Unemployment is a crucial time to focus on priorities in your personal life. It’s important to establish a routine and create structure, as that’s the best way to avoid sitting at home with negative thoughts, which could lead to a downward spiral.
Once you’ve found an effective job hunting strategy that you can realistically execute, set aside time to relax. Take this time to lead the balanced lifestyle that you know you should strive for on a regular basis, but let laziness and the busy trap get the best of you.
1. Record your thoughts in a journal.
It could be in a digital app that you can sync and access across your devices with password protection. I recommend the app Day One, which offers prompts to get you thinking and keep you on a schedule. Evernote is another good option. Create a new notebook marked Personal or something ambiguous so strangers looking over your shoulder will never guess you use the app to record private feelings.
Of course you can maintain a journal the old fashioned way with pen and lined paper. Store it somewhere safe at home. If writing down miscellaneous observations during the day is something you’re not used to doing, then keep it simple and start with something basic. Indigo sells One Line A Day memory books and if you make writing in it a habit, then you will have a fascinating log to reflect on months or years in the future. See how much you have grown, matured and changed in the process.
2. Pamper yourself.
Salon manicures and the like can add up cost-wise, but there are cheaper DIY alternatives that will allow you to create a similar experience at home. Keep yourself looking good to ensure that whenever you leave the house, you’ll enjoy an extra bit of self-confidence.
Articles about unemployment written by financial advisors typically recommend cutting back on luxuries, but if your budget allows, treat yourself to beauty services if that was part of your routine and limit yourself. For example, I like to get a manicure before interviews. Usually I paint my own nails, but when I interview to work with fashion magazines and lifestyle brands, I pay for professional services.
3. Get fit and stay healthy.
Stop procrastinating. Try that diet you’ve heard your friends rave about or train for a charity run. Find a buddy who can join you for a walk or jog around the neighbourhood. If you have a gym membership, go to a class you never participated in before and enjoy the quiet hours on weekdays.
4. Discover new recipes.
Scroll through your Pinterest boards at all those recipes you pinned and check your bookmarks folder for recipes you forgot about. Make a grocery shopping list with the ingredients and mix it up in the kitchen! Turn on the radio or play your favourite Songza playlist, then surprise your partner or family with a new meal.
If you eat alone, find something entertaining to watch like a talk show with a charming celebrity guest or choose something more inspiring like a TED talk. Better yet, spend a few minutes taking the perfect Instagram shot of your meal without annoying anyone and be mindful of what you put in your mouth as you eat it.
5. Connect with friends, family and acquaintances.
Take the initiative to coordinate plans with a cousin who you lost touch with for no apparent reason. Step away from your phone and reconnect. See how long you can go without checking mobile notifications. Remember when you were at a networking event and discussed meeting someone in your industry for coffee? Make it happen.
No matter how you decide to spend your time during this transition period, it’s crucial to maintain a positive attitude regardless of your financial circumstances. An offer for a dream job could be the magic ticket for a brighter future, so do your best to be mentally and emotionally ready when you receive the good news.