How to stay positive during a job search

• If you currently have a job, be grateful that you have a job – even if you’re looking for something better.

• If you are currently out of work, be grateful for your skills – your education, your work experience. Remind yourself of all the good things that you have to offer to an employer and to the world.

• If you’re currently in school (or going back to school) to get a degree or to retrain for a different job, be grateful that you have the drive, energy and wherewithal to make a difference in your condition. It takes courage to make a career change, especially when you’re trying something completely different from what you’ve known before. Honor your courage.

• Rest. Make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep. Anxiety about the job market and financial worries can wreak havoc on your sleep – but staying well rested is the key to staying energized and upbeat. It’s hard to find a job when you’re constantly dragging, yawning, bleary-eyed and cranky – get plenty of shut-eye to make the days of your job search as happy and optimistic as possible.

• Exercise. Staying physically fit and healthy is an ideal way to spend some of those extra hours when you’re not actively looking for work. Take care of your body and your mind is likely to follow – the “mind body connection” is real, and it is powerful.

• Volunteer. Often the best way to stay positive is to help someone else. Be a mentor. Read with schoolchildren. Serve dinner at a shelter. Get more involved with your faith community. Even if you’re out of a job and looking for work, there are still many people and organizations that can benefit from your talents – and there are many ways that you can make a difference in the lives of the people around you.

• Nurture yourself. Do some things that make you feel better – it doesn’t have to cost money. Whether it’s taking a long walk in the neighborhood, playing with your kids at the park, cooking a favorite meal, or talking on the phone with a best friend, the easiest way to stay positive about your job search is to stay positive about the rest of your life.

Looking for a job can be tough. But it’s important to stay focused on the good things in your life, keep spending time with people you love, and keep taking proactive steps that energize and inspire you. Staying positive and remaining focused on the good opportunities out there is often the best way to get ready for a new job offer.