Graduation, check! Epic post-grad Summer Vacation, check!
Unlike last year though, there’s no “back to school season” to look forward to anymore. Now that all the summer fun is over, it’s time to get back to reality which is to get a job and make some money.
Unless you are one of the lucky few to land a job right away, the transition from a college student to an unemployed young professional is hard and some of you might not help but feel pressured, anxious, scared and blue.
Don’t worry, all these feelings and emotions are normal. To help you, here are 8 helpful tips to overcome those post-college blues.
1. Accept change.
After graduation, everyone will go their separate ways and that’s how life goes. You won’t be waking up with roommates or walking around the campus filled with activities and friends anymore. As ironic as it is, you might feel sad not having classes, projects and assignments to look forward to. Talk about major separation anxiety from college life. But like what I said, that’s what real life is – and the first step is to accept the change instead of drowning yourself from sorrow. Let go of the past and welcome the bright future ahead of you!
2. Stay connected.
Just because you’ve separated ways doesn’t mean that your friendships are over. If you made really good friends in college, keep in touch with them through social media and continue hanging out together when you get the chance.
3. Meet new people.
At the same time, don’t be afraid to be social and make new friends. I know that it’s not easy but there are lots of opportunities to socialize with new people.
4. Join clubs.
Who says clubs are just for college? Joining clubs is the perfect opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. If you are into yoga, go join a yoga class… or maybe try something new like cooking classes or pottery. Whatever floats your boat.
5. Set your goals.
Setting goals will give you a sense of purpose and it will help you feel inspired and motivated. But don’t put too much pressure to yourself. Take it slow and steady. Working hard towards a goal will help you stay on track instead of pulling you in a downward spiral of blues and depression.
6. Establish a new routine.
One thing that might throw you off after college is the sudden change in routine. After college, it seems like there’s nothing to do anymore and as weird as it is, you might hate the feeling of not being busy, leaving you sad and lonely. You were used to a prescribed routine from kindergarten up until college – wake up, go to school, do homework, go to sleep (and some fun activities in between) and repeat. But hey, who says you can’t continue having a routine post-college? Make a new and productive routine instead of just lounging all day watching Netflix and sleeping in the next day.
7. Get serious with the job-hunting.
Yes, you need to stop procrastinating because it will just make you feel even worse. When you plan for your new daily routine, make sure to set a schedule for job-hunting.
8. Volunteering.
Lastly, giving back and volunteering not just fills down time but is also a rewarding and happy feeling. Whether it’s volunteering at a senior care facility, offering free dog-walking services or donating your old stuff from college, there’s always someone out there who needs a helping hand. By doing this, there’s no doubt that you will be able to drive those pesky post-Uni blues away!
