For many of us, winter weather can have a nasty effect on our mood. It’s cold and gray outside, and you’re struggling with ways to stay motivated while looking for a job. You’ll take any job search tips you can to keep hope alive. Help is on the way!!!! We’ve gathered 10 job search tips that will help get you out of that winter funk:
- TARGET YOUR SEARCH
Work flexibility gives you control over many areas of your life—not the least of which is your access to benefits as basic as natural light. So look for, or request, flexible or work-from-home options from prospective employers as part of your benefits package.
- GET TO STEPPING
While you’re outside. Stretching, walking or lifting weights may be a great place to start, if you’re able. If the weather doesn’t permit you to venture outdoors, find some indoor exercises that you can do.
- CHANGE YOUR BEDTIME
Paying attention to environmental signals and your body’s natural internal clock. Try getting an earlier start to the day so that by the time the sun starts waning, you’ve made good headway in your daily job search efforts.
- SHINE BRIGHT WITH LIGHT
Getting a good lighting setup can keep your morale high and help you be at your sharpest as you write cover letters, tweak your resume, and shine during job interviews. Natural light can help boost your mood and possibly your productivity. However, during the winter months, you can’t always count on the sun’s rays to light your office. When that happens, invest in a few lamps to place around your desk and office. Turn them on when your office (or your mood) feels dim and the extra light can help chase away that sleepy, lethargic feeling.
- EXERCISE
Sticking with your fitness routine may be one of the last things you want to do when you’re feeling the winter blahs. But, exercise can help you beat SAD and improve your mood. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins—the feel-good hormones. A daily dose of exercise, even small amounts, can help you feel better by increasing your endorphin level and your metabolism, which helps improve your energy levels.
- SET GOALS
Having a job search plan gives you a reason to get moving in the morning and gives you goals to work toward, which can help you overcome the winter job search blues. By setting 30, 60, and 90-day goals, you’ll have something other than your mood to focus on. And, before you know it, spring will be here, leading to brighter moods for you.
- STAY CONNECTED
Staying connected with friends and family can help ward off the winter blues. Whether virtually or safely in person, try volunteering (which is also great for your job search), get together with friends and family, and network with other professionals to help reinvigorate your job search and keep your spirits up.
- LISTEN TO MUSIC
There are certain songs that make it impossible to feel down and out. Make yourself a motivational job search playlist. The right peppy melodies will help improve your mood and keep you focused. A 2015 survey by BambooHR listed listening to music as one of the top five activities that enhance performance. In fact, 34 percent of employees believe listening to music makes them more productive. Right now the search is your job, so find some quality tunes and get to work.
- GET SOME SUN
Yes, it’s cold outside, but getting out of the house and soaking up what little sun there is will make you feel better. Take occasional breaks from your job search and go for a walk. Or if you live where it’s just too cold to go outside, drawback the curtains and let the rays brighten up your nicely heated home.
- TRY SOMETHING NEW
Sometimes the monotony of doing the same thing over and over again can make you feel blue. Adding a bit of variety to your job search might be just what you need to get excited again. Overhaul your LinkedIn profile, create a video resume, or attend a networking event in order to meet new people. That new ingredient you add into the mix just might be what leads you to a job offer.
WHAT IS SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD)?
While lots of people suffer from the winter blues, some people are diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a mental illness affected by changing seasons, overcast skies and poor light conditions. Symptoms include:
- Oversleeping;
- Fatigue;
- Feeling lethargic;
- Irritability and stress intolerance; and
- Lack of interest in daily activities
The job you’ve been waiting for is out there. You’ve just to shake those job search blues and keep at it.
If you experience some of these symptoms, please contact your doctor or call the National Mental Health Help
Line: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889 (TTY).