I know its grueling writing resumes, filling out all those online applications and constantly checking your emails and messages to see if anyone has responded. It may take time and energy to complete all the tasks necessary to find a job, but it doesn’t necessarily expend a lot of calories.
If you’ve been looking for a job for awhile, the combination of stress, boredom, anticipation and a lot of sitting and surfing the Internet can take its toll on the body. Let’s face it, looking fit and healthy are important if you want to make a good first impression. As the weeks and months go by, “comfort food” takes on a whole new meaning. Here are some things to watch out for if you want to keep the pounds off while looking for a new job.
1. Distance yourself from the refrigerator and pantry. When everyone else leaves for school or work, you’ve got the house and the pantry to yourself. No need to sneak all those empty calories. No one is around to know and plenty of time to hide the evidence. Get rid of the snack stuff or declare the kitchen “off limits” between meals.
2. Use the networking meeting to network. The Chamber of Commerce has monthly “business after hours” networking sessions, with food and wine and lots of opportunity to mingle. Use the time to meet as many people as possible and size up the job search opportunities instead of positioning yourself in front of the food table. Too many plates full of meatballs and cheese and crackers can pack on the pounds. It’s also difficult to shake hands and hand out contact cards while balancing a plate full of food.
3. Get “on the wagon.” Those networking meetings are a time to relax and let go. Many of the people who attend are already working and can afford to loosen up a bit, but a job seeker has to be in control of her faculties. A couple of glasses of wine add lots of empty calories, too. Over a couple of months, they add up.
4. Get moving. One of the difficult parts of being unemployed is deciding what’s important enough to spend money on. While employed, you never thought about the cost of a gym membership, yoga classes or weekend kayaking trips. Now, you feel guilty splurging on a $16 haircut at the mall. Schedule exercise or just “outside time” into your day. Get on a walking program, ride your bike, run, or find some budget classes at the local Y or community center. Sitting in front of the laptop all day is admirable, but exercise has added mental and physical health benefits. And, you just might meet a valuable contact on your morning walk.
5. Reassess “comfort food.” No matter how warm and fuzzy your grandmother’s double macaroni and cheese makes you feel, it’s only for a moment and can have serious side effects. Like the needle on the scale going up, the self-loathing for lack of discipline and frustration when your expensive interview suit no longer fits. If your job search is getting to you, give someone a hug (it’s the best way to get one back). Pets are great for giving unconditional love and are great listeners, too. Write your frustrations in a journal. Read the Bible or some other spiritual or motivational book. All those things are comforting and calorie-free.
The stress of unemployment is tough enough. Keep active, focused and out of the kitchen. Eat healthy and get some exercise every day. You’ll have a clear mind, extra energy and the stamina to get through your job search to a great new opportunity.
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