Staying Healthy During Your Job Hunt

Whether you are out of work or actively looking to make a change, finding an exciting opportunity that will bring about both career satisfaction and a better quality of life is a worthy and attainable goal. 

The importance of prioritizing your personal wellness and mental health at any point in your life should be a constant, especially so when you’re on the hunt for a new job. 

That being said, managing burnout while maintaining your well-being is not always easy, especially when you are coping with very real concerns about being unemployed or underemployed, paying your bills, caring for your family, navigating complex interview processes and anything else life may throw at you. Furthermore, as a country, we are still coping with a pandemic, an economic crisis and a racial justice crisis. 

It might seem daunting, but there are several things you can do to stay positive, healthy and on track during this time. 

Set a schedule and embrace the comfort of routine. 

It is much less stressful to look for work when you plan ahead for the time that you’ll spend researching opportunities, sending out applications, following up and interviewing. Decide on your job-hunting hours. Two to three consecutive hours a day on weekdays is ideal for an active search. 

As if you were going to work, do the things you would typically do in the morning. Think about setting an alarm and waking up at a specific time, having a healthy breakfast, doing a light workout, taking a shower and getting dressed. Afterward, go online for your designated job search and networking hours. The routine will help you to feel less overwhelmed and more in control.

Create a calm and functional place to work. 

It is difficult to work in a disorganized space, so it helps to reimagine your desk space or work area at home while you’re looking for a new job. Minimize clutter in your workstation, play relaxing music and you’ll probably find that your mental load feels a bit lighter. 

Sometimes, it helps not to sit in the same place every day. Monotony can feel unnatural and simple tasks will become tedious. Try working at the kitchen table one day, and your desk another day, as long as it is comfortable and ergonomic for you. 

Take some guilt-free time to do something you enjoy. 

Part of self-care is being true to yourself. A job search might feel like a 24/7 enterprise, so never feel guilty about spending some of the day doing what you love. Read that novel you’ve been meaning to get around to. Sign up for a class on a topic that brings you pleasure. A new hobby might even serve as an interesting icebreaker in an interview. 

Explore new and healthy coping mechanisms, such as meditation, exercise, gardening, or even journaling. Maintain perspective and pace yourself, and do a little something daily that is just for you. Your job search won’t last forever, even if it does take time to land something great.

Talk to someone. 

Mental health and overall well-being can be challenging at the best of times, so if you find yourself hitting a limit, then reach out to someone. There are less opportunities for socialization in general when you are out of work. Having someone to speak to, whether they are a mentor, therapist or friend, can go a long way toward feeling less lonely and isolated. 

If you choose to go the route of a professional, many therapists offer sliding-scale payment options, which is helpful if your insurance coverage has lapsed. Asking for help to navigate complex emotions is a positive and constructive way to practice self-care. 

You are more than your job, even if your profession is a large part of your personal identify. You aren’t alone. There is so much research out there about the impact of unemployment on mental and emotional health. Be kind to yourself and celebrate the small successes of each day, because they matter, and so do you.