How to Break Out of a Winter Job Search Funk

Looking for a job can be a drag no matter the season, but few would argue that job searching in the winter can feel next-level wretched. The dreaded combo of low mood, fatigue, and decreased motivation seem to always come rolling in with the dreary weather. And this tends to really exacerbate feelings of isolation and discouragement.

So, how do you break out of the winter funk and maintain momentum in spite of the weather? Here are 6 tips to help you boost your mood, resilience, and productivity:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

I don’t know about you, but I can be the queen of “Oh, I’m fine. Fine. Everything is fine.” This usually lasts right up until the moment I hit the brick wall of, “I am really really not at all fine.” While resilience is immensely important through job search, failing to acknowledge that you are, in fact, struggling can wreak all kinds of havoc on your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. By allowing yourself to experience your feelings without self-criticism, you’ll maximize your ability to manage your emotions productively.

?2. Prioritize Self-Care

During the winter months, it's crucial to combat feelings of lethargy and low mood. How do you do this? By nourishing the living heck out of yourself. I can't emphasize this enough. Nourish your body with healthy foods, movement, and plenty of sleep. Nourish your soul by connecting with friends, making time for? hobbies, or learning how to meditate. And nourish your mind with a good book, or by enhancing your skills with an online (or in-person) course or taking on a volunteer project that allows you to keep your skills fresh. ?

Speaking of online courses…

?3. Switch up your Approach or Environment

If you’re stuck in the ever-so-common rut of applying for job after job online—and feeling like you’re getting nowhere fast, or if you’re absolutely losing your mind sitting in your cluttered home office every day, change things up. See if any interesting professional events are coming up in your area, invite someone doing interesting work to lunch or coffee, ask someone you admire for their advice, or take your search efforts over to that cozy new coffee shop you’ve been hearing about. If you’re feeling like you just keep living the same day over and over again, take command and do something different.

4. Focus only on What You Can Control

Just like the weather is completely out of your control, so is much about job search. And dwelling on these things won’t change a thing. So, today, make a list of all the things you can control about your job search (your strategy, your networking, the quality of your resume, your readiness for interviews, etc.) and all the things you cannot (how many other people apply for the same job, lack of response from recruiter, position closes just as you’re about to apply, etc.) Now do everything in your power to focus only on the “things I can control” things – and do so to the absolute best of your ability.

5. Take a Break

I had to do this very recently. While not amid a stressful job search, I’ve had a number of grueling family issues on my plate for the past several months. These challenges, coupled with the ongoing demands of my work and endless construction going on at my home had me heading rapidly towards burnout. Once I recognized the path I was on, I became very intentional about getting more rest, blocking days on my calendar, and finding opportunities to weave joy and relaxation into my otherwise “hair on fire” existence. If you’re feeling worn out, burned out, or beyond discouraged, give yourself permission to unplug. A week, a day…even a few hours…can buoy your spirits and renew your energy level for the task at hand.

6. Break the Big Goal into Smaller Milestones

One of the most challenging aspects of job search is that you never really know when you’ll land an interview, a job offer, or a job. Given this, if your main goal is “land a job,” you may start feeling really down if this doesn’t happen as quickly as you envisioned. And when you’re feeling really down, it becomes quite difficult to make progress. But if you take that big goal and chop it into smaller tasks that you can work towards each day, you’ll likely feel a lot better about yourself. And those small, incremental wins will create a snowball effect. Don’t ever underestimate the power of small wins.

Winter weather can absolutely compound feelings of stress, disappointment, or overwhelm. But short of hibernation, there's no avoiding the season. So if you're feeling the funk right now, do yourself an extreme favor and take action.

And remember, this only has to work once. You got this.