Reduce Job Search Anxiety in 6 Steps

Reduce Job Search Anxiety in 6 StepsReduce Job Search Anxiety in 6 Steps16You need a job, but dont have one. You apply for jobs, but sometimes dont hear back from employers. The situation can leave you feeling icky and unsettled. So its natural that when youre under this type of duress that anxiety can start kicking in. Thing is, you dont have to give in to the pressure and instead can learn how to channel it elsewhere.If your hands are feeling a little clammy and youre feeling overwhelmed, learn how to reduce job search anxiety.Heres how to reduce job search anxiety in sixstepsStep 1. Maintain your perspective.When youre in the throes of a job search, it can feel like an eternity. And once frustration and anxiety rear their ugly heads, well, its easy to start feeling the stress.But its important to keep in mind thatyour job search wont last forever- even if it feels like it will. Eventually, you will find a job that puts some pep in your step and that makes you happy.So just try to hang in there and make the fruchtwein of your job searching time by finding some ways to make it interesting or fun.Step 2. Take a break.Youre taking your job search very seriously. Thats why you spend most of your workday looking for, you know, work.Thing is, its easy to burn out if you spendtoomuch time job hunting. Remember totake breaks throughout the day(its best to get up from your desk and score some physical exercise when you can), and set aside at least one day on the weekend (if leid both) where youre not scanning job listings or working on creating the ultimate job application.Depending on how long youve been job hunting, you might start to feel anxiety simply because youve been doing it too long. Set a timer if need be to remind yourself to take a break and take care of yourself.Step 3. Set goals and deadlines.A job search can feel infinite when theres no clear finish line. To give yourself something to work toward, why not try setting smaller, mora manageable goals alon g the way? After all, setting the goal of Find a flexible job can overwhelm anybody.But if you set this weeks goal to redesign your resume, and the next toupdate your cover letter, and the following one to work on your LinkedIn profile, suddenly the all-encompassing stress of finding a job seems much more doable.Step 4. Savor the success.Job search anxiety can set in when you only look ahead- and not backward. From time to time, stop to reflect on how far youve already come in your job search.It might be that youve had a fewsuccessful Skype interviewsunder your belt, or perhaps youve learnedhow to answer those troublesome interview questions that are designed to trip up any job seeker.So dont forget stop andsmell the roses once in a while and reward yourself for all the hard work youve already put in. It can give you some much-needed confidence that can help carry you through the rest of your job search- sans anxiety.Step 5. Decide what has to be done- and what doesnt.In an effort t o expedite your job search, youve tasked yourself with every imaginable to-do. But heres something to consider You might not have to do it all. Sure, there are many things that have to get done when youre job searching, but trying to do them all (and all at the same time) is an exercise in futility.A better option would be to determine how often something (say, updating your social media channels with breaking news industry info or constantly re-designing your cover letter) truly needs to be done. You might discover that youre actually overdoing it when it comes to your job search, and that you can take it a little easier on yourself.Step 6. Know when its serious.Sweating. Shaking. Chest pain. Intense fear. If youve ever suffered an anxiety attack, you know that its no joke. So if youre feeling that your anxiety is getting out of control, it might be time to talk to someone about it.Sure, you can practice coping mechanisms like deep breathing, switching up your scenery, talking to a friend or family member, or even learning ways to be more mindful. But if youve tried everything and your anxiety persists, it could be a good idea to speak to a professional about it. It might be that your job search is making your pre-existing anxiety worse.Theres no denying that a job search can be stressful. But dont let it get to the stage where youre feeling anxious every time you sit down to search. Try following some of the tips above to make it manageable and you might even be able to (gasp) enjoy your job search.Start Your Job SearchReaders, do you feel anxious when youre job searching? How have you found ways to deal with the stress? Let us know in the comments belowBeth Braccio Hering contributed to this post.