New Year positive affirmations

1.) Being hopeful about the future is easy for me.

Wondering and dreaming about the future is something that most of us give at least some time to, sometimes with hope and optimism and sometimes with dread and apprehension. Tell yourself that when you think about your future you feel optimism

Regardless of the unexpected difficulties that can happen to us all, tell yourself it is easy for you to look ahead with optimism and relax. Know that you can survive what life throws at you and this confidence will be a wonderful feeling.

Being hopeful for the future is the best way to look forward and it is better to look ahead than to look back if your past has been difficult and painful. Being interested in your future makes you live life with more focus. Optimism drives people forward and helps to give us energy and good health. With good health is it is easier to survive any difficulties that do arise. Even in the dark times, you can be hopeful and positive about the outcome and that you can rise above difficulties.

Try to convince yourself that optimism comes naturally to you instead of it being that you must work at it.

Tell yourself that today you focus on being hopeful and positive about your future, you view the future and coming new year with optimism, excitement and curiosity.

Questions for self-reflection:

1.    Am I genuinely hopeful for the future?

2.    What can I do to increase my sense of hopefulness and optimism?

3.    in what ways, will I benefit from being more positive and optimistic?

Valerie Hartland

Escape the post-Christmas slump

Well, here it is again …That time of the year. It seems as if everyone is going to parties, visiting family and friends, maybe even going on holiday, shopping at the sales, and you have no job and no money. Try to find things to do, to give yourself a sense of achievement and to be in a good frame of mind for the start of the new year

Things on the job-hunting front may seem quiet, however, it is still good for a job seeker to be as active as during the rest of the year, indeed if you are claiming state benefits where you must submit evidence of your job search activity, then you have no choice.

Expect to have results, do not just think oh well its holiday time so I am not going to get a job now and may as well play around on Facebook. Take advantage of the fact that some businesses will be quiet, others will be looking for staff for the new year.

Benefit from the opportunities to lift your spirits …of course with no money it is easy to become cynical and stressed out, but even so there are ways to have your spirits lifted that are even free …play some online music, if you are reading my blog then it is quite likely that you do have internet access. Read some old favorite books, many of these such as the classics are available free online.

Certainly, you may have little or no money but never forget that many of the best gifts that can be enjoyed and shared come free. You feel self-conscious being unable to buy gifts but not all gifts need to be bought, offer to baby sit some children in the family or friend’s children while their parents get to go out and enjoy watching cartoons, or making things. Visit and spend time with an elderly relative and take your cell phone or tablet with you to share some downloaded old favorite songs or movies that you can enjoy together, it’s a feel-good experience for everyone. Google Random acts of kindness and be reminded how many things can be freely given. Doing something for others helps boost your own morale and when you feel good and positive, you feel more positive about identifying your skills and talents and about writing your resume or CV and job hunting. If you are invited to family occasions and to parties …do go, …be pleasant, be helpful, take a little something with you if you can, even if it is just a simple box of chocolates or flowers or a plant, and talk to people that you meet. Do not be a job seeking bore, unable to talk about anything except being unemployed, it is holiday time, but if you get the opportunity to mention your skills and that you are looking for a job, then do so ……

Do some voluntary work or make plans to do so in the New Year , there are many organisations needing help , do something to help those with even less than you have and not only will you remember how fortunate you are, but it may even lead to a job .

Be positive about your prospects for the new year ...these ideas and others that may come to you will help you be more cheerful even if money is very tight and right now you do not see much of a change coming in your circumstances ...be positive and optimistic, find ways to enjoy the new year festivities and have a head start on a positive new year …

Valerie Hartland

Job hunting over the holidays… Should you bother?

Well, the presents if you bought any are given out and unwrapped and you will be eating turkey for a week. You are watching the Christmas specials repeated over and over from past years that are on telly this time of the year…you would go to the sales, but you have no money …Christmas was a struggle but you made it through.

So, should you get on with your job search? Well, one reality is that if you are on Job seekers allowance you have no choice in the matter and will be expected to continue your search for jobs and applications, or you will find when next you go to sign on that you are sanctioned and will get no money, but there are advantages to keeping up your job search at this time of the year.

Things may be a little quiet, In the UK especially this year, with extra holiday days added on for holidays that fall on a weekend, many businesses may be not fully open if at all until the New Year.

Though do not suppose there aren't any jobs out there therefore it’s not worth bothering. To the contrary, very often managers need to put employees in post ready for the New Year. Just like the periods leading up to the summer holidays it are often a good time for your job search.
This means you should use your time to re-focus on your career search, still send your CV, to advertised jobs and employers, it’s a quiet time and they could even have longer to scan it than usual, giving you a better chance of consideration

Evaluate your CV…does it need any work or change, an update perhaps? Check out sites for free CV reviews, and post that CV to as many as possible for a free professional opinion.

Check wherever your CV is already and take it off, then repost as this keeps it nearer the top of the pile. You may quite likely have placed your CV on a website, or several, some years past and not looked since. If you are not looking at it then neither are employers!!!

Be sure that you know how to make a generic CV be custom-made for every post you apply for.

Explore....

Rather than simply applying with your CV to publicized jobs, take advantage of things being a little quieter and check out firms. Yell is a decent business listings. Plus I followed my own suggestion and Googled business directories in Mitcham, Surrey, where I live.

If you have services you can use to make money, then use free business listings to advertise yourself.

Master the art of Social networking

You are in all probability on Facebook already, however there's a lot more to it than pictures of cats and commenting to your mates on everything you are doing and every place you go. I recommend: Search the groups and pages about employment, CV reviews etc...

If you do not have a LinkedIn profile...go to the site and get started...do not be fearful of LinkedIn, several employers go straight to a candidates LinkedIn profile on seeing their CV, and you need to be there. Google Employment social networking sites too for alternative helpful suggestions.

Circulate…Take advantage of New Year parties to let people know that you are looking for a job, but don't bore them...it is a party, so be able to talk about other things too.

Benefit from the Christmas break

Get yourself into a strong, work ready place, research courses, on-line free ones if cash is tight and you cannot afford college courses, see what's free on-line. Check out and start using a system to record your job applications and responses and.....

Enjoy a little break!!!!

Valerie Hartland