The Hunt Blog

If you’ve been on the hunt for a job for longer than six months, it’s very possible you’re feeling more stressed than when you began your job search.

Your financial situation may feel more precarious. You may be burnt out from receiving rejection notices and getting ghosted by recruiters. Your focus and motivation might be waning. Maybe you’re becoming fearful you’ll never find a job. It’s a lot to handle. Perhaps you’re losing the very energy and momentum you need to persevere in the pursuit of employment. 

If your job search is taking far longer than you ever imagined and you’re feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically drained, it’s essential to reclaim control and commit to taking extra good care of yourself so that you can keep putting your best self forward.

Here are three ways job seekers like you can stay healthy, resilient, motivated, and energized while navigating the ups and downs of the job search.

Take a Fitness Break

At least twice a day take the time to move your body, even if it’s for a short 15 minute break.

• Take a bike ride around the neighborhood and feel the sun and breeze on your face.
• Walk around the block, notice your surroundings, and identify the details – the neighbor’s rose garden, the blue sky above, the sounds of birdsong.
• Watch a free online yoga video and complete a simple yoga practice. Yoga With Adriene on YouTube offers wonderful 15 minute routines that are easy to fit into your day.
• Stretch your neck, back, arms, and hamstrings to prevent pain and stiffness and to mitigate the effects of sitting hunched over a computer for hours. You can find all kinds of desk stretches online. 

Calm Your Mind 

Use the power of breathing and visualization to focus on the present moment and reduce stress.

• Download an app like Insight Timer and complete a guided meditation session. All you need to do is relax, breathe, and listen to the guidance. Your mind chatter will calm down and your body will let go of stress and tension.

• Practice belly breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, to ease anxiety. Slow, deep belly breathing engages the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. It activates the vagus nerve which runs from the lower part of the brain, through the neck, chest, and stomach, and down to the large intestines. When the vagus nerve is activated through belly breathing, it triggers the body’s relaxation response. The key to belly breathing is allowing your belly to fully expand while slowly inhaling, and to fully contract when exhaling. You’ll temporarily look like you have a big ol’ beer belly and it’s going to feel great.

Shift Your Mindset

There are times when it feels like finding gainful employment is out of your control. You may feel your success is at the whim of uncaring recruiters and hiring managers. In these difficult moments, remember that you always have the power to shift how you’re thinking about the situation.

One of the easiest ways to shift your mindset is by reframing the problem and gaining a more empowering perspective by repeating positive affirmations. You can rewire your brain and shift your relationship to job search stress by intentionally affirming the optimistic mindset you desire to feel and stating the affirmation in the present tense as if it’s already true. 

After calming your mind through guided meditation and belly breathing, take a few moments to state positive affirmations such as the following. You’ll be amazed how much more grounded, centered. motivated, and safe you feel. 

• I am enough.
• I can do hard things well. 
• I was created for a time such as this.
• If I keep showing up, life will reward me.
• No matter what happens today I can face it. 
• The best opportunity for me is arriving soon.
• I expect everything to work out well for me today.
• I calmly navigate every moment with grace and ease.
• I am worthy and deserving of an amazing and fulfilling career.
• Every day I am doing my best and my best looks different every day.
• I offer so much value to the world. I have something important to contribute.
• This period of unemployment in my life is just a small blip on my long career path.

Remember that your experience of extended unemployment is not a hopeless situation. You have the power to thrive during your job search journey. Prioritize your well-being, strengthen your resilience, and stay the course. Your new job is right around the corner.