Guest Author - Dianne Walker
Concentration is an art when you are unemployed. Progressing through an unemployment period may not be speedy, but it should be done with direction and a goal in mind. Concentrating on your goals will help you to direct your actions and achieve success. Concentrating on your goal, will provide a compass that will help you to achieve your desired results. What happens when you lack focus? Being unable to concentrate and a lack of focus will derail even the best laid plans.
Control your life by concentrating on your focus. When short term unemployment becomes long term unemployment, we begin to lose focus on the big picture. We start focusing on the day to day elements rather than the long term goal. When you first become unemployed, set goals early and stick to them. Your concentration should be on what is within your control.
Concentration prevents you from being overwhelmed. Think too much and you stand to lose control over your ability to focus and be productive. Concentrate on performing one task at a time and you will not feel as overwhelmed. Break large tasks into bite-sized manageable pieces.
Concentrate on one goal at a time. Focusing on more than one objective, robs you of time and energy. For example if you decide to become a consultant, focus on becoming a consultant 100 percent of your time. Multiple goals will keep you from achieving the one long term goal that you desire to reach.
If you concentrate on positive actions, your mind will roam less on other negative thoughts. For example, most people will ask themselves “Why me?” Instead, think of more positive questions. I have this opportunity to make changes in my life, what should I do? Now that I have the opportunity, what new skills can I learn to achieve even greater success at my next job?
When you consider concentrating on your job search, consider all of the factors. If you have a large leave payout or a severance package, you may have time to find employment. Many people, however, do not have that type of luxury. The more urgent the need, the more need for concentrating.
Concentrate your full attention on your efforts and the resources needed to achieve your goals. Once your ultimate goal is in place, concentrate on reaching it one step at a time. If your concentration is maintained, a positive job search attitude will carry you through the present situation. Once you have again gained successful employment, you will realize that by concentrating and focusing on your goal, you can achieve anything.
