This installment is a departure from my usual blog posts on best practices. Recently I finally received an offer to work with one of the Big Four consulting firms after a six-month job layoff hiatus. During this involuntary sabbatical I did a lot of introspection and uncovered some motivational routines that enabled me to sustain my edification, productivity and creativity.

I was laid off from my job six months ago amid company-wide restructuring. This was not the first time in my career to undergo this obstacle. However, it was the longest hiatus I had incurred.

Based on my previous two layoff experiences, the first thing I did was to remain calm. I already started putting together an action plan in my head (resume, network, job boards, etc.) once I knew I had a severance package coming. I felt very fortunate that I had some type of financial security to tide me over the next few months.

As the months passed of sending out resumes, applying online, corresponding with recruiters and undergoing soul-searching interviews, I gained some inspirational wisdom on how to maintain my sanity and survive the long-haul layoff hiatus. I’ll leave the financial management side to other experts. My focus here is on staying motivated and productive because looking for a job is a full-time job.

For anyone who may be in the same situation, here are some inciteful best practices I’d like to share.

• Don’t dwell on the past and harbor negative feelings toward your previous employer. If it weren’t for your employment with them, you wouldn’t have attained the skills and experience to market yourself for your next career opportunity.

• Don’t sell yourself short. Know your professional worth by completing a skills assessment profile on websites such as Glassdoor.com and Dice.com. These sites also link your skills profile to current job openings.

• Reach out to your network for referrals and recommendations. They know your talent and potential and can be a great marketing endorsement to potential employers. Remember to pay it forward when they need your endorsement and referral assistance. This time is also a great opportunity to explore other vocational options by conducting informational interviews over lunch or coffee with your network.

• Exercise your mind by reading articles, professional journals and books, taking online courses and attending webinars and seminars on topics that pertain to your career aspirations. For example, Coursera.org offers auditing online courses for a variety of subjects, such as engineering, humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, computer science, digital marketing and data science. Also, consider creating your own personal website (via a self-service website builder such as Workfolio, Wix, GoDaddy, etc.) that features your portfolio of work. Write blog posts on topics based on your professional expertise and point of view. Share a post on what you’ve written, read or studied with your social media followers.

• Exercise your body by taking walks and participating in free Yoga and Zumba classes in public parks. It releases endorphins that give a positive and energetic outlook on life. Many gyms and exercise instructors provide free passes to try out their facilities.

• Stay present among the living. Don’t sequester yourself in shame obsessing over your job search. Do volunteer work with a non-profit organization. Accept invitations to parties and happy hours. This is a perfect opportunity to network, market your professional services and get a personal referral to potential employers.

• Be persistent, perseverant and patient. Create a positive rapport with recruiters and your personal network. It takes time to build a relationship and close a deal. Being cordial, compassionate and considerate goes a longer way than being desperate, pushy and blunt. Staying in touch with your network by sending them notes of congratulations on birthdays, promotions and work anniversaries keeps the door open for continued discussions on potential career opportunities.

I’ve come to realize that having the forced time off from work has enabled me to focus on things in life that I had been avoiding because I always had an excuse that I’m too busy because of work. I took care of all the honey-do chores. I was finally able to organize my garage, personal files and extensive CD collection. I rediscovered my love of writing. I was able to catch up with family and friends and get to know them better. I was also able to see several free concerts and shows in the park, free movie preview screenings and museum exhibits on free-admission day. I seized the opportunity to explore the world around me that I once had ignored. I was able to hit the Reset button and clear out the excessive emotional baggage, insanity and stress that came with the previous daily grind of meeting work deadlines. My time off was a rare gift in disguise, and I allowed myself to graciously accept and use it wisely.