Tackling post-uni blues: 5 top tips to navigating life after graduation

Article written by Rachael Noble, Nottingham Trent University LLB Graduate.

Graduating can be a tumultuous time of life – from finally handing in your dissertation, being free from years of studying, to having to say goodbye to university friends and thinking about what your future holds. For some, life after university falls into place effortlessly with job roles being offered and exciting plans being made.  However, for the majority of students, the prospect of entering the ‘real world’ is daunting and can cause a lot of stress at a time that should filled with anticipation and excitement.

It is important to remember that feeling uncertain about life after university is normal and there are many ways to prepare yourself for the big change and ways to make navigating post-uni life slightly easier.

Networking

Networking is n excellent way to build connections, gain inspiration and develop your knowledge. It will prepare you for future endeavours and allow you to hear from those who have already embarked on their career, or perhaps those who took unconventional routes. There are many ways to ease the nerves of graduating through networking. Some may include speaking to the careers team at your university, attending career fairs and workshops, networking with potential employers and even reaching out to friends and family for advice.

Networking is not just limited to career opportunities but can also be used as a way to share your thoughts and feelings towards finishing university. Hearing from other students, graduates and friends alike who are in similar situations may offer reassurance that you are not alone and there are many others who are also unsure of the path they want to take. Although it is a time of uncertainty, you can use being around fellow students to your advantage to talk through your options and take inspiration from each other.

Game plan

Having a game plan does not necessarily mean a meticulous life plan; a game plan essentially means setting an end goal and figuring out how to get there! Making big life decisions to do with your career, living situation, and future plans requires a great deal of thought and it can sometimes be hard to spark enthusiasm and find a starting point. Whether it be a goal you want to have achieved by the end of the year or in 5 years, having an idea of what you want to achieve in the future will help create structure to your life and give you a focus for your next steps in fulfilling your end goal.

Your game plan also does not need to be specifically career focused. It may be a fitness journey, to do something for charity, saving up for a three-month travelling trip or embarking on a new opportunity. No matter the end goal, giving yourself a purpose after graduating and something to work towards will make entering this new phase of life less intimidating.

It may work to your advantage to have less of structured plan – you do not want to limit yourself. Remember, there is no rush to achieve all of your goals immediately; setting small, short-term, achievable goals will assist in ensuring you stay consistent and alleviates the pressures of independent life. Life does not always go to plan and so setting smaller expectations will allow for greater achievements.

Learn about yourself

Deciding a future is often at the forefront of students minds as the last weeks of university come to an end. However, there is no set timeline on when a decision needs to be made, if at all. Although it may feel you have been afforded a wealth of independence, university still provides a relatively structured lifestyle with scheduled seminars, set deadlines and planned events. Students can sometimes find graduating overwhelming when they are unsure of what life holds afterwards. However, now is an excellent opportunity to consider your options and what fulfils you personally. Taking this time to learn about yourself and what particularly interests you will allow you to broaden your horizons.

Learning about yourself does not necessarily mean knowing yourself inside out. It could be to better understand your strengths and weaknesses, potential job roles you are interested in, what kind of lifestyle you want to lead and where you want to base yourself. The uncertain time after university is the perfect opportunity to embark on new experiences that will allow for growth in independence, maturity and your overall outlook on life – in doing so you will learn a lot about yourself.

Comparing yourself to others

It can be hard to focus on self-reflection at university and you may find your decisions and choices are influenced by those around you. Comparing yourself to others is a natural part of life yet it can be especially difficult whilst at university when you are all having to make similar decisions which may at times feel slightly competitive.

Perhaps your peers are being invited to interviews, have landed their dream job or are embarking on exciting adventures and you may find it disheartening when you do not feel you are making as much progress. However, no journey is the same and now more than ever you should focus on yourself, your own endeavours and what YOU want your future to look like. Making a decision based on someone else’s opinion or choices may be detrimental to your future and so it is important to prioritise yourself and to not allow comparing yourself to others to overshadow your own success.

Explore your options

Being stuck in a ‘post-graduation rut’ can feel isolating and confusing and cause a lack in motivation and direction, especially if you are unsure of the route you want to take. Now is a great time to explore your options fully and delve into new ventures and opportunities. Work experience is a great way to gain an insight into professional environments and may help you in making decisions to do with your career. Furthermore, if you feel you need to gain further experience with a particular skill set, you could choose a route than you know will benefit you and help set you up for your future working life.

There is an unrealistic expectation that you need to have your life figured out as soon as you graduate and often students focus more on this expectation than actually making progress towards the bigger picture. Sometimes, acknowledging your vulnerability will benefit you in being open to new experiences and trying new things before making solid decisions about your future. As per the phrase ‘the world is your oyster’, you should use being free of the realms of studying to really get out there and explore what is available to you. You may find you come across something you never considered before, but absolutely love.

Conclusion

The post-uni blues are real, and often finishing university is a challenging time of life in which you are unsure of your future and questioning yourself. It is important to remember more often than not fellow students are feeling the same and so do reach out to those around you for support, guidance and advice.

If you are particularly struggling and finding the prospect of graduating a little overwhelming there are many platforms who you can speak to for advice, reassurance and help. Some being:

MIND – www.mind.org.uk

Student minds – www.studentminds.org.uk

Young minds – www.youngminds.org.uk

Student Space – studentspace.org.uk