Graduation season is quickly approaching, and college grads all across the nation are probably experiencing the same forecast: winds of anxiety, painful hail balls of procrastination, and storms of hefty exams and term papers. This weather can make it seem like the end is quickly approaching, but quit being such a drama queen! These emotions are not signs of the end of the world, silly, but merely the end of one milestone in your young life. Don't worry though, I'm going to let you in on some ways to cope with graduating college and figuring out the next fifty-odd years of your work life:
1. Relax!!!!!!
You literally have to relax and chill tf out before anything else. Put some things into perspective. There's no pressure - to go to grad school/ to not go to grad school, finding a full-time job that's relevant to your field, maintaining your social life, keeping up with college friends, paying off student loans, finding a new apartment or moving back home, updating your resume, paying bills, going to networking events, finding love (ew) may seem super overwhelming, but I mean... it'll be fine??!!
2. Treat yo self!
This looks completely different to each individual. To practice self-care, I personally enjoy doing face masks with my roommate, reading a silly book, doing mindfulness meditation exercises, writing, going on a long run or walk to the city, binge-watching a Netflix series, eating my favorite foods, catching up with my girls, drinking obscene amounts of wine, etc. Experiment, find what soothes your soul most, and stick with that.
3. Wine it out.
As people, we can disagree on a copious amount of things. But my roommate has a wine glass that says "Wine is like duct tape, it fixes everything", and I think this is something that we can all agree on. Franzia "juice boxes" will clear your memory of all your worries faster than you grabbed the cheapest box on sale at the liquor store.
4. Party like a freshman one last time.
5. Make a list of your short-term and long-term goals.
Thinking about everything that you need to do and want to accomplish can make you feel like your head is going to explode. Writing it down, however, can make the goals more realistic and attainable. A physical, tangible representation of your life is better than your mind screaming a million words and panicked phrases at you. Put yourself in a quiet space and first make a list of your short-term goals. Usually, these will somehow coincide to your long-term goals. For example, one of my short-term goals is to register for my graduate school classes within the next few weeks. One of my long-term goals is to get my Master in Social Work. Therefore, registering for classes will bring me one step closer to attaining my second degree. See how that works?
6. Start saving.
Seriously, guys. I'm honestly the last person who should be giving you this advice because I'm terrible at saving money. My mom and grandma have been trying to teach me how to budget for years, and somehow I think that avoiding that lesson like the plague is the best way to handle my fear of growing up. WELP, I was wrong, because I'm always broke and live paycheck to paycheck...typical college student. I'm learning that the smallest amount can go a long way. Make envelopes of what you want to save up for: "Car", "Bills", "Vacation". From each paycheck, add a little bit to each envelope, even if it's just a couple bucks. It will eventually add up, and you'll feel super proud of yourself for accomplishing what you wanted to.
7. Start at the bottom and don't be a prick.
"Started at the bottom/ now we're here." -Drake. You think Champagne Papi created this out of thin air? NO. Your first entry-level job may not be your dream, but nothing worth having comes easy or is decorated in glitter and sequins. Sometimes, it's been dipped in grease, worn an unflattering uniform, and barely paid enough for rent each month. Listen to me now if you haven't before: get off your high horse and do what you gotta do. A crappy, entry-level position does not define the rest of your professional career. Resume building is about experience and knowledge, and you won't get that from turning down everything offered to you.
8. Learn how to cook something other than Ramen.
Your future bae, your taste buds, and your cholesterol will thank you later :)
9. Do something out of the ordinary for you.
Don't like languages? Start learning a new one. You suck at math? Practice it. You don't understand technology? Explore it. Do puzzles in the morning or read the news instead of being a creep on Instagram. Go on a hike if you're afraid of heights. Try a new food that you would never fathom in a million years. Problem-solving and being bilingual, for example, are all skills that are highly valuable in the workforce. Regardless of this, learning a new skill, just trying something new and getting out of your comfort zone is generally great for you as a human being who lives on this earth and needs to contribute to his or her society productively.
10. Embrace the insanity and learn to thrive in it.
Let's face it: we have absolutely no control over a lot of aspects of life. Sometimes you'll get your heart broken, get blackout drunk and wake up in a hot tub, fail an exam, not get that job you really wanted, and overdraw your bank account. Sometimes everything stressful and overwhelming will hit you like a wrecking ball and you'll lay there on your back for a little while. But, what's important to remember is that the circumstance is temporary. Work ridiculously hard, do your absolute best, and the rest will fall into place.
Inspirational quote: "Yeah, girl, just be you." - Drake, AKA Champagne Papi
man running in forestPhoto by 
