“Job searching,” did that phrase make your skin crawl? It’s an exhausting and sometimes defeating task, but it doesn’t have to be. While job searching is not fun, there are ways to make it more bearable. Here are some ways to stay sane while job searching:

  • Know what you genuinely want. To begin, you need to know what you want. That doesn’t mean that you start looking for jobs as an accountant because you’ve always been an accountant. It means you have the opportunity to start fresh. Do some soul searching and find what the best career path is for you.
  • Research and make a plan. Once you know what you want, it’s time to do some research. Make sure to be specific in how you search because the more detailed information you can obtain for interviews, the better. Once you have the information you need, form a plan.
  • Set small goals and eliminate any fluff. Maybe you’ve read an article on the things you need to do when job searching, but you might not have to check off everything on the list. Find what applies to only you and eliminate the rest. This will set you up well to create small goals. Small goals are the best approach because they are the most obtainable.
  • The four P’s. These four ideas will be a significant asset to you.
    • Pep Talk. Pump yourself up daily. YOU ROCK! YOU CAN DO THIS!
    • Remember to keep your mind open and stay fresh. Knowing that at the end of the job search you will have what you’ve been looking for can put things into perspective.
    • Sum up your day with the pros and cons, and then throw the cons list away. Focus on the positives that you’ve experienced so far.
    • Remind yourself that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are careers. This is a process, and it will take time. Hang in there.
  • Don’t search every day. Take a break, or you may go crazy. Searching every day is the most exhausting part. Take a day off from time to time to re-center yourself and start fresh.
  • Celebrate small wins. You got a phone interview but didn’t end up getting to the next round of interviews. That’s okay! It allowed you to practice your interview skills and learn about things you liked and didn’t like about the position. Even small wins deserve celebration.

Just remember that although you are entering a process that typically takes a long time, it will not be forever. You will find the right position. Use these points, and your job search will become a less painful task overall.