Reducing Job Search Stress: Strategies for a Healthier and a More Effective Job Search
By Mark Tumulty, Employment and Training Consultant
Job searching can easily become overwhelming, leading to stressful situations. Seeking a full-time job can often feel like a full-time job in itself. Excessive stress can negatively impact your health, sleep, and even prevent you from performing your best in your job search and job interviews. You can aim to keep your job search stress-free, allowing you to focus your time and energy on succeeding instead of being stressed out. Here are some helpful ways to improve your job search by reducing the stress it brings:
Add Stress Relieving Techniques to Your Schedule
Create a weekly calendar – Prioritize your job search by scheduling dedicated job search sessions. Create a list of job announcements you plan to apply to and track these job applications in an Excel spreadsheet to monitor your progress.
Take adequate breaks during your job search – Once your calendar has been organized with job searching blocks, perform your job searches in distraction-free areas, such as a dedicated desk or a separate room. Focus solely on locating and submitting job applications. Schedule breaks on your calendar between your job searching time. Get up from your desk and stretch, go for a walk, or get a snack. Set up a time to return to your scheduled job search.
Get adequate sleep – Rest refuels more than just your body; it energizes your mind for clear thinking, strong emotional intelligence, and seizing the day. Create a healthy sleeping routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. This consistency will also help maintain job search schedule.
Add stress relievers into your daily job search routine – Incorporate helpful and effective stress relief techniques such as exercising, deep breathing, spending time in nature, meditation, spending time with loved ones, setting good boundaries, avoiding procrastination, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Incorporate Ergonomics into your Job Search – Maximize the efficiency and safety of your job search by applying ergonomic principles. This involves designing and organizing your workspace and equipment to align with your physical capabilities, ultimately reducing stress. Ergonomics minimizes physical strain by focusing on proper placement of your keyboard and mouse, adjustable chairs, appropriate desk height, correct body posture, and screen positioning to reduce eye strain. Additionally, research training on proper workstation setup, lifting techniques, and fatigue reduction.
Add Additional Meetings and Resources to your Job Search Schedule
Do not limit your job search to online applications – Reduce job search stress by incorporating diverse strategies into your routine. Excessive time spent at your desk reading online applications can lead to stress and fatigue, ultimately hindering your job search. Get out into your community: actively look for job postings, network with businesses, or visit companies you're interested in to research their openings, corporate culture, vision, and goals. You could even bring your applications and fill them out while enjoying a park.
Attend workshops, support groups, or schedule a Job Search Support Appointment – Job searching can become stagnant and monotonous without added variety. Seek out and attend local events to increase your networking abilities. Reduce stress by maintaining a positive outlook and making consistent progress toward your employment goal.
Frederick County Workforce Services offers a multitude of services to add to your schedule that will help you along your employment-seeking journey. You can attend various workshops offered, schedule a meeting with a Workforce Team Member for job search preparation, join virtual or in-person Job Club meetings, register for free online training, or obtain information on upcoming job openings and hiring events, among many other resources.
Remember, job searching doesn't have to be overwhelming. By incorporating these stress-relieving techniques and ergonomic principles into your routine, you can stay focused and energized. For more tips and resources, visit our website explore our services to support your job search journey.