Literally. That's right, I've started a new hobby: hoop dancing. It's a combination of dancing and exercise and really it's just plain fun. Five minutes of keeping the hoop up and practicing new tricks, and your blood is pumping, your heart is racing, and any other issues that you met during the day are far off in the back of your mind and out of the way.
Of course there is a bigger benefit than all of that, too.
When I was in school I had to remain focused and to constantly absorb and implement new information and strategies. It was like exercise for my brain. But since I've graduated, keeping up with that cerebral stimulation is a bit more difficult. Between parenting and my part-time job, as well as my other regular duties like chores---oh yeah, and the job hunting---because there is no school to force me to focus, it's now completely up to me.
In addition to reading up on things related to my chosen career path (so far I've completed The Elements of Style by Strunk & White and am 3/4ths of the way through How to Succeed in Advertising When All You Have is Talent by Laurence Minsky and Emily Thornton Calvo; I'm still waiting to hear from Borders about Pick Me! Breaking into Advertising and Staying There by Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin--I ordered it a month ago...), I've found that learning a new hobby like hooping is helping me to keep my mind sharp and my motivation level high.
You see, when I hoop I set goals for myself. I visualize a new trick or move and I repeat it...over...and over...and over, until, inevitably, I can do it. Okay, so I'm not an instant success. I've found that it's still if-y when I try and lift the hoop from my waist to over my head, but I can do it. More important, I keep doing it. I do it until my legs are aching and my hips are bruised. I don't tell myself that I'll never be able to do it. I tell myself that eventually it will feel like second nature.
Practicing this type of discipline is beneficial (in my humble opinion), especially when it comes to the job hunt. It keeps you sharp and it keeps you positive. It also shows you that with a little work, anything is possible.
I started hooping two weeks ago. The first time I tried it, I could barely keep the hoop up for thirty seconds, and forget changing planes (that means changing the plane of the hoop from being level with your hips to either rotating up toward the ceiling or downward toward the floor).
Two weeks later, the hoop has become an extended part of my anatomy. When it's around my waist it feels natural and keeping it up (heck, even bringing it back up if it slips) is as second nature as raising my arms, smiling, or kicking. I've even learned how to successfully change planes.
I'm not explaining all of this to brag about my progress, because in reality I have a looooooong way to go. I'm explaining this because it proves that with a little effort, results can be seen in a matter of time---no matter what it is you're trying to accomplish.
When you take that understanding and carry it with you during the job search, the whole process becomes much less daunting. Eventually something wonderful will come from your efforts.
My suggestion, whether you're looking for a career after graduation or in general, or you're looking to move up in your current field, is to start a new hobby. Not only will it help take a bit of the pressure off, but you learn a new skill and you build up your motivation...in every aspect of your life.
Now get crackin'! (And if anyone chooses to go into putting ships in bottles, let me know. I want to see how it's done...)
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