There is an old adage that "Looking for a job is harder than working." How true! The rigors of job search are magnified by the turmoil we experience: lack of self-confidence, humiliation, financial pressure, and the undercurrent of emotions that color all we do: fear, anger, depression, anxiety, loss.
One practical step we can take to lower the stress and conserve our energy for finding work, not feeding our bloated worries, is to manage our time effectively. Have you ever noticed that you get more chores done when you're busy? If time is limited, we squeeze in those extra demands because we know they have to get done by a deadline and we fear putting them off. When time is unlimited, such as when you take a few days off work, there is no pressure to rush-"I've got four days, I'll do it tomorrow." Suddenly, you are back at work and realize that you didn't accomplish half of what you had planned.
This lack of structure is magnified when you are unemployed. There is no pressure to get up, get dressed, get out of the house by a specific time. We know we have things to do. We need to update our resume, create some new cover letters, research some possible job openings. It is so hard to get started because we hate having to do it, we don't feel creative or excited about the whole prospect, and we dread having to go through the horrors of interviewing. We procrastinate, telling ourselves that when we are ready, it will just "flow." For a few hours, a few days, we'll just indulge ourselves and relax. When the end of the month arrives and we compare our diminishing bank balance to our multiplying bills, we mentally beat ourselves up for not having accomplished what we had so earnestly intended. Now we generate our own pressure, magnified by guilt and self-reproach. Stress levels and blood pressure rise. We feel resentful, angry, depressed. "I didn't ask to get into this situation. It's unfair. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it."
Adopting a reasonable schedule can avoid reaching this point. Try these ideas:
1. Take a day to do nothing but plan out what you are going to do, and when.
2. Concentrate on not over-committing yourself. You may be used to working 8 or more hours per day and think that is what you will now spend on job search. Remember that adage: your hunt for work is a lot more difficult than simply walking into a familiar employer and pursuing your daily routine. Recognize that and limit your job hunting to fewer hours per day.
3. If you rigorously limit your job hunt-related activities to 4 hours per day to start (you can always increase later), you may find yourself forced to stop before you are ready. This creates the impetus to get you going the following day -- you can hardly wait to get back to what you are working on.
4. When your "work time" is over, stop. Consciously focus your attention on relaxing: take a walk, read a book, throw a ball, watch television, whatever pleases you. You will be able to relax because you know you completed exactly what you planned. The guilt, and the sense of "I should have, I should be" no longer exist and you are free, for a short time anyway, to do anything you want.
5. Identify your priorities by looking at what day of the week is best for each kind of activity. If you are searching the classifieds, Sunday is the premium time to do it. If you are networking or cold calling, concentrate on the morning weekday hours. Agency visits, whether for temporary work or head hunting, can be relegated to the afternoons when employers are difficult to reach and already fatigued.
6. Analyze your own daily energy patterns and put them to work for you. Make sure that during your high energy periods you are "out there," contacting people and presenting yourself. Use your low energy times for solitary, mundane tasks: researching companies and jobs, organizing your paperwork, planning your next day's activities.
The inevitable stress of unemployment and job search can never be totally eliminated, but managing your time and being gentle with yourself can turn a painful situation into simply an uncomfortable nuisance.
Virginia Bola operated a rehabilitation company for 20 years, developing innovative job search techniques for disabled workers, while serving as a respected Vocational Expert in Administrative, Civil and Workers' Compensation Courts. Author of an interactive and emotionally supportive workbook, The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual, and a monthly ezine, The Worker's Edge, she can be reached at http://www.virginiabola.com
The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't... Read More
Making Your Future Work Better For YouIt's the commonest concern... Read More
The right certification trainingTrainings vary a lot when it comes... Read More
Going through the motions of a bad interview is like... Read More
There is more attitude around than the 'traditional 'positive /... Read More
Many years ago, when I was a young job-searching greenhorn,... Read More
The rapid growth of technology, greater exposure to knowledge, higher... Read More
Going for a job interview can be a harrowing experience.... Read More
Older job hunters fear interviews where their age cannot be... Read More
Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas by Simon Tupman is a... Read More
Q. I hate my job as a computer consultant. I... Read More
Applying for work is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Even... Read More
Set the stage for fantastic job fair follow-up while you... Read More
I am going to give you a breakdown of my... Read More
Imagine a huge river that has been flowing for centuries:... Read More
You probably think you deserve a raise. But does your... Read More
When a client asks me if I think he or... Read More
In one short week, the axe fell at a number... Read More
Purpose: Learn about the new Polygraph for management hiresHis heart... Read More
Passion comes in many forms. I'm focused on the version... Read More
You have obtained an interview -- congratulations! You feel prepared... Read More
As a human resources specialist for many years, I've seen... Read More
How many times have you been asked, "What is your... Read More
It's okay to take your job seriously, to be a... Read More
Several times a year, I hear someone complain about the... Read More
According to statistics one out of every five pregnant women... Read More
TIP: Update your resume often. Be sure to add details... Read More
During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you... Read More
Think you have the speed, endurance, and know-how to fix... Read More
Has this ever happened to you: You have been working... Read More
In a day of background checks, pre-employment drug screening and... Read More
Psychological Testing has become rampant across industries, more so in... Read More
The Super Bowl is a game but, like sports in... Read More
The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. Much time and... Read More
1. You dread getting out of bed and going to... Read More
When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important... Read More
Being dissatisfied with your job is a cycle, a very... Read More
Recently I was asked to touch up a friend's resume.... Read More
You've looked at all the job interview tips and techniques.... Read More
Anyone who is a jobseeker knows that looking for a... Read More
Sometimes missing a critical meeting just can't be helped. Despite... Read More
You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur... Read More
Some people reserve the word "vocation" for religious calling. Contemporary... Read More
Thinking of a career as a proofreader? Then you will... Read More
Dubai is home to an exciting, diverse, multi-cultural blend of... Read More
Excerpt of Death By Workers' Compensation"The Bleeding Rose"In this Excerpt... Read More
Bringing your emotional baggage into the work place is inappropriate... Read More
As you know too well ~ many jobs have been... Read More
For the person crafting their first résumé the task can... Read More
If you are working for someone else, it is important... Read More
As many law enforcement candidates can vouch for, taking the... Read More
Your job is to rise ABOVE the challenge. Do more... Read More
Most of us have to work for a living. Since... Read More
Let me introduce you to Ben. He made it happenBen... Read More
For those who are fluent in another language, foreign language... Read More
As a former human resources professional it has always intrigued... Read More
Good News for Employers wishing to change the terms of... Read More
A part of you can't wait to dive into your... Read More
You've just been granted an on-site interview in another town.... Read More
There are definitely things that you can do to avoid... Read More
Are you thinking about switching careers? If you are, you're... Read More
I wanted to quit my job. So I decided to... Read More
According to the National Gardening Association, suckers are rapidly growing... Read More
Have you been spending money on countless job boards, only... Read More
1. Employee Backdrop in AustraliaThe whole arena of Industrial Relations... Read More
About four years ago a friend told me one night... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |