A job search under the best conditions is stressful. How can you maintain your mental health and stay mindful throughout that stress?
By Lisa Fenton
Lisa Fenton CSCMP is a speaker, writer, and supply chain management professional. Listen to her podcasts on "3, 2, 1, iRelaunch" - Episode 101: “What Does ‘Supply Chain’ really mean? And if I’m good at logistics, can I relaunch in that field?” and Episode 72: "Creating an Effective Return to Work Plan."
A job search under the best conditions is stressful. The COVID-19 pandemic has exponentially increased the amount of stress relaunchers are dealing with, and that stress can have a significant effect on your health, your resilience, and ultimately your relaunch. Adopting a mindfulness practice can fundamentally change how you deal with the difficulties associated with a job search and can change your overall reaction to the daily challenges you face – not just now, but after you’ve returned to work as well.
Stress is a normal part of life, and a little stress now and then is manageable. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention roughly two-thirds of all hospital visits are for stress-related problems, and 75% of health-care expenses are stress related. Long-term activation of the body’s stress-response system, and prolonged exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can result in:
Is it any wonder that it can affect your job search too?
According to research conducted by the Society for Human Resource
Management, 75% of employers indicated that their companies offered some
type of wellness program, resource, or service to employees. For every
dollar that is spent on the program the company saved $3.27 because of
reduced healthcare costs. A new survey by Virgin HealthMiles Inc. and
Workforce Management Magazine found that an overwhelming 77% of
employees think that employee wellness programs positively impact the
company culture. Research suggests that employers save on average $5.82
in lower absenteeism costs for every dollar spent on employee wellness
programs. The Virgin HealthMiles workforce survey found that about 87%
of employees said they consider health and wellness when choosing an
employer. These interesting statistics support wellbeing initiatives and
encourage employers to explore and implement them within workplace
environments.
Understanding the importance that employers place on wellbeing, the health benefits you can gain from stress reduction, and the clarity that mindfulness practices can help you achieve, it’s easier to see why this can be an enormous boost to your job search and interview success.
Adding mindfulness in your personal set of tools will help you stay focused without getting stressed out and overwhelmed. By doing so, you’ll
Are you ready to regulate your emotions, decrease your stress, anxiety, and depression, improve your health, and take back your job search and even improve your performance once you’re hired? Access to mindfulness resources are available for free through many universities, apps, blogs, and websites.
Join our growing relauncher communities on Facebook and LinkedIn. For more great guidance on your relaunch and updates on when return to work programs are accepting applications, events for relaunchers and more, be sure to sign up for our Return to Work Report and follow us on social media to stay informed!
