It has been a little over six months since I graduated, and I still do not have everything together. I’m not the only one either. Even my friends that had full-time jobs lined up in the Spring still cling to the memories of college, admitting that their post grad lives do not feel real. While this graduation class is particularly stunted due to the lack of an actual graduation, and transitioning into the world of the global pandemic, this feeling is no different for many graduates.
Most of your feelings are likely normal. Perhaps you have taken to this “adulting” thing really well or maybe you are struggling to even start “adulting”, like me. Either way, this transition period is the perfect time to look within. With the pandemic still taking the opportunity to do some of the things we normally love doing, there is a lot of time to discover new things about yourself. I want to share some of the ways that you can do this and that have worked for me, in no particular order:
Read, as many books as possible
I know we all say that we do not have time to read books for pleasure, but it really is quite easy to make time. I like to read when I am relaxing, taking a nice bubble bath. Maybe instead of watching a show before bed, twice a week you read for an hour before bed. Just start, and if it is something that you are interested in, you will make the time.
As for the type of books that I recommend…I know that “self-help” books do not always seem to be the most alluring, but I like to think of them as major motivator books and I think that they can do a lot of good. If you go into them with an open mind and just take a few things away that resonate with you, I promise you will find out new things about yourself and your dreams.
Another helpful read is a book on the topic that you are interested in for a career. This is a good way to level up in your professional life, or to realize whether or not you are headed on the right path. I can tell you now that if you are not into a book about marketing, you probably won’t like working in marketing.
Autobiographies of people that you have admired are also great reads. Hearing about other people’s stories and their successes and failures give great guidance and motivation. In some ways you may relate to this person and learn from their struggles.
Meditate or just take some quiet time to breathe
One thing that always brings clarity to me and helps me focus is to meditate. There are some really great guided 10 or 15 minute meditation videos on YouTube. I find the best time for me to do this is in the morning, but any quiet moment in the day will do. This can help quiet your mind to negative thoughts or you can set an intention to focus on, whatever you are searching for. Many people notice the benefits after doing it consistently.
Talk to your friends or zoom, the more the better
I know that it is hard when you get into the hustle and bustle of your life to remember to reach out to friends that live across the country. However, talking to the people that know you best and give you the best encouragement is exactly what you may need in times of uncertainty. Tell them about what you are feeling and possible ideas that you have and ask what they think. Self-validation is very important, but sometimes you just need to hear something from someone else to really believe it. Also, reminiscing about the fun times you used to have is a very important part when you are transitioning to post grad life. It is important to remember that you have new memories just waiting to be made, including with those friends from across the country that you said goodbye to at graduation.
Do the things you love
Make sure you take some time for yourself and do the things you love. When we do the things we love, we can see ourselves more clearly. The answer about who you are and what your role is in the “real world” is rooted in what we enjoy doing. It does not have to be a part of your career, but if you love playing basketball, join a local basketball league or try to start one at work. Big changes, like not living with your best friends anymore and having to go do a “big girl” job, are less daunting when the things you love doing stay consistent.
Change can definitely be difficult, but we can decide how we are going to react to that change. It may take a few weeks, or it may take a year until you really feel normal in your adult life. You are on your own journey and your own timeline. Comparing ourselves to what other people are doing and how other people are adjusting, although very easy to do, will not help you find your own answers. Taking the time to learn about yourself will help you become a success in all aspects of your life. So I challenge you to try out a couple of these self-reflection techniques and work towards a happy, well-adjusted post grad life!
Navigating 22 & Beyond 