We’ve all been there: your to-do list is sitting on your desk mournfully while you’re munching on your third snack of the day and doomscrolling. I suspect it’s especially common with job-search tasks, because, let’s face it: looking for a job stinks.
But just because it’s normal and everyone does it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. Here are some steps you can take when you’d really rather be napping.
1: Take a small break. I know it seems counterintuitive, but really embracing intentional downtime will give you a chance to refresh and reenergize. Don’t take more than about a day, though, or suddenly you’ll be in vacation mode.
2: Clarify your goals. What is it you’re trying to accomplish? Are you starting a new career path? Looking for a pay-the-bills job? Working to build a new skill? Whatever it is, the clearer you can be about the task ahead, the more invested in it you’re likely to be.
3: Determine what’s behind your resistance. Are you overwhelmed by the size of the project? Frustrated by endless rejections? Generally depressed by the state of the world? Understanding what’s behind your lack of energy can help you retool or find additional support to get back on your path.
4: Break things into small steps. This is especially helpful when you’re facing a big challenge like finding a new job. Yes, you have lots of things you need to get done, but you don’t have to (and, in fact, can’t) do them all at once, so think of it as a series of small tasks instead of a giant lump of a project. And give yourself permission to take a mini-break after you complete each step.
5: Consider your schedule. Do you have one? Is it working for you? Might there be a better way to plan your days? This is very individual, so think through whether you’re following a plan given to you by someone else, if you’re possibly in a rut, or if your schedule is working for you. I find, for example, that I do much better when I wake up early, get my day’s workout out of the way, and settle in with my morning coffee at my computer. But your best-fit plan for the day might look entirely different! And it may simply be that shaking things up gives you a different perspective.
6: Reward yourself. The things we tackle by ourselves can feel like they’re happening in a vacuum, and without any external feedback, it can feel especially lonely and demoralizing. So be your own cheerleader! Acknowledge each small win, and reward yourself with something that feels like a treat when you accomplish what you set out to. It might even help to have a larger reward when the whole thing is complete so you get a double win for your efforts.
7: Finally, remember to envision the outcome of your goal. Keeping your eyes on the prize means that, even if you falter, you’ll be able to get back up.
8: Rinse and repeat steps as necessary.
