Why Do People Who Are Unemployed Procrastinate?

Issues Challenging People Searching for Employment

By Valerie Michele Oliver, published May 09, 2007
Published Content: 34  Total Views: 6,925  Favorited By: 7 CPs
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You've been searching for a job for months, maybe even a few years now. You're in this situation because you: were laid off from work because your company experienced downsizing, merged with another company or was sold; bit the bullet and left the job in which you were a miserable wreck; had a major client as a consultant but got sick, lost that account, and just didn't recover; retired and need more income; relocated to a new geographic location; were fired because you just couldn't do a good job for whatever the reason.

Perhaps you've been working with a career counselor or employment service; have networked like crazy, and been to loads of career expos or fairs; have been performing extensive job searches using Indeed.com, the great gateway job portal; have signed up with temporary agencies but are not getting calls, have been on unemployment but it ended; applied for public assistance to make ends meet but were denied or lost it; or have taken part-time gigs that pay no where near to meeting your cost of living needs.

It's increasingly difficult for you to get up in the morning with a positive attitude anymore. Television, book reading, listening to music, and engaging in any other activity other than looking for a job has taken hold. You have become a procrastinator.

What is Procrastination?
There are many ways procrastination can be defined and explained using dictionary terms and personal experiences. To procrastinate is to put off to tomorrow; to delay; to postpone; immobility or stagnation. It is not acting. It is an escape from discomfort or fear of rejection or failure. Procrastination is self-destruction: it keeps people from achieving goals and objectives. It can be a dis-ease with life, and depress (depress meaning to lower in force or activity). Procrastination can be a form of rebellion, or resistance to change.

Why Do People Who Are Unemployed Procrastinate?

"Panic in 1837" U.S. Whig poster unemployment cartoon. Still a problem in 2007.

Credit: Unknown

Copyright: Public domain image.

Takeaways
  • Procrastination can be a form of rebellion, or resistance to change.
  • People who are unemployed for significant amounts of time are stretched mentally and emotionally.
  • Do something that is healthy for your spirit.
Did You Know?
Statistics for April 2007: U.S. unemployed persons (6.8 million) and the unemployment rate (4.5
percent). The jobless rate has ranged from 4.4 to 4.6 percent since September 2006.
Comments
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I absolutely loved this article! Procrastination is the enemy of a successful job search. You've showed us how to move ahead, find a job we enjoy and starve doubt to death. Well done.

Posted on 05/09/2008 at 8:05:35 AM

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