How to Take Care of Your Mental Health While Job Searching

Job hunting can be a stressful task. We can invest hours searching for suitable jobs, filling out applications, and feeling like we are getting nowhere. However, caring for our mental health is essential, especially when embarking on a job-hunting journey. 

From sending out applications to preparing for interviews, looking after yourself physically and mentally is beneficial for your own wellbeing and can also give you the confidence and motivation you need to successfully get that dream job you’ve been looking for. 

Explore our advice below and learn how to take care of your mental health while on the hunt for the perfect job.

If you are job hunting from home, it can often be a challenge to separate your work and personal time, particularly due to the stigma of unemployment, often leading people to feel like they need to be constantly job hunting. 

Without a commute or established working hours, it is common for people to get exhausted and feel as though they always send out applications, leaving no time to truly relax. 

Take a break every so often to give yourself a time out and focus on something else, either socialising, doing an activity, or just relaxing. 

By establishing a time for job hunting and a time for personal leisure, you can avoid burnout but still make the time to job hunt.

The job-hunting process often takes a long time, and you may feel like you aren’t getting anywhere if you aren’t getting lots of interviews or you aren’t getting hired when you do get an interview. 

However, it is important to be kind to yourself, know your worth, and know that jobs often come along when we least expect them. 

Even if a recent interview didn’t go so well, there could be your dream job just around the corner, and making preparation steps like practicing interview questions can help increase your chances at your next interview. 

It is estimated that the average number of applications people send before getting a job is between 21 and 80, so not getting hired after the first few applications is to be expected.

Another pitfall many job seekers fall into is missing out on socialising with friends and family members. 

Often due to overworking themselves, as mentioned previously, people don’t spare enough time to relax and chat with those they are closest to. 

Chatting to loved ones is essential for everyone’s mental health, and it can provide a much-needed break for those who are on the job hunt. As job hunting can be a very isolating task, and you don’t get the everyday social interactions you might have had at work, make sure you dedicate time to checking in with loved ones.

It can be tempting to start applying to all sorts of jobs in the hopes that the more job applications we send, the more likely we are to get a job. 

However that is not necessarily the case.You could be wasting time applying for roles you are not qualified for or have no interest in and missing out on the right job for you. 

Instead, dedicate that time to perfecting your applications for the jobs you do want, and recruiters will see your passion in your covering letter. 

You can also see some of the different career options suited to your qualifications. For example, if you have a degree in psychology but aren’t sure how to apply it, you can look up which fields you can use psychology in to succeed.

If you are not sure what your passion is yet, or you want to see which roles are suited to your skills, you can see how the skills you have could align with careers you may have never considered before. 

For example, did you know that great storytellers often make great teachers or that creative minds suit the games design industry? See which careers line up with your skills and interests and find the right job for you.

Don’t lose track of your goals during your job search, and have a clear idea of what you want out of your new job. 

This will help you stay motivated, stay positive and keep you eager to find that role that is perfect for you. It can be useful to write down achievable goals, the type of job you want, and what you want to get out of it so you can always refer back to it and ensure you are not falling into the trap of applying anywhere and everywhere. 

You can even write down how your skills relate to the job you want and see if there are any areas where you can improve your skillset or qualifications through online courses. It is a good idea to see which skills and qualifications will be most useful in 2022.

Self-care is incredibly important in day-to-day life, especially during times of change. If you are feeling down about your job hunt at the moment, be kind to yourself and remember that you are not alone in your career journey. 

As well as positive self-talk and taking regular breaks, ensuring you are in good physical health by getting enough sleep and fresh air is also key to ensuring good mental wellbeing. 

Don’t put yourself through stress if you are venturing into a new career. Read up on advice on how to fix a stagnating career or learn how you can pivot your career in a new direction, or upskill with online courses if you want to increase your employment opportunities.