02 Nov Young, Educated, & Unmotivated

This article was written by Recovery Help Now’s, Vanessa Blaxland, MFTi.

For many young adults they still subscribe to the traditional path of finding a good job.  Go to college, choose a major that seems interesting, graduate, and get a descent job.  In the past, following this path has been promising.  However with the rise of the economic crisis in the United States, more and more recent college graduates are finding that they are left with a hard earned degree and no job.  The lack of promising jobs out of college and the thought of having to take a job they are over qualified for can leave recent grads feeling discouraged, depressed, and unmotivated.

So how can you stay motivated?  Here’s a few tips to staying motivated while job searching in a down economy.

• Positive People:  Surround yourself with positive people that support you and will keep you accountable on your journey to employment.

• Get Re-energized:  Finding that perfect job in a bad economy can be overwhelming and exhausting at times.  So don’t be afraid to take a break or vacation.  This can help you come back re-energized and ready take the job market head on.

• Talk about it:  Talking to others in the same situation can help normalize your struggles and foster hope.  It also lets you know that you’re not alone.

• Keep a routine: Just because you are between school and a career does not mean it is time to stay in your pajamas until the middle of day.  It is important to keep that same structure you had in school and will have at a job.  This will get you going everyday to stay productive in your job search.

• Keep your goals:  You most likely chose your major and career path because it sparked a passion in you. Keep you eyes on the prize.  Though they may have to be tweaked a little bit to navigate this challenging economy continue to think about the goals you set for yourself pre-graduation.