A long, job search can leave psychological bruises and hurl you into a self-defeating cycle. “It’s a blow to your self-esteem,” David Reiss, a psychiatrist based in San Diego tells U.S. News.

The more confidence you lose, the worse you perform in the job search.  This process “takes a half a step off your game,” Reiss says.  To fight it, author Laura McMullen gives six tips, starting with: have fun.