By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Finding the self-motivation that military life fosters might be difficult once you leave the service, especially if you completed your service without first finding a new job.
But, let’s face it: looking at job ads, tweaking your resume, and then creating a new cover letter for each position may become exhausting after a time. And, while your effort will eventually pay off, it might be exhausting in the short term.
So, how can you stay motivated and productive during your job search? To stay on track when job looking, use these productivity techniques.
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Start with the most difficult or stressful tasks first.
According to studies, your peak mental sharpness occurs two to three hours after you get up. While your productivity and focus will be determined by how much sleep you receive at night (seven hours is ideal), getting the difficult activities done first will help you get them done rather than avoid them.
Have you ever had problems getting out of bed in the morning? This is now referred to as “sleepHim him him him him him him him him inertia,” which means your body does not just switch gears when you fall asleep. So make a cup of coffee, stretch, or do whatever it takes to clear the cobwebs in the morning. However, studies show that between two and ten hours after awakening, your body is better able to recover from stress and your mind is at its sharpest.
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Change Locations for Specific Tasks
Plan your day so that you can switch locations to complete particular activities. Your body will then be programmed to perform at its best in those areas. Changing locations just for the purpose of performing specific activities alters your brain’s relationship with that location and activity.
If you only write cover letters at a particular fast food place or coffee shop, for example, your brain will ready itself to write cover letters when it detects you’re there or on your way there. Then you’ll find yourself thinking exclusively about cover letters while you’re there.
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Take a nap or meditate
I know there are a lot of people in the world who can’t sleep during the day and think meditation is pointless. I t’s not so much the activities themselves that matter as it is what happens during them. Both napping and meditation can help you re-energize your mind.
Try a guided meditation to help you regain your attention and creativity if you’re willing to give meditation a try. Many of these types of guided meditations may be found on YouTube or through apps. According to NASA, meditation promotes focus and concentration. 26-minutes siesta has been shown to be the ideal length for restoring brain function after a day of work.
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Keep track of your calendar and be familiar with it.
It’s pointless to have a calendar if you’re going to disregard it. Additionally, employing one may assist in blocking out time to split down various activities for individual job applications. You can use it to set up a specific amount of time each day for work, which adds up to a very productive week.
Even if you don’t use a calendar, you can find it useful to block off specific periods of the day to complete certain things. If you want to apply for two jobs every day, for example, make it a habit to include it in your daily routine, along with meals, meditation, and whatever else you want to do. This has the extra benefit of forcing you to think about which activities are most important that day and to prepare accordingly.
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Maintain a healthy body
Feeling good about yourself is crucial to your job search success. Consider this: you’ll spend day after day applying for jobs, and if you’re lucky, hiring managers will react with a “no.” Most of the time, you won’t even get a response.
For obvious reasons, that can get to you after a time. Nothing, however, can keep you from feeling down in the dumps like a daily dose of exercise. You’ll feel better about yourself in general, in addition to getting a much-needed workout. That positive attitude will show through in the way you present yourself on resumes, cover letters, and in job interviews.
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Give yourself a treat
Even if your work is looking for a job, no one should live just to work or get more work done. If your aim is to send two good applications to job postings every day, give yourself a prize when you reach it.
There’s no reason to feel guilty about watching TV or playing video games if you’re working hard to acquire your first job after leaving the military. Your brain, too, needs enjoyment. Collecting that reward will allow you to return to your tasks with a clear head and a positive attitude.
Your internal drive will make all the difference in your job search. Organizing yourself, your day, and your attitude will get you to your target.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2026
