Originally published on havetheaudacity.substack.com
Being unemployed in 2026 is not for the faint of heart. Long application processes paired with weeks of silence and the dreaded automated rejection emails have become a weekly occurrence for hundreds of people. I myself have now applied to over 200 jobs and am still looking. It’s not always easy to stay positive, but it’s a necessity if you want to stay sane and not spiral. So here are 4 little things I do to help stay positive whenever I receive another job rejection email that I highly recommend for anyone unemployed in this job market.
Spend Time with Friends
One of the worst parts about being unemployed is how lonely the journey can feel. And after receiving another rejection email, it’s hard to not fixate on it when you’re by yourself. So whenever possible, I try to spend time with friends. More specifically, people who help lift you up, make you laugh and feel optimistic, and don’t make you feel ashamed about your situation.
Go Outside
This is more of a personal preference so if you’re not an outdoors person, that’s fine. The point is to do something that you know makes you feel good so just replace this with whatever that is.
Now for me, something that can always make me feel better is going outside whether it’s for a walk around the neighborhood or a short hike. It helps me direct my negative energy somewhere else while releasing serotonin to help reduce stress and improve my mood.
Journaling
Take it from someone who chronically fixates on their feelings and anxieties internally instead of talking about them: it’s not good for you. Journaling has been really helpful with helping me not just get my thoughts out of my head but also acknowledge and work through my feelings.
If you’re not sure what journal prompts to use, I recommend checking out this post by Deana Jirak.
Repeating My Unemployment Mantra
Yes, I have an unemployment mantra to help keep me sane, especially on days when I feel like I could spiral. And I highly recommend you do too. I’m a big believer that the energy you put out into this world is the same that you receive. It’s part of why staying positive during a difficult experience like unemployment is important because you want to be able to welcome positive outcomes into your life. Plus, the more you tell yourself these things, the more likely you are to believe it and keep yourself calm. So here’s my mantra:
“Rejection is protection. What is meant for me will not pass me”
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