill the time. I know there's more and part-time jobs available in HR around here now since they laid off their full-time HR staff.
I echo Lance's comment, I am intrigued with the thought of bathtub gin...
First off - If I made bathtub gin in my free time, I'd be drunk, all the time. :-)
Thanks for posting this. I've been having a hard time since my hours got cut in half and my husband is also out of a job. I definitely agree with the advice about staying busy. Good luck and hang in there!
Great advice! Staying positive and busy is so important. You have to take care of yourself too! (big hug!)
Great advice. I especially like your comment about exercise. It's true that just a little bit of activity can make a big difference.
You've hit the nail right on the head with this one. Staying busy, keeping something of a schedule... my house is clean. Like, really clean, all the time. No, it's not the most fun thing in the world, but it helps in dealing with all the other stuff when there aren't piles of mail or laundry stacking up.
Bathtub gin is intriguing. I need to share the pineapple vodka recipe one day.
I would not have guessed that you'd been unemployed that long--you really have a great attitude.
I have finally broken down and started exercising. Although I made avoiding gym class a sport in itself in school, I have to admit that it is helping. I did incur some non-budgeted expenses, though, on Advil and heating pads.
Rachel - I'm actually tempted to start applying for non-HR jobs at this point as well.
Steve - Anything made in a bathtub kind of worries me, akshully.
Rachel - Good luck to you, too my dear.
Minion - I needed that hug!
Sharlyn - What amazes me are how many people are at the gym mid morning on weekdays...
Kelly - With 3 indoor cats my house is never as clean as I would like...oh well :)
Kerry - It's a facade. I'm actually totally freaking out but if you can't make it, fake it, right?
As usual, I don't have any life-changing tips for you, so I'll just send a double-mega-bonus-incentive-whatever-hug through the optical fiber cables connecting our continents.
You'll be alright.
That's something every idiot says in every stupid movie. But in your case, I'm sure it's true.
Thanks, Happy. Hugs always help ;)
Hi HR Wench!
I ditto all the comments and think it is wonderful that you've got a good attitude.
I'm curious...do you have any hobby careers going on right now? I'd love to know if you are dabbling in anything since you have the time.
JT
JT - My only hobby career is being a kitteh-mom. Akshully, I'm a volunteer CASA (court appointed special advocate for foster children). That's kind of a hobby career, I guess.
Changing jobs is often seen as a stressful and daunting task; however properly executed it can be an exciting and challenging experience. You can enlist your family’s help. Spouses can assist with editing and addressing envelopes and children can help with Googling research and figuring out how to use online databases. This is a bit of work, but it’s the quickest way to effect executive job change, while simultaneously conducting due diligence on your career and marketability.
Post a Comment