#015 - The Shortest (And Most Personal) Newsletter I've Ever Written

The Shortest (And Most Personal) Newsletter I’ve Ever Written

You must set boundaries with your job search. With the people you take advice from, with the jobs you apply for, who you network with. I’ve had to take that same boundaries-related advice this week. Not with my job search, but with myself.

I had a cold. (And yes I will take your sympathy, please and thank you.) I had to take some time off work. I felt guilty for doing so. Really guilty. And yeah, maybe I shouldn’t have felt guilty. The point is, I did. I felt guilty and my mind was doing its best to convince me that I was letting people down, that people were going to be mad at me, that I was ‘bad’ for being off sick.

Maybe you can relate.

A few days later, like an episode of MAFS (blame my girlfriend for that one), it all seems rather dramatic. Doesn’t it always?

I have a not-quite-finished newsletter in my drafts. I kept saying to myself this week, “Tomorrow, when I’m better, I’ll finish it.” I said that about 4 times before conceding - with a ton of help from said girlfriend - it wasn’t going to get done this week. I had to prioritise my health and my day job and spend the rest of my time recovering. (I was going to say ‘convalescing’ because I love that word but then it makes me seem like some woebegone Victorian child who’s all but succumbed to some innominate ailment.)

If I’d tried to finish the newsletter I would’ve been forcing myself beyond my limits. And for what? So I can send you something that’s not my best? What does that achieve?

Another lesson there. One that applies (get it?) to your job search.

Okay, I’m off. Time to convalesce. (Couldn’t help myself.)

Cheers!

PS I know there have been more layoffs recently. I wrote a post on LinkedIn earlier this year that might help. Feel free to read or share.

PPS You didn’t think I’d leave you without multiple postscripts, did you?