Unemployment can be a troubling and stressful time. With the uncertainty of what is to come next and absence of routine in your daily life, keeping the ‘get up and go’ attitude can become quite the struggle.
Whilst awaiting the next opportunity to come along there is one all-important tip to ensure you make the most of your free time, and that is TREAT YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT AS A JOB.
Staying in the working mindset is the one factor that will keep you motivated and focused until employment once again beckons. Here are a few tips to help you keep your mentality on track and make the most out of your ‘working’ day:
Set up a daily routine.
Setting up your home office like a normal 9-5 working day will work wonders for your mindset and keep your brain working in the way it would in an office environment.
Wake up. Get ready. Have breakfast. Start your job search no later than 9am. And then break for lunch and continue with your tasks until it’s time finish (again, no earlier than 5pm). As simple as that.
Set goals/ deadlines.
Keep your mind focussed by outlining specific targets.
Apply for a certain amount of jobs by a certain time or send a specific number of CV’s out by the end of the day. When you reach the deadline, evaluate your progress – did you achieve what you set out to?
If not, why not? Don’t allow yourself to miss targets because you are working in a different (and very often very distracting) environment.
Stay positive and reward yourself.
Staying positive in the time of unease will probably be the biggest challenge of all so be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for work well done.
Remember that every job application should be tailored to that role, so if you’ve filled out an application that really showcases what you can do, take note and feel proud. Acknowledging the small achievements will help you stay motivated, positive and get you that bit closer to your career goals.
Following these key points will help you through the tough time of unemployment and get you that one step closer to the job that is awaiting you. Stay focused, stick to a routine and you will be out of the job searching slump in no time.
