9 simple ways to take care of your mental health when you are job hunting

It is a well known truth that ‘job hunting is a full time job’. You are a full time employee when you are job hunting, the only difference is that you get paid nothing for your effort and the work you put in. It pays off only when you land that job.

Apart from rejection emails, it feels like the only thing you constantly get from job hunting is stress and uncertainty and that’s why it is important to take care of your mental health.

Here are 9 simple ways you can take care of your mental health when you are job hunting:

1. Work out

Sweating is the best way to de-stress, and to take your mind off of job hunting zone even if it’s just for 30 minutes. With your mind active and focusing on something else you can even come up with other ideas, solutions or strategies in your job hunting quest.

2. Manage your expectations

It is a known issue that the job market has some unattainable requirements and expectations. You don’t need to put the same pressure on yourself.

It is important to manage your expectations, or your idea of what the job market should be/look like. This will help you to not be hurt by every rejection or unattainable standard or event that you learn about the job market.

As much as I want you to have faith after every job application, I find it less devastating when you give it your all in the application process and wait for the results as they will come instead of putting all your hope, thoughts and dreams in that job that you have applied.

3. Cry if you feel like it

Job hunting is stressful and some rejections are harder than others, it is okay to cry when you feel like it. It is okay to take a break from job hunting for sometime.

4. Don’t compare yourself

Comparison is the thief of joy, and protecting your joy is one way to take care of your mental health. Your time will come.

It doesn’t matter how fast others are leaving the job hunting zone, you will too. Don’t compare your life journey to others. Celebrate them and believe that your time will come.

5. Check emails at night

I have found this trick helpful for me.

I have found that reading rejection emails in the morning to be energy draining and it can even make me inactive the whole day.

But when I open an email at night and it is a rejection one for example, I can cry myself to sleep and wake up with new energy to face the day.

6. Schedule days and hours where you rest and won’t be applying for jobs

And even go out. Have fun, this is the only time where you will have so much time on your hands. When you get a job, you will be a busy bird, so use this time effectively and rest.

7. Have a social life and talk it out

Go out with friends or have a chat with a friend about how you are feeling and share your struggles with your trusted friend.

It may seem like it is nothing but feeling seen and heard in a time when you feel unseen and rejected by employers is beneficial for your well-being.

8. Do more positive self talk and surround yourself with positive people

Positive self talk won’t solve all of your problems but will help you be in a positive headspace, and that is important for your mental health.

9. Journal and write your plans, dreams and goals

When you are job hunting and constantly getting rejected, it can feel like the end of the world in a sense that you feel like you don’t see your dreams and goals realized as fast as you wanted, write them down, daydream, remind yourself that this is not how the rest of your life will be like.

Journal and put down your feelings, thoughts and ideas on paper. This helps in unloading your mind, but also in reminding you that you have potential and things to still achieve in the world.

Those are the 9 ways that you can take of your mental health when you are job hunting. Being in the right mental space is crucial for you to function in any environment but it is especially crucial in a stressful season like job searching, so don’t neglect your mental health when job hunting.

Further reading:

• 10 Skills that will get you hired and paid well in 2021 and beyond
• 5 Job applications tips for landing more job interviews
• Badili mbinu unayotumia kutafuta kazi