Series: A 30-Day Experiment to Land a Role in 2026
CV <> Interviews <> Rejections <> One Acceptance
Embrace chaos. Structure is a privilege during hard times.
“Today I will do it” beats “tomorrow I will do it better” every single time.
Day 2 Check-In
Hello Magoma community.
This is Day 2 of the 30-day experiment.
Honestly, today wasn’t a good day.
At multiple points, it felt like this series might already be falling apart. Yesterday, I was confident. I thought I’d finish my CV and profiles on Day 1, and start applying on Day 2. That was the plan.
Reality had other ideas.
The Gap Between Plan and Reality
The intention was clear:
Day 1 plan
- Finish CV
- Create optimised profiles on job portals
Day 2 plan
- List 20–25 target companies
- Begin applications
But Day 1 spilled into Day 2.
And when you’re behind schedule, structure, the thing you rely on, suddenly turns into pressure.
I realised something uncomfortable:
I like systems, routines, and clear maps. When they break, I spiral faster than I’d like to admit.
The Morning That Actually Helped (Without Me Realising It)
Before the day fully collapsed, there was one thing working quietly in the background, a simple morning routine I’ve started. I’m not following it perfectly. I’m not doing all the things. I’m starting small.
My current morning basics
(Not advice. Just what’s helping me.)
- Meditation (10 minutes)
Sitting quietly. No phone. Letting thoughts run wild. Listening to the brain panic and calmly talking back. Not fighting concern, but not obeying it either. - Physical movement (5–10 minutes)
10 push-ups, 10 squats, 20 jumping jacks. Nothing strenuous. Just movement to increase heart rate.
The goal is to remind the body that action exists. - Reading (5–10 minutes)
Sometimes out loud, sometimes silently. Reading out loud oddly signals to my mind that the day has started even if motivation hasn’t. - Planning the day
Looking at yesterday. Seeing what was missed. Writing down everything I could do, then choosing only 3–5 tasks that actually matter.
Most days, that’s enough.
The Breakdown Moment (And the Turn)
By afternoon, I was stuck.
I hadn’t finished my CV. I hadn’t moved to Day 2 tasks. I procrastinated. Avoided. Scrolled. Delayed. The familiar pattern returned. At some point in evening when I already had given up on the experiment, while taking a shower, I started doing what I’ve done too many times before negative self-talking and cursing myself.
And then something changed.
Almost unconsciously, I started defending myself.
Not with fake positivity, but with something firmer:
I don’t lose until I quit.
I don’t know if it was the meditation, the movement, or simply repetition but the shift happened.
I got out. Sat down. Opened the CV again.
What Actually Got Done
I worked until 1 AM.
Nothing was perfect. But movement mattered more than precision today.
- Finished my CV
- Created and updated profiles on job portals
- Started aligning keywords and summaries
Was it ideal? No. but Yes, enough to move forward. Because staying stuck would’ve been worse.
Lessons From Day 2
- Being behind schedule doesn’t mean you’re failing
Movement matters more than timing. - Morning routines help when you least expect them
You don’t feel their impact immediately. You feel it when things start breaking. - Positive self-talk isn’t motivation, it’s defense against your brain
It protects you from deviating when nothing seems to be working in your favor. - Plans must be realistic and specific
Use SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, time-bound.
Otherwise, structure becomes another way to punish yourself.
Tools & Resources Used Today
- ChatGPT- for refining experience bullets and keyword alignment
- Casebasix – CV templates and resume guidance
https://www.casebasix.com/pages/mbb-resume-cover-letter - I Got an Offer – consulting resume insights
https://igotanoffer.com/blogs/mckinsey-case-interview-blog/consulting-resume - Indeed – profile and resume best practices
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/entry-level-consultant-resume
End of Day 2 Reflection
I slipped back into procrastination today. I avoided discomfort longer than I should have. But I didn’t quit. I finished what mattered, even if it was late. I wrote this the next morning, not on time and that’s okay.
Consistency isn’t about perfect execution. It’s about returning especially after resistance.
As an anime character from Black Clover often says (not a fact, just something I hold onto):
You either push past your limits or you stay where you are.
Day 3 awaits.
P.S.
I’m not the best writer. I won’t always post on time. Writing isn’t the priority, doing the work is. Thanks for walking with me anyway.