A hugely underestimated part of job searching is managing your mental health and developing strategies to help maintain a positive frame of mind even when it seems like nothing is going your way.

To help you cope and stay productive while searching for jobs, we’ve compiled a list of tips, pointers and reminders to help you stay on top of your mental health and become a healthier, more efficient candidate.

You are so much more than your career

While it might seem like finding a job is everything, remember that your self worth should not be defined by whether or not you are employed. Most people at some point in their life will go through a period of unemployment. The key is to stick with it and stay positive.

Instead of looking at unemployment as a burden, try to reframe it as an opportunity. Because when you are unemployed there are endless possibilities and job paths available to you – more so than when you have a job.

Dress like you’re going to work

It might seem like a dream come true to be able to lay on the couch and apply for jobs in your sweatpants, but according to many sources this probably isn’t the best habit to form. If you make the effort to get dressed, you’re helping your mind get into the right headspace to be productive.

This will also help if you find a job that requires you to work remotely – being able to set your mind to relax and work time is an important skill to develop in our changing world.

Connect with others

Make sure you check-in with your loved ones. If you are feeling overwhelmed, get things off your chest by sharing your problems or concerns with your closest friends and family – a problem shared is a problem halved.

If you’re missing the daily interaction that you get from a job, go to a few virtual networking events, be active on social media, volunteer in the community. By widening your network you might get a fresh perspective on your situation and open up potential job opportunities.

Invest in yourself

It’s easy to get bogged down in the job-seeking process and think that you need to be spending every waking hour looking for work. But the truth is it’s not how much you work but how efficiently you work. And efficiency comes from taking regular breaks and freshening up your routine with relaxation, social or learning time.

Set aside time in your calendar each day to invest in yourself and top up your energy levels. Whether it’s going for a walk in a park, starting your own blog, taking a long bath, or enrolling in a free online course.

Set (achievable) goals

Whether it’s sending out a certain amount of applications, or engaging with potential employers on social media, it’s important to set a list of goals and stick to them. This will give you a sense of completion once they’re done and help you feel more positive about your prospects.

Saturday 10th October is World Mental Health Day, to show your support you can wear something yellow or get in touch with a charity of your choice for how you can get involved.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health and needs help, please use this link to get in touch with an organisation that can help.