If you want a new job during uncertain times, consider planning not just for the most likely scenarios but also for one in which you’re unemployed for twice as long as you expect, or in which your partner also is unemployed.
These scenarios are difficult to think about, but deciding how you would handle them, and setting triggers for action can help ensure that you don’t find yourself in a more dreadful situation later on, such as having to sell your home or move in with relatives.

Explore the unthinkable

During times of uncertainty, we usually prefer to keep the status quo. We focus on our most urgent decisions: how to be safe and healthy, how to keep our bosses happy, or, if we’ve lost a job, how to find a new one as quickly as possible. This makes it difficult to find the time, motivation, and mental energy to think about longer-term questions.
But there is no such thing as total predictability and despite the challenges that extended periods of uncertainty present, those periods also offer unparalleled opportunities for strategic planning.

Change in uncertain times

Challenge the assumptions you are making about yourself and think about different ways you could leverage your skills and fulfill your passions.
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<li>Think about your most vivid difficult moments and about the skills or creative adaptations you drew on to meet them. </li>
<li>Think about the moments when you were at your best. The patterns you discover can serve as clues. </li>
<li>To understand what you value, think about how you spend your free time. </li>
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Imagining the best possible future

When thinking about an uncertain future, don't just think about acquiring new skills or making new connections. Planning for uncertainty is also about making strategic choices concerning what to leave behind.
It is difficult to give up things in which you’ve invested a lot of time, effort, and energy. And you can get nostalgic about the past, especially when facing uncertainty in the present. But moving forward means knowing what is no longer serving you and giving yourself the space to pursue something new.

Think about what you need to leave behind

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<li>This will help you move past the paralysis of uncertainty. If your tasks feel intimidating, break them down into small manageable steps.</li>
<li>If you’re not sure what to prioritize, start with something that will bring you benefits no matter what, like brushing up your CV or updating your social media profile.</li>
<li>Consider these questions: “What small move could I make today that would bring me joy?” or “What could I accomplish if I gave myself a week?”</li>
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Explore the unthinkable

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