Watching the sunset from the top of Mauna Kea – now that’s something worth feeling overwhelmed about!

I once read in someone’s profile that they “don’t follow bloggers who use the term ‘overwhelmed’“. This stuck with me and I began to associate feeling overwhelmed with being a whiney, needy blogger who couldn’t write a valid post.

Right.

Here’s the deal: It’s ok to feel overwhelmed! After-all, it’s your life and you want it to be amazing. But you can’t let the feeling take control! The time that you spend on over-thinking/worrying/stressing/being-generally-overwhelmed could be better used to push your job search forward.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at some (or many) points in your job search. And when you do, try taking a deep breath and remembering that you’re not alone.

Right now is the prime of your life.

You know what helped me to get past being overwhelmed?

• Writing lists of things to-do and checking them off as I complete them :)
• Having a friend/family member read through my resume and cover letter
• Talking to a mentor or advisor and brainstorming ideas
• Volunteering with organizations that I feel passionate about [or interning, both are worthwhile]
• Spending some time in nature or participating in activities I love
• Reading blog posts that inspire me [10 Mistakes Unhappy People Make, First Job Out of College (series), and Resume Bear: Interview Secrets We Should All Know About, just to name a few]
• Practicing interview questions
• Blogging, writing, journaling, and brainstorming new ways to get past unemployment

It’s ok to allow yourself to feel overwhelmed from time to time, but don’t let it stand in the way of your success.

Elle