90 seconds after the big walk, reality sets and if you're like a lot of graduates, your anxiety peaks. If you're lucky, you'll have parents to lean on, who will give you shelter and a hand at what the possible future will charge. If you're not lucky, you'll have to fight in this hunger-games like world. Either way, hey! You've made it and you've reached a milestone plenty of people haven't. Here are 5 tips on how to coast through the transition into (dun-dun-dun) adulthood.
1. Breathe. It's okay to take a step back, do some evaluating and even if you're not evaluating, it's okay to take a step back. Your life will not end, it's only the beginning. You deserve a grace period to catch up on the things you love, all because you survived the battlefield of managing your classes, homework, and (if you had one) a social life. You also need to heal those wounds to get ready for the next stage. Just breathe, focus on now, you'll have plenty of time to concentrate on the future.
2. Don't lose yourself. Don't fall off of the face of the earth, don't unnecessarily burn bridges. You are not the only one who has a strict budget and who's life revolves around endless submissions of resumes, applications and resumes. If you enjoyed running, sleeping or eating, keep doing those things. You went to school to be made into the person you are when you walk off the stage. Yes, take a few weeks or use your summer, but keep pushing. The routines you developed are the reasons you made it through the storm called "college". They will help you bounce back to reality. I promise.
3. Somethings have to change. Understand there are frugal times ahead. Our lifestyle will change during the post-grad hangover. Whether these changes happen to our wallet, living arrangements, or our wardrobes- mostly our wallets - this is normal. Everything down to our bedtimes and drinking habits will change. Embrace it.
4. Job # 1.Let's face it the economy, the world, the work-force, they're trying to kill you. On top of all the anxiety-prone stress, the world decides to avoid giving you a job in the field you work for. It's true. According to the Washington Post online, in 2013 only 27 percent of college graduates landed jobs related to their major. At least you're starting somewhere.
5. Stay Positive. "The best is yet to come." Like my grandmother sings. You're doing the best you can. Give it time.
