Tick tock tick tock tick tock
When did the clock get so loud? Has it always been this loud?
I wish clocks didn’t exist because then I wouldn’t have to be reminded of the fact that I’ve been unemployed for two months.
I should have just stayed.
Who cares if I was coming home with throbbing headaches, and crying myself to sleep?
Who cares if I was walking around with a smile plastered to my face but couldn’t even remember the last time I had a proper conversation with my best friend?
At least I would still get paid to sit at my desk and stare at a screen.
It’s 5:07pm on a Tuesday afternoon, and these thoughts have consumed me once again after having applied to jobs for 5 hours straight on LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and more platforms I can’t even remember.
I start to feel nauseous. All I want to do is curl up on my couch (it’s comfier than my bed) and sleep. Maybe if I sleep long enough, then all my problems will get bored and runaway to farfarawayland.
Never mind. Already tried that yesterday, the day before, and the day before that, and each time I’ve woken up to their warm company.
If you’re also unemployed and feeling shitty (never thought that word would make an appearance in my writing, but I can’t think of a better word that encapsulates my feelings) about yourself, welcome to the club! You’re not alone.
I want to share with you 5 ways that have helped me stay (sane) on track and rebound from negative thoughts. I’m no pro on giving advice, but I think it helps to know that we’re all in this together! Once we know… I digress.
Here goes:
#1 Make a daily to-do list
It’s easy to tell yourself that you’ve done enough for the day when in reality you’ve barely started. To-do lists are a great way to keep yourself accountable because let’s face it: If you’re not going to keep yourself accountable, who will?
Before I get ready for bed each night, I create a to-do list for the following day in my bullet journal. Bullet journals are amazing if you know what I mean.
There’s something satisfying about crossing off completed tasks on a to-do list, especially if you’re like me and enjoy doing things the old-fashioned way by jotting it down on paper.
This has proven to be extremely helpful and encouraging because small wins matter and will add up to big accomplishments.
#2 Stick to a regular schedule
Just because I don’t need to be at the office at a certain time doesn’t mean I should be going to bed when the sun rises and having my first meal of the day at 4 in the afternoon.
Now this doesn’t mean I’m waking up at 5:30am either, even though those 5am productivity videos on Youtube are very inspiring to watch. It just means I’m going to bed and getting up at around the same time every day.
A regular schedule helps me maintain my energy level, boosts my confidence, and helps me make sure that when I do land an interview, I won’t show up too tired to give my best performance.
#3 Cook yourself a yummy-for-the-tummy meal
I don’t know how many hot pockets I inhaled or family-sized bags of chips I downed the first couple of weeks to fill in the void. They’re delicious comfort food and require no effort so why not?
Because they’re no fuel to my brain aka my most important asset at this time (or anytime)! If my brain is working at full capacity every day to come up with captivating cover letters and emails, it deserves premium fuel, not the crappy junk I was throwing in its face.
My go-to dish is usually fried rice. Have I mentioned I’m Chinese? I throw in some corn, peas, carrots, and sausages, add the rice, give it a few flips for dramatic effect, and top it off with fluffy scrambled eggs and state-of-the-art sriracha sauce. It takes 15 minutes to make a large batch and usually lasts me 3-4 meals. So good.
#4 Go outside
After submitting every 10-15 applications or so, I close my laptop and go outside to get some fresh air, do some stretches or even a quick walk if it’s a beautiful day.
Doing this helps me reset my mind, rest my eyes, and most importantly, relieves me of stewing in feelings of worthlessness. This way when I sit down at my desk again, I feel like a new me who’s ready to conquer the world.
#5 Take deep breaths
Finally, always remember to take deep breaths.
New beginnings are always hard, but I owe it to myself to carve out the career path I envision.
You’ll do just fine. Everything will be ok.
Counting My Apples 