Enduring a job search is a travail
Perhaps the most difficult thing you’ll ever do in your life is enduring a job search – especially at our age. But it’s also not a time to despair. If you’re persistent, you WILL find a job.
No doubt that you’ve heard the phrase looking for a job is a job. We can’t argue with that. So, maybe you should approach your job search as you would a job.
Let’s start with a daily routine
Unlike many jobs, you won’t be doing the same thing all day, every day. But a daily routine will help keep you focused.
Start by getting up at the same time everyday. If you were getting up each day at 6:00 a.m., keep at it. If you’re wake time was 7:00 a.m., set your alarm. Note: if you were working a non-traditional shift (i.e. overnight), you’re going to have to make some adjustments.
Get cleaned up and have breakfast – just as if you were going to work. And, many experts advise job seekers to get dressed. Just because you have no appointments, doesn’t mean that you can stay in your pajamas or spend the day in sweats. A coat and tie are not necessary, but wear something that, if for whatever reason you needed to go out, you could do so without changing. There are actual scientific studies that indicate that this helps.
As with breakfast, make lunch a regular, scheduled part of your day. The same holds true for breaks. You had breaks on your job, didn’t you? The same philosophy applies. Take 15 minutes, walk around the house. Get another cup of coffee. Take the dog out. Clear your head.
There probably will be occasions when you encounter what some people call “writer’s block” – where your brain just shuts down and you can’t seem to think. It happens. When it does, sometimes it helps to leave the house. Go for a walk. Have some Joe at the local coffee house. Go to the library. Run that errand your spouse has been harping about.
This, too, will clear your head.
Try to end at the same time each day. We recognize that there will be exceptions – just as there would be at many jobs. There may be valuable networking events that are held after work, beginning at 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. Many job search groups meet in the evenings. You probably need to attend some of these. Build that into your schedule.
Whatever your routine ends up looking like, whatever you do, don’t develop any bad habits. Don’t trick yourself into thinking that you’ll start your job search after you watch The Price Is Right, or finish just one more load of laundry. These are distractions that will just suck the time right out of your day.
Remember, you have a job – it’s called looking for a job.