GUEST COMMENT: How not to succumb to total despondency whilst looking for a job

Being mentally strong and emotionally fit helps in any walk of life. But how do you stay positive when going through a long, challenging job search?

Here are 8 suggestions which may help:

1) Give yourself permission to be "all over the place"

Being emotionally up and down is perfectly normal when going through a career transition or any major change process. So give yourself permission to have a "bad day" or even the occasional "bad week." It's okay, there's nothing wrong with you! If it starts to become more than a few days, start using the tips below to avoid going into a downward spiral.

2) Do some exercise

Any form of physical exercise or relaxation technique gives you an immediate shot of endorphins (the so called "happy hormone") which gives you more energy and confidence. Try and do something on a regular basis.

3) Control those 'voices':

All of us talk to ourselves. There's a constant chatterbox and dialogue underway in our heads - and very often the things you tell yourself are not usually very encouraging ("You idiot, you should have done xyz", "Why didn't you say abc", "You need to be more confident, "Why are you so lazy?").

Start taking control of the voice - and start talking in a more encouraging way - you'll instantly feel better.

4) Ask yourself positive questions:

"What went well today? What are the 3 things I did really well in that interview? What lessons can I learn from that last conversation? What are my top 5 achievements this week? What's not quite perfect yet? What step can I take today to help me move forward?"

All these questions shift your mindset and your emotions - and so encourage you to take the right actions. Whereas asking yourself "Why will no one interview me?" "When will my luck change?" "Why are they not calling me back?" actually makes you feel worse - and so makes you reluctant to take the very actions you need to create opportunities.

5) Don't stress about stuff you can't control:

I can't control the weather - so I don't worry or complain about it. It's a complete waste of mental energy. But I can influence how the weather impacts me by watching the weather forecasts or by carrying an umbrella if it's going to rain. I can also take 100% control over choosing my reaction and mood if I do get soaked by a sudden downpour.

Similarly, you can't control the economy or the job market - so quit worrying about them. Instead, focus 100% of your mental energy and time on choosing your reaction to the market and those actions which you can control or influence. It's far more productive and you'll feel far better for it.

6) Minimize your exposure to BMWs

BMWs = Bitchers, Moaners and Whiners! These are the people who constantly moan and complain about anything and everything. We all know people like this and it's not always easy to avoid them when they are friends, family or colleagues. But when you're a little fragile emotionally, such negativity will be poisonous to you and your job search.

7) Celebrate small successes:

When you're climbing uphill in the middle of a terrible storm (often with some baggage), you absolutely need to pat yourself on the back with every small success. Focusing on the small wins gives you the energy and confidence to tackle the bigger challenges that you know still lie ahead.

8) Count your blessings

There are 6.8 billion people living on this planet. Most people reading this article are likely to be in the top 5% of that population in terms of material wealth, health, living conditions, opportunities and education. So whilst we're experiencing tough times economically, we still have a lot to be grateful for.