Nina Godridge

Sitting and sipping hot cocoa in my family’s kitchen on a rainy afternoon, I'm reminded of some life advice I received from my father about the starting the job application process.  ‘Nina,’ he said.  ‘Always ask yourself if any job position will bring you happiness or fulfillment; and remember that fulfillment is superior to happiness.’

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At the dawn of 2017, all my New Year’s resolutions were unfortunately placed on the back burner as my part-time job started to consume my life.  Now, after working for four months at a contemporary art gallery off of Irving Place, I’ve decided to share some words of advice for those living life as a post-graduate.  With the words of my father ingrained in my mind, I believe once you exit college life and step into the real world, you’ll find the value in fulfillment.  These pieces of advice might apply to the graduates who have jobs lined up, or to the ones like me who are still discovering the next chapter in their lives.

1. Organization will keep you sane

Now that your life no longer consists of working around classes and deadlines, you need a clean visual of what your week looks like.  If you’re only balancing working three times a week at your job, freelancing, writing cover letters, and attending birthdays, it’s best to get a planner.  With the help of smartphones you can use your calendar app, but if you’re like me and appreciate the simplicity of checking off your tasks of the day, Moleskine planners are a go-to.  The leather binding and assortment of styles to choose from can aid in visualizing your week.  Seeing everything in front of you will calm you down and  give a better perspective of what needs to be done.  Planners like this will also make you feel like you have your priorities straight, or better yet—like an adult.  I personally have a weekly calendar and a small pocket Moleskine notebook for when I need to write a list of what needs to be done in a day’s work.

2. Be energy-efficient  

This tip might make it sound like you're a battery, and you are.  When you’re not working or with friends and family, you’ll need to find ‘me time’.  You’ll also discover what ‘me time’ means to you, but then there will be days when that time needs to be used for more pressing matters.  You might be tempted to put whatever needs to be done to the side, but if you do this, you’ll be annoyed with yourself for not getting it done when you needed to, which continues to use your time and energy.  I found that once I entered the real world of getting things done in a time-efficient manner that I couldn’t just spend my down time doing nothing.  It seems like a luxury when you get that time to yourself, but it’s that free time that you need to dedicate to something bigger.  Use all your brainpower when you have it and never say you’ll do it later if you know you’ll be mentally drained by that time.  I know that situation all too well, and it’s tempting.

So if you have three hours before you meet up with your friends, ask yourself, how can I use my time and energy efficiently?

3. Be consistent  

When you’re no longer on your college routine of getting to class and doing homework, you can find yourself sometimes completely thrown off during the week.  Everyone has a pattern to their life.  For me, the most important one is my morning routine.  My step-by-step regimen helps remind me on the days I have off that there is much more to be done.  It also prepares me for my day ahead when I put my bag together.  It’s the little things that reminds me of how I can use the next twenty four hours.  This approach can be used for exercise, job applications, or just anyone who feels each day isn’t compartmentalized.  Dedicate a day to practicing the guitar, or a day of the week when you go to SoulCycle.  You’ll find comfort in consistency and feel less on edge when things don’t go according to plan.   

4. Apply for jobs in your spare time  

For all my college seniors out there, I cannot stress this enough.  Both pre-graduate and post-graduate life are filled with job searching and applying.  Granted, you’re allowed to make up your own times for when you want to apply for jobs, but you should dedicate at least twenty minutes a day to searching and applying for jobs.  If you’ve recently opened your cover letters folder to see none that apply to the position you’re interested in, find the time to write a new one.  This is where having a planner and maintaining a consistent routine come in handy.  If you could plan out the time each day or three times a week to check the job platforms, you’ll start writing the next chapter of your life sooner rather than later.

5. Take up a new hobby

During my college years I enjoyed taking walks around Paradise Pond and reading small Victorian poetry books from the library.  When I came home I started learning the ukulele.  Many hobbies can lead to healthy lifestyle choices like yoga or even scrapbooking.  One friend used her free time to write a memoir about the fashion industry.  It’s always nice to have something to do when you get home after a long day of work.  This topic also relates to the next tip because if you have a hobby for local brewery beers like me, you can always incorporate friends into your hobbies!   

6. Maintain human interaction 

Up until now, I’ve mentioned ways to keep your priorities straight when it comes to work, applications, and just being alive, but there’s also something called a comfort zone.  This might come from living on your own, living with your parents, or just being in a transitional phase.  It happens to all of us: you come home day after day, probably cook dinner, and watch an episode of your favorite show before bed.  Then, before you know it, you crave human interaction and pick up the phone to find some.  I find that after a long week at work it’s nice to make plans with friends to go out for dinner or drinks.  So if you are one of those individuals like me who’s good at spending large amounts of time by yourself, make plans with your friends so you can look forward to something after a workful week.  Everyone needs TLC with their friends.

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Life after graduation can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be.

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7. Get healthy and stay healthy

I cannot stress this enough!  If you spent your college years drinking six cups of coffee a day, midnight snacking on Domino’s and never exercising, get on track now!  In your 20s it’s best to start a healthy habit of eating well and exercising regularly.  If you’re like me and exercising isn’t your forte, walks around your neighborhood or park are a great form of exercise.  The same can be done for eating habits, too.  Take a look at your diet and see where you need to improve.  It might be cutting out that soda with dinner, adding vegetables to your lunch, or making a kale smoothie for breakfast.  You’ll feel the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and continue to make smart decisions for your body and mind.

8. Do the things that make you happy

Everyone knows their source of happiness.  Whether it’s reading a book, taking a hike, or going clubbing with your friends on a Saturday night, it comes in different forms for everyone.  For me, post-college life became stressful with the expectations to get a job and move out.  Soon after looking at the hands of the clock next my bed, I saw that time is fleeting.  I came to realize that life is always about finding that source of happiness and time doesn’t have to stop it.  Granted now you have responsibility, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the things you want to do.  So if you know the source of your happiness, continue pursuing it as a means of discovering yourself.

Life after graduation can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be.  Every adult you see around you went through the same exact experience; you’re not alone.  Talk to your older cousins, co-workers and even your parents!  Granted some parents will sugarcoat their life after college, but when they say, 'I remember that feeling,' it’s because they remember and know that any challenges will soon pass in due time.  Just live your life and be responsible.   

 

Comments (1)

  1. Meagan Hooper

Great tips for overcoming any life change! Thanks, Nina!

 
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