Procrastination often gets a bad name. People may view the practice of putting off tasks until the last minute as a sign of laziness or deem you as disorganized or careless. However, this theory may not have merit when it relates to job seekers. While there are many disadvantages to procrastinating, when it comes to your job search, some benefits of putting off the search can work to your advantage. In fact, putting the brakes on your job search for a little while may benefit you in the long run.
Active Procrastination
A job search leading to dead ends and disappointment can wreak havoc on your morale and motivation. Stall the process and engage in active procrastination to ultimately help you to find success in the career of your choice, suggests Melissa C. Martin with (No Suggestions). When things look bleak, your confidence plummets and the pressure rises. As a result, you may begin to experience symptoms of stress and panic.
Active procrastination is a beneficial practice to refocus your efforts. Compile a new plan or strategy for your job search. Decide what tasks to put on the back burner and make a priority list during this time. If you have spent countless hours searching for a job online, maybe it is time to put the Web searches off and focus on making face-to-face connections within your professional network. Active procrastination gives you the opportunity to realign your job search strategy and organize how you want to proceed.
Healthy Procrastination
Job seekers need a moment to pause to ultimately increase productivity. Take some time to be conscious of your circumstances. Take a long walk when you are feeling frustrated or flustered to stare at nothing, clear the air and contemplate how to proceed with a clear mind. When you confront your problems and take a pause to refocus your efforts, you are able to make better decisions.
Natural Energy Boost
It is common to procrastinate when you have a difficult task to face. As a result, energy levels are often low and fear takes over. Fear fuels procrastination. For example, when you procrastinate and deadlines are approaching quickly, your body reacts by releasing adrenaline as a result of the fear you experience. Use this adrenaline to eventually tackle those difficult tasks. Although procrastination is not ideal, it can boost your energy level to ultimately make your job search productive.
Forced Focus
Some professionals thrive on the rush of a last minute task. If a submission deadline for the job of your dreams is looming, it may benefit you to wait until the last minute. When you are rushed to meet a deadline, distractions are naturally eliminated. Put the finishing touches on your resume and complete online profiles with laser focus when the clock is ticking. Professionals on a deadline are less likely to think about anything else besides finishing the task at hand. Lack of time due to procrastination can also improve your working speed. The deadline forces you to complete even the most difficult tasks at a quicker pace.
Improved Productivity
It seems ironic to deem procrastination as productive, but the reality is that while you are putting off the difficult tasks associated with your job search, you are more motivated to complete the easier tasks on your to-do list. For example, you may put off polishing your resume, but in the meantime, you might have more energy and motivation to make connections with your professional network or develop an online portfolio. It is still crucial to complete your resume, but while you are sidelining it, you are still making progress on developing your professional brand.
There is no doubt that constant procrastination can impede the success of job seekers. Nevertheless, putting off difficult tasks now and then can actually benefit your career opportunities. Allow yourself the time to take a break and pause to refocus your job search efforts.
Photo Courtesy of Roger Koun at Flickr.com
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