I am unemployed and depressed, how can I stop depression from affecting my job search?

Have hope. You need to feel better to do better in life. Try resting more. Be mindful of your situation. Go out more to network and seek employment opportunities. In the meantime do more physical exercise. Being active can help produce more happy hormone in you body. Laugh more. Relax your mind and body. Probably it is time to have a break and recharge. You need to break the vicious circle before you can move on. Focusing too much on depression may not solve the depressive issue. Get some healthy distractions. Dream big. You are here. But your future is not here yet. So live now.

Consider your unique situation. By being realistic about your current abilities, you can search for a manageable job. If you had a physical ailment, you wouldn't expect yourself to work beyond your limits. Consider your current limitations. Do you have trouble waking up early, talking to people, or require frequent breaks? When I had a similar struggle, I could not get out of bed before 1pm. Because of this, I only accepted jobs that I could work from 3pm-8pm. If you listen to your body and search for a job that accommodates your needs, you may find that it's less daunting.

Implementing a routine is a great start! Structure your day as if you were going to work. Getting up early in the morning, showering and having breakfast is the perfect way to start each day. Follow that by a little meditation. This will help clear your mind and get you in a positive space. Now it’s time to get to “work”! That’s finding your new job. Keep a Detailed journal of your days activities. Note which parts of the day your depression is at its worst. Around those times Make it a point to take a break from your job search and take a walk or do something that you enjoy. Finish each “work day” writing down something you accomplished for the day. All accomplishments count, big or small. Don’t forget the most important part, it’s about progress not perfection! Good luck :)

Acknowledging that I do feel this way. Then proceed to journal why I feel depressed, when I started to feel this way, then continue by validating my feelings. I take a few deep breaths with positive affirmations to follow up; I express my self worth and my feelings, either writing them down, taking a mental notes, or saying out loud in the mirror. Then making a list as to what brings me joy/makes me feel good. When it is an appropriate time to try and find a job, (when I am calm and at ease), find these similar joyous qualities in job descriptions while mentally affirming “my reasons for my depression do not define my success in job searching”.

In order for you to stop your depression is to find ways to motivate yourself having the positive mentality that you are going to have luck in finding a stable Job the more you think about happy thoughts the less chances of having depression will decrease in no time. I know it will take time to go from depressed to happy but if you apply this to your personal self more better things would come to your future self the only thing you have to do is stay positive and not as a negative person all the entire time.

Go to a networking group to meet people in the same boat who may have suggestions on what has worked for them to keep their spirits up. If you don't know about any local groups speak to your reference librarian. They may know of local groups or be able to help you find one. They are also very helpful with resources for your job search. Another resource would be United Way or religious institutions. Many have support groups that are nondenominational. These other organizations may also have support groups for depression. Talking to someone who has been there can help.

It's a hard one being in the kinda middle ground where you want to take action but also lack in the motivation for lack of a better word. I would try listening to a song that reminds you of a good time or that puts you in a good state. Jump up and down for a minute, take a cold shower. Tell yourself "I am going to find a job, I've got this" then feel that rush and excitement. Hopefully doing these things gives you a pump of better emotions. With this go on your search for jobs and take this enthusiasm with you when you go into your interview. I realise this may sound quite silly but if you really stick with it man you can do it! You've got this mate!

It's totally understandable to feel some depression during unemployment. SInce the time we were young, we're told that "a good job" is the definition of success (other than a good family, a roof over our heads) so it feels like we're failing, at life, when we're unemployed. It was only when I redefined my own definition of success that the depression actually lifted. At first it was just being able to get out of bed, make it and get dressed. Then it was doing that, plus taking a walk, then adding steps each day until I was feeling up to writing resumes and taking interviews. The depression lifted little by little.

By investing this time on yourself, you can gain tremendously from this downtime. Learn new skills or advance your skills, go out to meet family and friends, regularly exercise or do yoga to keep mind and body fit for next venture, being unemployed is not the end of the world, there is always a better job waiting for you. There is no one in the world who doesn't have downtime here or there. Try to take some volunteer job opportunities for time being. This will keep you busy, positive and current with the job market. Above all, you can meet new people and make new friends.

Being depressed is really difficult and not feeling like you have purpose can contribute to your depression. I would suggest that you begin by writing down your goals for the day and possibly put them somewhere you can see them. It is important to remember that you will have good days and bad days, but that the goals are there to help you remember what you're working towards. If you're able to, try writing the goals on sticky notes and posting them somewhere that you will see frequently throughout the day so that when you pass it, you can take one down and see if you're able to start on that goal for the day. Once you start marking off smaller goals, the bigger goal of job searching won't feel as daunting.