If you’re in the middle of it, you know this. So how can you keep up your energy to keep applying?
As with most things, start by paying attention to taking care of yourself. Try to keep a regular schedule even if you don’t have a job. If you do have a job that has irregular hours, just do what you can within the confines of that—discuss a more predictable schedule with your manager, ask not to be on closing shift and then opening, etc. Also pay attention to things like your diet, exercise, and any social or spiritual activities. I am a fan of the occasional crash-and-burn day, where you flake on the couch and eat potato chips all day, but they key here is to keep those days occasional. They won’t feel indulgent if you do them all the time! Ditto with things like late-night gaming sessions, TV binges, etc. It’s all about balance!
Second, set goals for your job search that are realistic. If you aim too high, like applying for 15 jobs every week, you’re likely to do that for a couple of weeks but then hit a wall and not do anything for a month. A slow and steady pace is likelier to lead to success with job-seeking because you can maintain it and you run less of a risk of not seeing something great.
Next, make sure you’re expending your energies on things you actually want. That’s not to say that everything you apply for makes you weep with joy, but do keep your focus on things you would be happy to accept. The process is so long and thankless that you will lose motivation if you’re frequently applying for things that simply don’t sound good.
Be sure to change focus in the process as well. Intercut your applications with time talking to friends and family about what you’re looking for, reaching out to new contacts, and looking at different job boards. I always find that occasionally switching to a new focus area makes it feel like less of a slog.
Finally, take breaks as you need them! I don’t mean going to Hawaii for a month (though if you can, you’d be remiss not to!) but definitely have days off, and take breaks during your search. Our brains crave variety and relaxation, so give yours what it wants and it will keep working for you!
