We all have days where nothing seems to go right, but in job search, they can be particularly paralyzing. What should you do if you’re stuck in one of those days where no one is calling or emailing you back, you can’t fix an error you just discovered in your resume, the cat throws up on the rug and the people from the interview you had a week ago seem to have fallen off the planet?

My short answer is:  something else. Get away from your desk and even your phone and shake things up a bit. Get outside if it’s nice, call another job seeker and see if you can help him or her, bake something for a neighbor, take a walk, brush the dog, you get the idea. Don’t just sit there thinking that by sheer persistence you can make the phone ring.

As a career coach who has worked with thousands of people in transition over the past 18 years, I’m a big believer in breaks. And I’m not talking about booking a cruise–just an afternoon where you go to the movies or do something you can enjoy. How do these help? They refresh us, keep us going and help us gain a better perspective. So work hard on your search but don’t forget to take some time off, too.

Spoke on the phone today with a former client who was as excited as she has landed a new job. As we talked about it and I asked her to walk me through the steps, an interesting thing surfaced. The company had placed an ad for a Sales Manager but a few weeks later took it off their website. When she called to find out if she was in the running, HR told her that the company had decided not to fill that position.

Fast forward a few months and my client gets a call from the same company and learns that a different division needed a sales manager and asked HR to share the resumes they had previously collected. Hers was chosen because they knew she was in transition and might be more open to an opportunity that was temp to perm. In other words, being out of work made her a more attractive candidate. She went on the interview and got the job. So don’t assume that your current status, if you’re out of work, is a disadvantage.

I was on the phone recently with another career counselor, and since he knows I’m in transition, he asked me how my stress levels are. We talked about that a bit and then he said that most people just exchange the stress of a job for the stress of job search and never give themselves that quiet time, do nothing time to really get in touch with their deepest self. He told me to “experience stillness” and that from that place something new will grow. Not easy to do but I think he’s right. He also said that in his practice most job seekers get addicted to crisis mode–you know, I’ve got to do this right now because… A lot to think about.

This reminded me of a former client of mine who couldn’t stop searching even after hours at his computer. We had talked about balance, we had discussed self-care and how important that was, but nothing helped. He was still driving himself and his family crazy so one day I told him that I had a present for him. His face lit up until he saw my gift:  a piece of paper with a large, black X on it. I said to him, “Starting at 5PM every day, I want you to tape this over your monitor. You are done your work for the day and must wait until the next day to go back online.” He agreed to try it, and although I think he had a few slips where he sneaked back to his desk after everyone was asleep, it helped him stop.

I can’t say if this is what helped him land a new job which he did, but I do think it helped him not run himself into the ground. Put in a good 20-30 hours of week of smart searching (that means don’t just answer internet ads but network, research companies, go to job search group meetings, etc.) and then enjoy your remaining time. Take a walk, read a good book, visit a neighbor, take a class–do things you enjoy. It might just help you land your next opportunity.

I’ll be speaking at three events in the several weeks and hope you can join me. My website has the details (www.JeanBaur.com) but please mark your calendars for March 13th at the Hamilton Public Library where I’ll be talking about “What’s Stopping You From Landing the Job You Want?” The following week, on March 21 from 1-3 I’ll be at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA speaking on “Eliminated! Now What?” and is for Encore participants (not open to the public). And lastly, please tune in on April 8th at 8AM to “Your Career is Calling” on 107.7 FM or if you’re out of the listening area on www.1077thebronc.com. Topic is still in the works but it will include advice on running an effective job search. All events are interactive and free so kick your job search up a notch and join me.