Three months after being made redundant, I finally let go of the guilt associated with stepping away from my desk. When I lost my job, I dove headfirst into the job search, opening my laptop early each day to scour job boards and submit applications in a relentless cycle. However, it wasn't the job search itself that was the issue; it was the toll it was taking on my mental well-being. I found myself feeling unrecognizable, and my usual confidence had vanished. The turning point for me wasn't attending a CV workshop or receiving LinkedIn tips. It came when I started taking just twenty minutes each day to step outside, away from my desk and the constant barrage of my inbox. It might sound simple, but giving myself permission to take that break before diving into the job hunt made a world of difference. If you're feeling lost in your own job search, please reach out. I'm here to talk, no strings attached.