Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. — Rita Mae Brown

If you’re caught in a loop where you are working really hard but not getting the results that you want, stop what you are doing.  You will not be losing time; you will be gaining focus.  Whatever you are doing is not working, so doing more of it will just give you fatigue, not success.

It is tempting to keep plugging away, assuming that if you just worked harder or longer then everything will be ok.  Sometimes this is true — if you review your plan and still believe in what you are doing, then by all means see it through.  But if you have doubts, take the time to reassess.  It may look like quiet time, but what you are doing is productive.

Many jobseekers I see feel like they are working very hard with little result, but in a few minutes of looking at their situation, I can see they are working on the wrong things or with the wrong approach.  If you’re not sure that you have the right strategy, get support from someone who knows.  Make sure you are working on the right things and with the right techniques.  But please don’t keep doing what you are doing, hoping that things will change.  That’s insane and it will drive you crazy!