Most people go straight from high school to college and begin learning how to adult in this environment. And while this is an excellent step to take, many young adults then struggle once they graduate and truly enter the adult world for the first time. Thankfully there are many tips available to make this transition to life beyond college graduation and a lifetime of learning easier.
Find Yourself
College is that time after high school where you begin to explore who you are, what you want from life, and where your passions lie. Well, guess what? This exploration doesn’t end with final exams; instead, it ramps up as you enter the real world. So, if you aren’t sure of what to take up in college you might want to consider taking a gap year – a gap year where you can develop your faith and earn college credits all at once. Look into Christian gap year opportunities at OneLife. Keep up the momentum to continue developing as a person, taking advantage of the opportunities having an income brings. Don’t be afraid to change careers if you aren’t happy; travel, try new hobbies, and find your comfortable place.
Investing in yourself in this way will make you a happier, more confident person later in life. Longer life expectancies mean we are working until older and have plenty of time to settle into a long, fulfilling career later. Previous generations didn’t have this luxury and were often burnt out and miserable by middle age.
Work Ethic
Whether you’ve spent the last four years gaining a degree for entry into your dream job or you’re not sure what you want to do, work ethic will take you far. Even if you take a string of short-term positions before finding the right fit, demonstrating a good work ethic will see you hired when it matters. A good Australian resume builder will help showcase your skills in this regard and allow you to adapt and change the resume as your experience grows. Another point to remember is that a good work ethic doesn’t equal being a door mat, though it can take time and maturity to realize this properly.
Prepare for Rejections
Many a recent college graduate has approached the post-graduation world bright-eyed and full of expectations to take over the world. It’s a hard fall when the vast majority realize the hard work isn’t over yet, and they’ll receive many rejections before landing a good job. Tempering expectations early on makes dealing with rejection easier and allows you to bounce back quickly. While it’s fair enough to want to hold out for your perfect job, with bills to pay and competition strong, accepting a less ideal post should be seen as a stepping-stone, not a failure.
Reign In The Partying
If your college experience was four years of partying and non-stop fun, it’s finally time to pull back and give your liver a rest. Enjoying a healthy social life is crucial as you head into the world of work but turning up several days a week hungover isn’t a good look. Even worse is calling out sick after a heavy night, which shows your employer and colleagues you don’t respect them or your job. Learn to keep your heaviest nights out for when you don’t have work in the morning, and if you do head out on a school night, don’t go too hard.
Routine
School and college revolve around schedules – classes and tutorials at set times every day and week, exam weeks and holidays licked well in advance. And while it’s liberating to move away from such a disciplined structure, it’s easy to become lost without it. Creating and sticking to a basic routine for yourself is an excellent way to overcome that lost feeling. Set certain days for different chores, and allocate time for exercise and downtime that works around your work schedule.
Nothing needs to be set in concrete because, let’s face it, life happens. But getting up each day having a rough idea of what you’re doing and where you’re going makes getting up far more manageable.
Learn To Budget
If you haven’t had to work and pay your way through college, chances are you’ve never had to stick to a budget before. Even experienced adults who’ve been working for 20 years can find themselves amazed at how fast the monthly pay packet disappears, and when you’re new to it, the money goes even faster. Now you’re out in the world, working and paying your way, it’s time to learn to budget effectively.
If you’re struggling to make the budget balance, plenty of online tools are available to simplify the process. In a spreadsheet, enter incoming funds against all outgoing funds to see where you are financially. Put necessities at the top so you can be sure all the bills are covered before splurging on the things you want.
Changing Relationships
Over the years, you’ve grown and changed, and it’s vital to remember that so has everyone else in your life. This process doesn’t stop in early adulthood; it continues for life. As such, it’s vital to remember that relationships formed in college may not survive beyond graduation, or priorities may change if they do. Embraces these changes and be prepared to forge new relationships while enjoying the evolving relationships that stay strong.
Learn Acceptance
Joining the adult world is hard, and it’s okay to feel that way. Admitting that you’re struggling sometimes is healthy and the first step to overcoming those struggles. So many changes in a short time, so it’s no surprise that it can be challenging to keep up all the time.
Learning to accept that you aren’t on the ball one hundred percent of the time relieves the pressure that will otherwise eventually boil over. Ask for help when you’re unsure of something, be it at work or some other area. Use friends as sounding boards occasionally and seek medical help if issues become long-term.
Transitioning out of college and into the adult world of work and life is both exciting and scary. Embrace both these feelings, find ways to engage with the good and deal with the bad, and you’ll soon be adulting with the best of them.
