Stay Motivated While being Unemployed: 5 Inspiring Tips

by Alifia • Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:07AM
a woman sitting behind a table facing her laptop

Job hunting all day, every day, when you are unemployed, is prone to stress and burnout. You might not even land your next job for a long time. Here are several things to do to stay motivated when you are unemployed.

Whether you’re just being laid off or waiting for HR calls, it’s easy to succumb to negative thoughts when you’re unemployed. For some people, keeping the motivation to walk forward can be hard for various reasons. It can be from the financial burden, social pressure, or work-related burnout.

Although you feel obligated to find new employment as soon as possible, job hunting and sending out CVs on hundreds of job postings all the time will make you even more anxious. Don’t beat yourself—find some time to adjust and cope with the new situation. Engaging in other self-development activities is as crucial as looking for that ideal job opening.

Purposely engaging in other things can help reduce your stress level and even level up your skills. Here are several activities to help you stay motivated.

Set a Routine

Although now you have plenty of free time, it doesn’t mean that you need to sit in front of your laptop all the time doing job hunting. Set out a specific time for job searching and updating your CV and resume. Make sure that the time allocation is not too much and not too little. When you’re not job hunting, you can use the time to do your hobbies, take workshops, or brush up on your skills.

Pick up a Hobby

National Geographic cited a 2023 paper, reporting that the paper’s survey participants with hobbies have fewer symptoms of depression and greater health, happiness, and life satisfaction than participants without hobbies. Although the paper focused on older people, it’s evident that doing your hobbies brings positive benefits. Engage with your hobby between your job hunting. Hobbies such as exercising, doing arts, gardening, or cooking can boost your dopamine and lift up your spirit.

Attend Workshops

When you were still employed, you might not have had the time to attend the workshop you were interested in. Now is a great opportunity to explore them, whether they’re related to your professional life or not. They can help you learn new topics and experiences, and expand your network by connecting with people in a new environment.

Do Volunteering

Participating in volunteering activities has a health benefit for you to regain your confidence. According to NPR, research suggests that volunteering can boost happiness and psychological well-being. It helps distract you from some of the problems you’re having, the article continued, and even gives new perspectives for better problem solving. It’s also lowering physical health problems, because you become more physically active.

Consider Freelance Gigs

Freelance work is a great way to stay productive while earning income. Explore freelance websites for short-term gigs that match your skills and expertise. These opportunities can help you build your portfolio, gain valuable experience, and expand your professional network by connecting with others in your field.

Final Thoughts

Essentially, being productive during unemployment doesn’t equal constantly job hunting and neglecting rest. Engaging in the activities mentioned above can help reduce stress and support your well-being. Maintaining a positive and healthy mindset can make your job search process more manageable and may even help you land your next role sooner.


Next read: CV vs. Resume: Choose the Right Format for Your Job Application

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