Motivation is the driving force that propels people toward a goal. And motivation during a job search using social media, especially if you’re unemployed, can become a real challenge. Mounting bills, unanswered job applications, and other common job-search stresses make mincemeat out of motivation sometimes.
If you find yourself unmotivated, don’t feel discouraged or start thinking you’re lazy or lack ambition or will. All you have to do is find and understand the reason for your lack of motivation and then take steps to regain that motivation. Find yours and then apply the antidote.
| Reason Your Motivation Has Disappeared | How to Get Your Motivation Back |
|---|---|
| Too much stress | Meditate. Studies show that just 20 minutes of daily meditation can significantly reduce cortisol levels in the body, which in turn reduces the feelings of stress. Exercise also reduces stress, so if you can’t meditate, get to the gym instead. And if you really want to feel calm and confident, do both. |
| Skills deficit | Find out what skill you’re missing and then take steps to acquire that skill, whether it be taking a class, attending a seminar, or brushing up on the latest trends in your industry. |
| Feeling overwhelmed | Break down the thing you’re feeling overwhelmed about into smaller and smaller chunks. Then do one small piece at a time. Don’t let feeling overwhelmed stop you from reaching your goals. |
| Feeling resentment | Take a step back and look at your situation dispassionately so you can solve the problem at hand. If you need to release some anger, go do that, but then come back to the table with a clear head. Also remember to not take things so personally. Keep focused on what you can control. |
| Procrastination cycle | Conquer procrastination by having clear next steps to a worthy goal. Record your progress and make sure your skills can meet the challenge. The real issue may actually be another item in this list. Find it and deal with it. |
| No clear next steps | Start with the outcome you want and then work your way backward by thinking of what it will take to make that happen. Break down each task into easily digestible chunks and take one step at a time. |
| No direct feedback from your actions | Use a scorecard to track your progress toward your larger goal. If you’re just ticking things off a task list, you’re not giving yourself enough feedback. Remember to celebrate each success, no matter how small. |
Keeping a positive perspective during your job search is just one way to stay motivated.
How to handle information overload
Give yourself a break, an information break. Today, people are exposed to more information in a day than someone who lived 100 years ago saw in a year. The human brain wasn’t meant to take in so much, so fast, so constantly. Furthermore, most of the news you hear is negative and can wear you down.
Taking a day off from the phone and computer (and even the TV) is a great way to reduce your stress and recharge for more job searching later. Enjoy your free time without being tethered to a phone or computer or even thinking about your job search.
Look at how far you’ve come
Looking at how much farther you have to go can easily overwhelm you. However, looking forward isn’t the whole truth. Consider how far you’ve come and all that you’ve gone through to get to where you are now. Take a moment from striving for a job and look back to see and acknowledge your advancements.
Take time to celebrate your progress. Every Friday, look back at your week and ask yourself, “What have I accomplished this week?” Then reward yourself for it. Not only is this a great habit to get into, but it will also keep you going strong in your job search.