21 Ways to Deal with Job Search Depression
Alice Tutunjian
Searching for a new job can be a very daunting, lonely and an emotionally exhausting experience.
When the search lasts a few weeks to a month, the process can be bearable. If, however, the search takes more than a few months to a year or more, especially when the job market is weak, the experience can be downright depressing and frustrating.
When you consider that the unemployed individual does not have a steady income or benefits, and is rejected by companies, does not hear back from hiring managers, the experience leaves one feeling completely empty.
Following are some ways to keep motivated and mentally healthy while on the job search:
1) Maintain a very healthy diet (a poor diet will deplete you of energy and stamina). Cut all junk food, sweets and stick with good proteins, veggies and fruits. And drink plenty of water.
2) Incorporate exercise into your daily routine, such as walking, jogging, or biking first thing in the morning before you embark on your search, or after dinner as a reward for working hard all day; better yet, invite a (positive) friend to exercise with you
3) Limit your exposure to NEGATIVITY whether in the form of other people, news, social media, movies, etc.
4) Get organized and create a daily routine/schedule and stick to the schedule
5) Go to a public place to work, perhaps a local coffee shop so that you don’t feel alone. If you like a quiet environment, use a local library where you can conduct your job search. You can also ask a family member or friend if you can temporarily use their office space for an allocated number of hours per day. (Being home alone day after day can have its toll)
6) Every person you meet, let him/her know that you are seeking employment and ask for their help
7) Listen to classical music or anything that puts you in a good mood
8) Talk to your yourself every day, reminding yourself that “this too shall pass”
9) Create a vision board of what your next job will look like, use both words and pictures to describe(be very specific)
10) Sustain the belief that you are very “hire-able”
11) Consider taking classes, watching online videos or attending workshops on variety of topics such as interviewing skills, resume writing, there’s always something to be learned
12) Create a support group of people who can provide guidance or job leads. Keep in touch with them on a consistent basis
13) Perhaps you have an unemployed friend or colleague with whom you can conduct the job search (Caution: some people prefer to whine instead of work, so be careful who you choose and make sure you hold each other accountable)
14) Ask people who are really good at interviewing to conduct a mock interview with you and provide constructive feedback
15) If time allows, consider volunteering a couple of hours a week. Often in helping others, we forget our own problems. Moreover, volunteer work provides great networking opportunities
16) Attend local events where you can meet business people and make connections
17) Reach out to family and friends and keep reminding them that you need their help- whom do they know that can get you an interview?
18) If you are really depressed, do not be ashamed to seek professional help
19) After a long day of working, watch comedies or listen to comedians. Make sure that laughter is a daily part of your life
20) Meet up with a friend that is funny and positive and always puts you in a good mood
21) Remember that this is a temporary period in your life, it will get better; new doors will open
Links to Good Reads on Surviving Unemployment
Don’t Let Your Job Search Depress You by Priscilla Claman
In a Harvard Business Review article, Priscilla Claman phrases it perfectly when she writes, “With that amount of activity, the job search has become more like a marathon than a sprint. And because the job search takes longer with so many still out of work, inevitably more people are frustrated, even devastated, by it”…read more
7 Tips on Dealing with Job Search Depression by Ellie Gibbons
Ellie Gibbons, declares “Hunting for a job is not, despite what people may tell you, fun, exciting or a world of opportunities; but there are things you can do to help you when you’re dealing with job-search depression”….read more
15 Causes of Job Search Depression and How To Prevent It by Jacob Share
Sometimes it helps to understand why you picked up the blues in the first place As job expert, Jacob Share, suggests, “If you can recognize the potential causes and signs of job search depression, you may be able to limit the consequences or even prevent job search depression from happening to you altogether”….read more
Unemployed? 10 Ways to Fight Depression in Your Job Search by Meredith Levinson
Still want more tips? Here are 10 additional ideas from Meredith Levinson who confirms “Job loss and unemployment upend people's feelings of self-worth, comfort, security and personal control”…read more