How to Stay Motivated for Job Search When It's Winter (and Never-Ending Covid)

January gets a raw deal.

Gone is the razzle dazzle of the holidays (and all that use-it-or-lose-it vacation time). Front and center is work, short (darker) days and sketchy weather. Oh, and that overly social jerk that goes by the name of Omicron.

It can be downright deflating.

Staying motivated in the midst of it all can take a heapful of effort, but it’s key for your mental – and career – health to keep things positive.

We’ve got some tips for how you can light a hot little fire under yourself and give 2022 the jump start it deserves.

Tips, Comin’ in Hot:

Launch the year by getting yourself some goals.
Let’s not call them “resolutions.” A resolution is a statement that you will or won’t do something. Goals are all about knowing what you want and, equally important, planning how you’re going to get there.
Build yourself a roadmap.
Visualize what you want to accomplish this year, and write it down. create a spreadsheet, put together a vision board, jot it all out on sticky notes and paste them to your forehead. Whatever works for you. But be specific, and realistic.

Say you want to write a book. Start by stating the obvious (“Write a book about ____”), then map the steps for how you’re going to reach that goal. For instance, “Get up 30 minutes earlier each morning to write.” “Outline one chapter each week day.” “Research serial killers from Boca Raton.” Or weather patterns on Mars, or whatever it is you plan to write about. And so on.

Looking to switch jobs – or careers – this year? Write down the steps that will be required to reach your goal. Things like getting your resume and LinkedIn polished, requesting informational interviews with people at companies of interest, crafting a strong cover letter and planning to apply for a certain number of opportunities each week. Be realistic, but persistent. Then give yourself a huge gift and start ticking off the boxes on your list.
Learn something new.
Learning is invigorating, and there have never been more options for fueling ourselves with new skills and information than there are now (looking at you, LinkedIn Learning).

Whether for work or pleasure, acquiring a new skill is always, always a positive thing – and makes you more interesting at dinner parties, to boot. What is it that you want to learn? Spanish? The tango? How to make the perfect macaron? The resources for endless learning are right at our fingertips, and often available in person – through community colleges, dance schools, museums, fitness clubs, parks and recreation classes – the list goes on.

As for your career, are there any relevant certifications you can shoot for? Think about what might help give you an advantage in the workplace or prepare you for your next job. Many employers are willing to pay the associated costs for this training, and it makes for an excellent resume booster.
Plan something to look forward to.
Vacation, for instance. Is it realistic? Who the heck knows given the current state of the world. But you can still dream. And you can plan a socially distanced get together with a friend or two, go for a hike this weekend, or start dreaming about the outdoor summer bash you want to throw in a few months.

Make a list of house or yard projects you want to tackle this year, or people you want to be sure and connect with, then dig in.

As you toil at your desk, feeling bored or maybe overwhelmed or underappreciated, start thinking of ways you can load up your calendar with people and activities you love, and remind yourself it’s not all about work.
Take stock of all the good stuff.
It’s easy to start seeing the negative when you’re uninspired by your job, the skies are gray, dry January is making you cranky (let’s not get started on this one), masks are irritating, and summer is still months away. But the stuff that really matters is all still there.

Don’t minimize the difference you make and the good you accomplish every day. Maybe it’s making other people’s lives or jobs easier at work, taking care of your family or finishing up a big project (and killing it, by the way). You’re doing great things. Remind yourself of that when you find your motivation flagging.
Find the value in your work.
Burnout is real – we all know it (and feel it at one time or another). But it’s worth reminding yourself that every job has value, and what you do matters. Is there a project or assignment on the horizon that excites you? If not, maybe you can design one.

Can you identify a person in your organization whose work you admire and find out more about what they do and the steps they took to get there? Or flip that script and see if you can be a mentor to a more junior person. Volunteer to plan a social event for the team. Lead the charge to raise funds for a worthy cause. Jump in to help team members if time and opportunity allow.

Bottom line? Know your strengths, your skills, and your worth. And look for opportunities to let those assets shine.

Oh, and hey…

If you’ve decided that a career change is just what your 2022 needs, let us help.

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