Last month, I shared with you the often-ignored job search technique: self-care. Now you won’t necessarily find me suggesting a new face mask or a “treat yo’self” trip to the mall (though no judgments if that’s what you gotta do!). But we can all take some actions that don’t involve scrolling through LinkedIn and Glassdoor while on the hunt for the next job. It can be surprisingly difficult to feel like a regular person while searching for a new career. And that’s where these self-care tips come into play. Because if you take care of your whole self, it’ll show in the interviews.

First, if you missed it, check out Part One here.

PACE YOURSELF

• Set a nonwork goal. Maybe you try to cook your meals (which both saves money and fosters a sense of creativity and independence!) or pick up yoga. Pick something achievable that you’ve been putting off. Write out your goals and intentions and how you’re going to reach them (in that handy planner you just got). Treat it like a work project. The energy you’ll get from working toward this goal, which probably looks far more fun than the job searching goal you now have, will leak into other aspects of your life. When it rains, it pours!
• Be/get/stay healthy. I don’t need to tell you that getting more sleep, eating more plants, and moving around more makes you feel better. But now is the time to make that a priority.
• Have fun! Close your resume and get away from the computer. Create new experiences. Go to a museum, go on a hike, walk around a new part of town, read a new fiction book. Just make sure to shut off from job searching. Specifically trying something new will shake off lingering negativity. Doing something new with a friend will double your chances!
• If you can, get a massage. Treat yourself. (Okay, so I advised one pampering session, sue me!)

EMBRACE THIS HUMBLING EXPERIENCE

• You’re going to fail. It’s just a part of the job search. You’re not going to get every job. You’re only going to get a few. But to me, that isn’t failure—it’s just a part of it. Job searching is humbling; you’re going to be rejected, and sometimes you won’t know why.
• You may start wondering why you haven’t gotten a job, especially when everyone says that the job market is good. And your self-doubt starts to creep in. Stop it! Put that self-doubt back in the closet! Those two things are not related. You not getting an offer has nothing to do with you or your skills. It’s just not the right one or time yet.

PET ANIMALS

• Go play with a dog or cat. Seriously. Science has proven that petting cats and dogs decreases stress. So go play with Fido and Felix. If you don’t have a pet, find your pet-owning friend or go to a local shelter and pet theirs. (And from experience, the pups and cats love it too!)

And finally, don’t go it alone. If you have access to a mentor, get one and use them. If not, spend a few minutes and come up with a list of people who you trust to give honest, compassionate, but helpful reviews of your process and materials. We are social creatures, and it’s not a sign of weakness to ask others for help. All the greats, all the people who are happily posting on social media about how much they love their dream jobs, everyone who got to where they wanted to go, they all asked for help along the way.

I’m Stacey Lane: Career Coach | Transition & Career Strategist | Personal Brand Specialist

I help individuals with unique backgrounds find their perfect fit and effectively market themselves so they find work that is as interesting as they are.

Contact me to get started!