Day: June 14, 2018

6 Small Actions that Will Help You Feel Less Stressed

Posted on by Katie Evans

If you are feeling stressed with work, or balancing work and family obligations, you may feel too overwhelmed to think about changing your situation. To feel better, try thinking about small actions you can take today. It can make a big difference.

The biggest thing remember is not sabotage yourself with bad habits like drinking, smoking, or overeating. Instead, focus on small positive actions you can take to handle everything in front of you and combat the side-effects of stress.

1. Exercise

Exercise won’t help your stress to vanish instantly, but it will help you to reduce some of the emotional intensity that comes with it. Exercise can help you to clear your thoughts and it can also help you to deal with your stress more efficiently. When you exercise, you release endorphins and this can cause you to feel better about yourself. You’d be surprised at what a difference this can make to the outlook you have on your life.

If you’ve never exercised before, try walking around your block in the morning before you start work, or walk around a park on your lunch break. Getting outdoors can help, too.

2. Take Control

There really is a solution to every single problem. Lack of control is one of the main contributors to stress, so take a step back and figure out what you can control, and get to work taking actionable steps to change the situation.

If you are drowning in a stack of work or working long hours with few (if any) breaks, then it’s time to talk to your boss. Let him know that you want to do your best work, and you feel your current workload is not allowing you to do that. You can ask your boss to extend deadlines, or assign a coworker to help you. You can ask you boss to consider outsourcing some of the small administrative tasks that take up a good chunk of your time. The point is, have options to offer your boss so you’re not dumping your stress on him, but rather helping him help you find the help you need.

It may even be worth asking your boss if they have looked into hiring EAP providers, Peninsula Group to help give the other employees you work with the support they need as well. An EAP can make a huge difference.

3. Connect with Others

If you’re stressed, make time to do small, simple things with your friends and loved ones. Go get a pedicure with your best friend. Meet your significant other for coffee on your lunch break. If you can find just a half hour to connect with your loved ones, you will feel some stress relief.

4. Take some “You” Time

I can hear all the mothers of the world laughing at once at the idea of taking “you,” time, but it’s important when you’re feeling stressed. Find little ways to sneak in time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes. Take a bubble bath. Flip through your favorite magazine on the Zinio app, or close your eyes and savor a rich dessert.

The point is, take a few minutes to have a mental vacation. When I worked in the city, I would spend my lunch break walking around an art museum. It’s a quiet place where you can feel inspired by the creativity of others. Plus, you have to silence your cell phone, so no one can bother you.

5. Welcome a New Challenge

When you’re feeling like you can’t handle even one more thing, thinking of a new goal can be tough. But, if you can think of something that inspires you, setting a new goal can help relieve your current stress.

Try something small, like saving a specific amount of money or planning a fantastic vacation. Just the act of planning a vacation is often enough to make you feel better about life.

If things are truly bad in your current job, set a goal of finding a new one. Redo your resume, improve your LinkedIN profile, and start thinking about how great it will be to find a new job with new opportunities.

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6. Give to Others

Stress can make us forget how wonderful it feels to give to others. Even though you feel like you don’t have a lot of time right now, look around you for ways you can help someone in a small way. Maybe you can pick up a neighbor’s groceries while you’re picking up your own. Maybe you can do a load of laundry for your equally stressed teenager. You don’t have to do something epic—just small, thoughtful favors are enough to help you feel less stressed and help someone else feel less stressed too.

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6 small actions that will help you feel less stressed - #stress #managestress #career

5 Things to Do if You Can’t Find a Job after College

Posted on by Katie Evans

If you’ve just graduated college, you may not be prepared for the cold, harsh reality that adulting is hard. The real world can be discouraging, and in our current political climate, it can be downright depressing. But no matter how much rejection you face, you still have to pull up your big girl (or boy) shorts and take action. You have to find a job.

You have to strategize to find the job you want. You can’t just fill out a bunch of online applications and assume you’re going to find a job. You might just out of sheer chance, but when you leave your career to chance, you usually end up in a crappy job you hate. There are better ways.

1. Visit Your College’s Career Advisors

Most colleges have an office dedicated to helping students and alumni find jobs. It might be called a “career center” or “alumni services.” If you’re not sure where to find it, ask the receptionist at your former school.

It’s in your former college’s best interest to help you find a job because the US Department of Education keeps track of information regarding how many graduates have jobs, both in and out of their degree industry. Your employability should be a priority to your former college, because if you have their shiny degree and can’t get a job, they look bad.

Your college’s career advisors usually have a list of employers looking to hire graduates. Some advisors can help with your resume and cover letter too, but in our experience, their advice is usually outdated on those particular topics. Some career offices have a closet of professional attire for interviews—just ask!

2. Don’t Take a Gap Year Before Getting a Job

As you’re leaving school or college, your focus should be on getting a job. Taking a “gap year” before getting a job is an immature idea that won’t impress employers. You (or your parents) have spent a lot of money on your college education. The least you can do is put your degree to work. Be a grownup and get a job.

When your job search isn’t going your way, it can be tempting to just give up. Unfortunately, life doesn’t let you just give up. You have to find a job, so don’t stop trying until you have one!

3. Find a Coach

If you’re waiting for the job fairy to show up and hand you your first job, it’s time you find a career coach. If you’re stuck in your career in any way, a career coach can help you set goals and clearly see the steps to reaching them. Jarell and I offer career-coaching services via phone, online, and even in person if you live in the Orlando or Tampa area.

4. Redo Your Resume

One of the easiest things you can do to make meaningful change in your job search is to do something different with your resume. Improve your action verbs. Ditch your objective. Create a professional profile. Add skills. Change the format. Make a video resume. Keep playing with it until you find a winner!

Remember that you should alter your resume for each job advertisement you answer. Look for keywords and key skills that the employer wants and make sure your resume includes them.

5. Do Something to Gain Experience While You’re Looking for a Job

f you didn’t intern while in college, your lack of experience may be holding you back from finding a job. That doesn’t mean you stop looking for a job, but it does mean you should do something to fill that experience gap.

The first thing you should consider is taking an externship or fellowship, but if you can’t find one of those, volunteer. Find a company you admire, and offer to work for free. The worst they can say is “no.”

You can also start a side hustle. Employers will be impressed at your entrepreneurial spirit, and your parents will be impressed that you’re making money all on your own. Running your own side business gives you skills that you can take into any job field; plus, it gives you something to talk about in your cover letters and interviews.

Bonus Idea

Check out the Transitioning from College to Career: A Guide for New Grads for great tips and advice for finding a job, acing interviews, and figuring out life in general after college. 

Related Posts That Will Help You

Keep Looking

No matter what, don’t give up on your job search. Keep looking for new ideas. Connect with as many people as you can both on LinkedIN and in person. Go to job fairs. Talk to recruiters. Network with your classmates and former professors. If you don’t have a job, your job is finding a job so get to it!

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5 Things to Do if You Can't Find a Job after College - #getajob #intern #sidehustle

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