If you are feeling stressed during your job search process, you are not alone. Job search-induced anxiety is real, and it is important to acknowledge it. While there are tons of ways you can relieve stress, I will provide a few that worked for me.
With the job search process being so inconsistent and often lengthy, it is easy to burn out quickly. To avoid this, consider setting up a routine. In your schedule, include essential things you have to get done, such as doing laundry, walking your dog, applying to a few jobs, etc. But also don’t forget to include things that make you happy. For me, it was trying new baking recipes and DIYing.
Let’s face it, the job search process can get lonely. When I was looking for a job, it’s been difficult for me to stay connected, especially during the pandemic. However, I did find comfort in finding strangers that felt the same way I did. Specifically, for me, it was the Twitter community. Something about reading other people trying to cope with this long and exhausting process made me feel better. Such as this tweet that I felt like spoke directly to me:
I ALREADY UPLOADED MY RESUME WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME FILL OUT MY EMPLOYMENT HISTORY pic.twitter.com/iAINbYXx7L
— I hope this is satire… (@sablaah) August 3, 2021
Trying to find a job is frustrating. Applying to hundreds of jobs and receiving nothing in return is an awful experience. It’s so bad that sometimes you want to scream out loud. Well, that isn’t a bad idea. In fact, my colleague once shared that she actually screamed into the abyss once. Yeah, a full-blown yell! A couple of seconds of screaming can lift weeks-worth of stress. So next time you want to relieve stress, consider this method. Just don’t scream at a person because that wouldn’t be nice :).
Don’t forget to treat yourself for the hard work you’ve been putting into the job search process. Even though sometimes it might not seem like you’ve made a lot of progress since you first started looking for a job, believe me, you have. Celebrating small wins can help you to stay motivated.
Staying busy during the job search process can help you to stay on track. Take the free time you now have to develop new skills. And guess what, this is something you can actually talk about during your interview. The fact that you’ve gone out of your way to learn something new shows the employer that you are ready to dive right into your new job.
Staying positive is a task of its own when you are going through such a stressful and challenging time. I hope you will consider trying these self-care tips next time you feel stressed. Remember, you got this!
Try an easier way. With Wavely, you chat with companies instead of applying.
Match. Chat. Get Hired. Yeah, it’s that simple.
Kate is a passionate digital marketer, who loves to connect with people in a creative way. She is a firm believer in diversity and the importance of being yourself. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with friends, and all the other basic hobbies you've heard of before.