It’s easy to get depressed if you have lost your job and looking for work. Everything can seem overwhelming and it can feel like the pressure is never-ending, but you don’t have to let it get you down. Here are some tips to help you avoid depression during this trying time in your life.
How to Avoid Depression during Unemployment
Keep your job search at the forefront of your life. Make sure you submit applications and resumes on a daily basis. You need to stay active and going on interviews, dropping off applications and staying on top of your job search is the best way to make sure you are busy doing the most important thing to improve your life and mood: finding work.
Next, take stock of your skills and decide if you need more training. A class or two may be all that stands between you and your ideal job, so assess your skills and take action. Classes that can help include public speaking, business writing or a class on the current computer programs used in your field. Studying something new will help your mind stay supple and help your mood stay high.
Consider each day as a “work” day even though you aren’t working. Set a schedule and keep to it. Mornings could be for browsing the job listings, afternoon could be for writing cover letters specific to the jobs you are interested in and tailoring your resume for each position. These kinds of activities keep you in “working” mode and help you stay mentally ready for the next interview.
Eat well and get enough sleep. Sudden changes to your diet or your sleep habits can trigger depression so try to stick to your routine. Eat regular meals and go to bed at your usual time. Don’t stay up late because you aren’t working. This will cause you to adapt to a night time schedule that makes it hard to look for work during peak times. Stay on a schedule that works with the business world, not against it.
Avoid Depression through Exercise
Get some exercise. Find something fun to do and practice at least ten minutes per day. Perhaps, a sport, strenuous hobby or a dance would be ideal. Just make sure it is a fun activity for you to engage in. Build your stamina until you are exercising 45 minutes per day and you will show real health benefits from this method. In addition, it is well known that exercise can prevent or minimize depression. Exercising will help your mind and body stay healthy.
Apply for jobs that you think are you are a bit under qualified for. We tend to think we are capable of far less than we really are and this limits our growth and effects self-esteem. So, push yourself to reach higher than you think you can go. You may land a position higher than you thought possible and the challenge will be good for you. Stay open to new possibilities and you will feel stronger and be less likely to fall into unemployment related avoid depression.
As you can see, there are many things that you can do to avoid depression during a period of unemployment. Stay active in positive ways for both your mind and body and you will make it through this difficult time. By using these methods, you will likely emerge from the ordeal with newfound self confidence, new skills and an interesting new job to enjoy.