Last week I met with a brand manager who has been on the job hunt for several months. She was focused, present, energetic and positive. And she looked great, too! So, I asked her what’s she been doing, and she attributed her presence and energy to taking great care of herself.

Of course! Self-care! So, between this conversation and a recent renewal retreat I attended at Kripalu, I started thinking about how self-care during a job search is so vital to a person’s well-being, and ultimately, landing a job.

• With self-care, we honor our self-worth, which in turn helps support true confidence and self-esteem.
• Looking for a job is stressful. Self-care can renew and restore our energy.
• Self-care leads to greater well-being and vitality, which help us reach our true potential.

The four areas of self-care are physical, emotional, spiritual and mental.

Physical Care:

• Eating healthy and drinking plenty of water
• Getting plenty of sleep
• Exercising to keep your energy up and stress down

Emotional Care:

• Take time to talk with a close friend
• Be kind to yourself
• Seek out support from a professional – coach, counselor or therapist
• Write your feelings and thoughts in a daily journal
• Go have fun with a loved one or friend – laughing is healthy

Spiritual Care:

• Take time to be with yourself to think and/or write
• Get outside and enjoy nature
• Pray, meditate or be grateful for all the wonderful things in your life
• Be creative: paint, photograph, dance, sing
• Volunteer for a worthy cause

Mental Care:

• Read a great book or see a movie
• Develop a skill or hobby
• Take a class or join a group on a topic that interests you
• Challenge yourself to learn something new – get out of your comfort zone

Taking the time to take care of yourself can seem impossible, but it is such a good thing to do, especially during a job search. It takes commitment and discipline, so take small, doable steps. The benefits you will reap are so worth it and may even land you a job!