Working Strategies: Managing your resolve in stressful times

Is the week of a hotly contested national election the right time to discuss stress?

For job seekers, stress knows no season. That’s because few things cause more inner turmoil on a sustained basis than being unsettled about work. Pair that with feeling unsettled about larger national issues and you might find the strain accumulating. When the stress builds to burnout and self-protective shutting down, job search stalls.

At least, that’s my theory for why many of my clients are describing difficulty in moving forward, even on relatively simple tasks. There’s a sense of holding one’s breath, waiting to see what happens next.

Since the externally-derived tension might not evaporate once the election ends, now feels like exactly the right time to talk about stress. Regardless of who is chosen for each office, some of us will be happy and some of us will not. But all of us will need to move forward, and continue with important projects such as job search.

The following tips come from top-10 lists I’ve developed over the years. Here’s hoping some will be helpful.

Tips to relieve stress in general

Stay active: We’ve all heard that physical activity counteracts stress. While the science behind endorphins is not my area, I feel confident in advising movement as a way to feel better. Perhaps now is a good time to increase physical activity in your day.

Resist isolation: Are you tempted to crawl under a blanket with a bucket of ice cream? Grab a second spoon and invite a friend. OK, if that’s too personal, feel free to find some bowls too. Whatever you’re about to do (or not do), ask yourself: Is there someone you can share this with? Double points if the activity happens to be exercise.

Go outside: If you think you’re seeing a theme here, you’re right. Removing yourself from screens and news feeds is a good way to take back some of your head space. Heading outdoors is one way to do that.

Tips for managing job search stress

Build a schedule of tasks: It’s pretty disheartening when “Look for work” comprises your daily to-do list. Since effective job search is built around a series of steps and processes, a more inspiring task list would vary from day to day while covering the essentials: Contacting specific people, attending networking sessions, conducting outreach for a determined number of jobs, etc. Scheduling and completing identified tasks each day creates a sense of progress and forward movement, while “looking for work” doesn’t offer the same reward.

Celebrate small victories: Coming in second for a desired job is a disappointment that cannot be sugar-coated. Anyone would prefer the offer over “maybe next time.” Even so, there are multiple things to celebrate in this situation. Everything from wisely choosing to pursue this opportunity to interviewing well enough to be a finalist demonstrates that your search is on the right track. Give yourself credit in helpings that are equal or larger than the rejection you may be feeling.

Troubleshoot instead of generalizing: Since feeling out of control is a fundamental source of job search stress, taking control is bound to provide relief. One way to do that is by using an analytical and strategic approach when things don’t go well, rather than generalizing that this is just the way it is.

For example, if you aren’t getting interviews it’s not helpful to assume no one is, the system is rigged, people your age aren’t getting through, etc. That’s generalizing and you don’t even have facts to back you up. Instead, troubleshoot the situation. For example, not getting interviews could be for a number of reasons, including a mismatch between your skills and the jobs you’re pursuing or a limited selection of options in the process you’re using.

Consider Plan B: Sometimes it’s just better to be working, even if the job isn’t ideal. That can be especially true when the bigger picture feels uncertain or disconcerting. If you have options for work that would be quicker to land, give serious thought to taking one for the time being. You might be trading one stress (job search) for another (the ill-fitting job), but the change of pace could make an improvement — as would the income.

Whatever your levels of stress and wherever it might be coming from, everyone deserves some respite now and then. Take care of yourself during challenging times and you’ll be in better position to benefit from positive change when it comes your way.

Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.