A huge well done for finishing university! Wow!

First things first, finishing university is a big deal, give yourself a bit of time to relax and enjoy this moment. You’ve done it!

What a rollercoaster of a few years you’ve had in both emotions, work and so much more. You’re no doubt still on the rollercoaster of emotions after finishing too.

We’ve gathered some tips to help you start thinking about the next bit of life. To be honest, that’s why we’re here, to make it a bit easier to kick-off with life after finishing university, so you should find a lot of helpful info throughout our site.

Sort your life out

When you’re ready, start thinking about the next steps and make a plan. Your plan should include a variety of activities.

Start by sorting your uni room, which no doubt has endless post-its, revision, pens, pencils everywhere? Job searching will become a big focus, and so it should. Perhaps think about setting your hours to job search like you would a job e.g. 9-5. Definitely include other things too. For example, your fitness routine, seeing your friends and family, relaxing, cooking etc.

Make sure you split your goals into manageable chunks. We like to pick 3 work things, 3 admin things and add on a long fun thing each day.
Some things you might like to think about tackling: research your career direction, sort your CV, opening a graduate bank account, register on the electoral roll, cancel unwanted subscriptions, create a LinkedIn profile*, get a part-time job. Make sure you have a good balance of work and play.

*Sign up to our Newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking ‘Get Involved’, and we will give you a FREE LinkedIn Hack Pack

Comparison is the thief of joy

It’s really difficult to get away from social media these days, but perhaps limit your use. You’ve already gone through a lot of change and you’re trying to juggle many things, so don’t add in the pressure that comes with keeping up to date with every move on social. You might see posts of your friends getting jobs before you, or they may already have them lined up. You may also hear of this sort of news outside of social media.

Remember that everyone’s journey is different and right now your main priority is your journey, your life and the job you will get.

Be social IRL

Meet up with your friends, talk to them, not just liking their posts. Human connection is so important for us, particularly at times when we may be feeling a little uneasy or unsure. If you can’t meet up face-to-face, why not FaceTime? Be honest and open with each other, you’re likely going through the same thing. This is so important.

Make living at home work

This is a reality for so many graduates, at least for the short term. It might feel like a step backwards, but it’s not it’s a step towards finding your own place to rent or live in. Use the opportunity to sort a job or part-time work, cook, sort your finances and potentially save a bit as your living costs may be lower.

Your family may be a calming influence or provide you with a secure place to be when everything else feels a bit all over the place.

If you do struggle with your family, sit them down and talk to them about what you’re struggling with and see if you can come to a compromise or agreement of some sort.

If you feel a bit lost

This is totally normal after feeling so elated and excited from finishing uni. This feeling will be temporary, and you will be back to your happy self soon.

Do share how you’re feeling with your friends, they will probably be feeling exactly the same, almost everyone feels like this at some point. Also, your friends will have some great advice for you, they know you well and want to be there for you. They may help you articulate what’s going on which will help you too.

Try journaling to unpack your thoughts. Write down how you’re feeling, why you think you’re feeling like it and then perhaps include a section on what you can do about it? It can be a really helpful exercise to ensure you’re in touch with your feelings and also you start to see a clearer picture rather than just the anxiety or sad feelings.

If you feel you need help or just want to talk to someone you don’t know, click here for professionals and organisations experienced in supporting young people.