Don't Waste the Waiting

One of the biggest misconceptions about being between jobs is that you should spend eight hours a day searching for your next one.

You shouldn't.

Finding the right opportunity is important, but it isn't a full-time activity every single day. Some days you'll have applications to submit. Other days you'll have networking calls or interviews. And there will be days when...you wait.

Instead of feeling guilty during those moments, use them intentionally.

This may be the first stretch of uninterrupted time you've had in years. Before your calendar fills up again, take care of the things you've been putting off.

Schedule the annual physical you've been meaning to make. If you're covered by COBRA or still have access to your health benefits, consider taking advantage of them while you can. Catch up on dental appointments, eye exams, preventative screenings, or physical therapy you've delayed.

Clean out the closet you've been avoiding. Organize your home office. Back up your computer. Update your financial records. Replace the smoke detector batteries. Renew your passport. Finish the home project that's been sitting half completed for months.

Visit the relative you've been saying you'll see "when things slow down."

Call an old friend.

Volunteer for a cause that's meaningful to you.

Read the book that's been gathering dust on your nightstand.

Take a class that strengthens a skill or simply reminds you what you enjoy.

Go for a long walk in the middle of a Tuesday.

These things may not land you your next job directly, but they can restore something equally important: your sense of momentum.

A layoff often leaves people feeling like life is on hold until someone else says "yes." It isn't.

You have a life to live while you're building your next chapter.

Ironically, many people find that when they stop measuring every hour by job applications submitted, they become more energized, more confident, and more interesting during interviews. Employers aren't just hiring a résumé. They're hiring a person.

Use this season wisely.

Apply thoughtfully.

Network consistently.

Prepare intentionally.

But don't forget to live in between.