How to Keep Motivated During Job Search

You have been laid off and now you need to get yourself back on track. You have your resume and know where to look for jobs on the Internet. This article will tell you what do to keep yourself going psychologically as you search for a job.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Pen and paper
• Telephone

1. While you have the time and freedom, take a class at the local adult education facility. Maybe you've always wanted to take piano lessons or learn to scuba dive. Whatever it is, do it now and enjoy every second of the experience.

2. Keep a daily journal about your thoughts and feelings. You can spend five minutes on this or an hour. You should consider the time spent as part of your "job." Later, you can read back to when you started the search and can see in the pages how much progress you made in acceptance and motivation.

3. Treat yourself to a daily nap if you feel like it. You can adjust your time schedule to whatever your personal inner clock wants. If you want to work from noon until eight, that is fine. As long as you make your phone contacts during normal business hours, the rest is up to you.

4. Contact old friends and reconnect with people you have missed. Try to get together at least monthly and talk about the good old days and how each of you is doing in the present. You never know when an old friend can be the source of a possible job lead.

5. Go out and do something fun, even if it means going to the library one day a week. Make it the prettiest library in the area. Feel free to read the newspapers and magazines. Keep yourself up to speed on world and local events. Take in a matinee at the lower ticket price.

Tips & Warnings

• Listen to relaxing music and chill whenever you can.

• Reward yourself as you make progress in your search.

• Don't blame yourself.

• Don't be afraid to express your feelings. Sometimes you need to feel the pain and anger so you can move beyond it.

• Copyright © ThereseHaberman2008