From Bubble Baths to Job Hunts: Rebuilding My Routine
A few weeks ago, I was soaking in a bubble bath watching Emily in Paris. Emily’s glamorous life in PR got me daydreaming—I imagined myself strutting in snazzy seersucker pants and a yellow linen shirt. I walk into the pitch room, radiating the same confident energy Don Draper had when he pitched Kodak’s carousel ad campaign, using nostalgia and family imagery to wow his client. Then, my phone pinged, pulling me out of the fantasy. I looked outside, and reality hit: A blanket of snow covered the ground. I haven’t walked in five years—let alone confidently strode anywhere. Also, I still don’t have a job.
Instead of working on creative pitches, I’m tracking the status of my job applications in a Google Sheet, obsessively checking my email, and spending way too much time scrolling on LinkedIn. It’s a total time suck.
But I’m finding ways to add structure to my day. I’ve decided to commit to launching my website with a blog. While I’d been posting blog entries here and there, I made the decision to stick to a consistent schedule, publishing a new post every Sunday. To make this happen, I started working with a Squarespace web designer, an editor, and I’m on the hunt for a podcast cover artist. Collaborating with others gives my days purpose, preventing me from facing hours alone with no meetings, no set schedule, and no one to collaborate with.
I sent my web designer a detailed page layout, navigation bar sections, and text ready for copying and pasting. Social media links? Strategically placed. He estimated the site will be ready by mid-February.
I also committed to getting into a routine with my podcast—releasing an episode the first Wednesday of each month. Suddenly, I was rebuilding my own schedule, giving myself deadlines just like I did in college, but on my own terms. It’s keeping my mind sharp and my health in check.
Later, I took two networking calls from my bedroom office. One was about a healthcare recruiter position in Manhattan, and the other was with a former graphic designer turned pharma brand strategist. She reassured me that after 400 applications, she finally landed an entry-level role. That conversation lifted my spirits. It made me feel hopeful and reminded me that persistence eventually pays off.
I set my notes aside and turned on the Knicks vs. Lakers game. Sure, I have job-hunt anxiety, but if LeBron James is still winning games at 40, I’ve got plenty of time to figure it out at 24.
