6 Tips for Dealing with Insomnia During a Job Search

6 Tips for Dealing with Insomnia During a Job Search 6 Tips for Dealing with Insomnia During a Job Search Talk about an unwanted cycle. Anxiety over finding a position can keep job seekers up at night, and then failure to get proper rest can make it harder to conduct a productive search the next day. How can you get the ZZZs you need to perform your best when dealing with insomnia? Try these tips for dealing with insomnia  during a job search: 1. Schedule downtime. Don’t expect your brain to switch gears immediately. Performing tasks right up until bedtime may seem admirable, but it likely will do more harm than good. Instead, quit at least an hour or so before you want to sleep. Choose a relaxing activity such as reading or listening to music to destress. Turn off electronics, even if you only intend to mindlessly surf or go on Facebook. According to Harvard, the blue light emitted may interfere with sleepiness. 2. Develop a routine. Just as a cup of coffee and a ready to-do list gets you going in the morning, establishing cues in the evening can help with relaxation. A regular cup of chamomile tea and a crossword puzzle might become your go-to signal to unwind. 3. Watch caffeine intake. Speaking of drinks, keep an eye on caffeinated beverages in terms of amount and time of consumption. The Sleep Foundation says that  caffeine may help with alertness during the day, but taking in too much of this stimulant or ingesting it too close to bedtime can wreak havoc on sleep. And avoid this common trap: depending on caffeine to stay awake after a poor night’s rest, which then leads to another bout of sleeplessness, which encourages drinking an extra cup the next day, and so on. 4. Exercise. Yoga, a trip to the gym, or even a brisk walk around the neighborhood- all will help put your body and mind in a better state. Studies show that 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week provides a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality.  Just make sure you get that Pilates class in at least three hours before you intend to go to bed. 5. Perform a mind dump. Find yourself stressing as you try to unwind? Grab a paper and pen to jot down anything and everything that comes into your head. Don’t evaluate what you write; save that for tomorrow. When the name of that new company to check out is safely on paper, you can stop worrying that you’ll forget it. 6. Ban job hunting in the bedroom. The last thing you need in the middle of the night is to see a stack of resumes on your dresser or your laptop sitting on the floor next to you. Consider your bedroom a sanctuary where you can retreat after a productive day. You’ve earned a good night of sleep! Readers, do you think dealing with insomnia impacts  hinders your  job search? What do you do to make sure you get enough sleep?