To do your best, get your rest

Sometimes the best thing to do when looking for a job is nothing. Sleep is an underrated resource of the unemployed that is commonly overlooked. The value of forty winks can easily be taken for granted when the value of forty dollars seems so much more real at the moment. Restlessness and stress frequently keep job seekers from getting a full night’s sleep. There is a constant nagging need to search deeper, look harder, and do more so that it fills every second. In the quest for employment, sleep can seem like a guilty pleasure but in fact, it’s a necessity. Proper rest is most important before an interview. It’s hard to make a good first impression if you show up looking tired, worn down, and frazzled. Rejuvenation before a situation that calls for focus and alertness is essential. The inability to operate at full mental potential when tested could obliterate the opportunity before it’s even offered. Sporadic sleep patterns can affect job search performance in other ways as well. It can weaken the immune system and interfere with physical health. Irregular cycles of rest can also increase symptoms associated with psychological ailments like depression, addiction, and anxiety. Set a bed time and schedule a wake up alarm to stay on track. When the body enters Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep it is a trancelike state allowing the mind to unwind and the body to recharge. The cycle lasts approximately 3 hours and is marked by deep breathing and quick involuntary eye spasms. Breaking the cycle by waking too early can have counterproductive effects. In some cases, setting the alarm for six hours of sleep rather than seven can be more beneficial than snoozing the extra hour. In other cases taking 15 minute naps every three hours can be as effective as sleeping straight through. Sleeplessness can be battled with homeopathic remedies like meditation and herbal supplements that are available to treat specific types of insomnia. Never experiment with a new remedy right before an interview though because the results may be unexpected. No one should begrudge their body the proper rest it needs whether looking for a job or working three. With proper knowledge and preparation it’s possible to make the most out of even a little sleep. For more information on scientific careers, visit ScienceCareersite.com

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for ScienceCareerSiteBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Nexxt blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.