3 Ways to Use Mindfulness in Your Job Search

3 Ways to Use Mindfulness in Your Job Search3 Ways to Use Mindfulness in Your Job SearchTheres a lot to be said for being in the moment with mindfulness. When you focus on this moment (and this moment only), its easier to handle lifes challenges, maintain your focus, and set clear goals on what you want to accomplish.This practice of mindfulness can also be applied to your job search, too But before you break out your yoga mat and plan to om your way to mindfulness, know that it doesnt have to take upwards of an hour to achieve inner nirvana.In fact, in the Psych Central article, A Mindfulness Exercise That Takes Under 30 Seconds, Ryan M. Niemiec, Psy.D, claims that you can create mindfulness- and also improve upon character strengths- in less than half a minuteThe Mindful Pause is super simple to do. Step one is to pause whatever you are doing (i.e., scanning job listings, tweaking your resume, etc.) and just focus on your breathing for 10-15 seconds. Then, ask yourself this questio n Which of my character strengths will I bring forward right now?Some examples of these character strengths include creativity, bravery, perseverance, curiosity, perspective, forgiveness, teamwork, and so on.So how can you apply these principles to job hunting? Here are three ways to use mindfulness in your job searchCharacter Strength Perspective Forget about the past.Lets say that you botched an bewerberinterview for a job that you really, really wanted by calling your interviewer by another name. Or maybe you got stuck in traffic commuting into your interview and wound up getting there half an hour late- too late for the hiring manager to meet with you.Whatever job search gaffe youve committed in the past, forget about it. Your past does not dictate your present, and it certainly doesnt speak for your potential in finding a flexible job that meets your professional and personal needs.So brush off past oops, and view your present job search with fresh perspective and a job search slate wiped clean.Character Strength Creativity Think outside the job search box.Youve been job searching for so long you feel like you can do it in your sleep. And truth be told, sometimes it does feel like youre on autopilot.But conducting your search the same exact way every single day is not going to inspire fresh ideas- or get you excited about the potential job that is just around the corner.Thats why you need to think of ways in which you can breathe new life into an old search. It might mean going to a networking event (yes, they are helpful in your job search) or dusting off your old social media profiles and adding something new (such as a blog post, an updated photo, or even some new industry information).You may even want to reach out to companies directly that you really want to work for and see if they have any positions coming up that youd be a fit for. Think creatively about your job search and chances are you will see some fresh resultsCharacter Strength Gratitude A dopt an attitude of gratitude.Sure, it can be hard to feel grateful when youre in the throes of a seemingly never-ending job search. Thing is, feeling grateful for all the good things that are in your life (e.g., health, family, friends, etc.) can help you become more mindful of all the things that are going well, and help you to focus less on whats missing.You might even start to view your job search less as drudgery and more as a time of opportunity, when the next job interview that comes along could be the start of the next chapter in your life. Gratitude will get you through the tough times in life and help you to enjoy the good things- like getting a job offer- when they do come along. And they will.Using mindfulness in your job search can make all the difference from waking up each day miserable that youre mucksmuschenstill looking for a job, to creating space in your life for a job that makes you truly happy.Readers, do you practice mindfulness in your job search? How so? Let us know in the comments below