It seems as though there’s always advice being given about the many changes when graduating high school and entering college. However, something I don’t often see are warnings of the many changes that take place when graduating college. I would like to shine some light on the many “adult” changes you experience after getting your college degree and starting your career.

Your Thoughts on Sleep

It’s not that it’s gone, you just cherish it a lot more. Unless you take a day off, it’s the weekend or you’re deathly ill and can’t make it into work, sleeping in is not an option anymore. It’s no longer a simple task to call into work because you’re sleep deprived. Now, your “days off” play a big role. And unless you want to risk running out of vacation time, your butt needs to make it into the office. You just have to pound some coffee, start climbing into bed at 9 p.m. and deal with it.

Your Weekends

This is now very sacred time. You only have two days to do whatever you want. I’m sure you’re immediately thinking – hangout with friends, party and travel. That all changes now that you don’t get home from work until 7 p.m.. You need to catch up on laundry, run any necessary errands and clean up around the house. But don’t forget to make time for nights out with your friends. You’re still young. You’ll just be a little more selfish with your time – solely for your sanity.

Your relationships

Now that you hardly have time to hangout with your own shadow outside of work, you’re very selective with who you make time for on the weekends. I’m not saying you start pitching your friends. But you do become more realistic about carving out time for the girl you see from time-to-time that wants to meet for coffee and catch up. This doesn’t mean you weed out your friends. You simply start catching up with some through phone calls and text messages rather than dinner dates.

Your Taste in Clothing

Being a girl who loves crop tops, sparkly skirts and high heels, this affected me a lot. I noticed after being surrounded by business pros in an office for a few weeks, Forever 21 clothing wasn’t cutting it. You begin to let go of having the best going out clothes, and start collecting classy, office attire. Looking professional is now important to you since you want your co-workers and customers to take you seriously, and it starts with your appearance. I’ve noticed myself taking a little bit of money out of each paycheck to shop for quality, office-appropriate attire. Bonus – a lot of office clothing doubles for cute going-out clothing.

Your Eating and Drinking Habits

My elders have been telling me for years that the hangovers get terrible. Your hangovers will eventually get so bad that you will truly begin to question if the end is near. Personally, I have reached a point where I can only handle one night of drinking per week. “Powering through and rallying” are no longer an option. In saying this, your eating habits also shift. You’ll start making Taco Bell visits only on special occasions and learn to love veggies. On the plus side, you make drop a few pounds and make your nights out more special.

Like I’m sure you heard before graduating high school, I’m going to say it again – Don’t be in a rush to grow up. Being an adult is great, I get to do the job I love every day, be independent and essentially start my life. But don’t take for granted the time you have in college to sleep in, spend your entire weekend partying with your friends and having as much fun as absolutely possible before becoming an adult.