By: Christina Ramsey
Hi guys!
Christina here. I am so so excited to be making a little cameo on Chelsea’s blog! While Chelsea is off in Sacramento living her best west coast life, I thought I’d chime in on something that I’ve had some trouble with these past few months. Something that nobody ever mentioned to me throughout my four years at college.
Life after graduation is hard.
It is so difficult in so many ways that I hadn’t anticipated. First of all, if you’re not blessed with a job immediately following graduation, odds are you’ll be moving back home for a little bit. I actually did have a job at a theater in my hometown, which was wonderful, but it’s not the same. It’s not the same as coming home to friends every night, griping about your day with a glass of wine and some popcorn. It’s not the same as having your own space to decorate the way you want. And it’s definitely not the same as having all your friends within walking distance.
Then there’s the fact that you don’t really make your own rules anymore. You’re back to checking in with your parents every time you go out and being questioned when you come home too late.
The worst part for me, though, was not being around my second family. You go away to school and you meet these incredible people who become your best friends in the whole world. Then, all of a sudden, you graduate and you feel like you’re back to where you started. Anyone else feel this way?
Well, I am here to tell you that, yes, I am still at home. Yes, it is still difficult sometimes. But, I found some ways to really make my life feel just as full and fun as when I was away at school. So I made a little list to help out those of you who feel like you’re just killing time until something better comes along.
1. Find a hobby.
I know, I know, you’ve probably heard this a million times, but this could be anything that you enjoy. When I was at school, I didn’t really have time to do something I really love. Crocheting (don’t you dare make fun of me). For you it could be reading, hiking, writing, etc. It can be anything. I would encourage you, though, to make it something productive (no, Netflix is not productive).
2. Learn a new skill.
It is so easy to let yourself become complacent during this time. Push yourself to learn something new or get better at something. For me, it was cooking. During my time at school, I was the master of the mini pizza and making a meal out of pita chips and hummus. But when I had time to actually look at recipes and try them out, I fell in love with it. I got better and started figuring out what flavors go together. Now, when I move out on my own again, I am confident that I can make myself healthy and delicious meals.
3. Socialize.
Now, I’ll admit, this one was a little harder for me. When I moved home, I missed my friends and I thought, “Who can I hang out with here? Everyone is either away at school or working somewhere else.” I certainly didn’t want to meet anyone new. That’s too much work. However, I did decide to join a new church. Through that church, I joined a small group, filled with wonderful young women who were my own age and going through the same season of life as me. Now, if you aren’t involved in church, there are still plenty of other places you can meet new people. If you work a part time job, that’s a great way to meet lots of new people. You can also connect with people on social media, go to fun events around your town, or take some fitness classes. This brings me to my last item on the list.
4. Exercise.
Blech. I know. No one is better at talking themselves out of going to the gym then me. But once I started exercising regularly, I found it to be incredibly beneficial, not just for my physical health, but my mental health as well. I felt like I was accomplishing something, which is very important during this time of your life. And if you can’t afford a gym membership or you don’t like the gym, there are plenty of other ways to get those endorphins going. I love to go for walks. A lot of the time, I even skip the gym and go for a nice walk around my neighborhood. I swear, there is nothing better than walking outside on a beautiful day, especially now that the leaves are changing!
I know this was a long post, but I hope you found it beneficial. This is a tough time for a lot of us grads, but we are smart enough and driven enough to make this time count!
I wish you all the best,
Christina Layne Ramsey
Want to know more about my best friend/guest blogger? Check out Christina's website and social media:
Twitter and Instagram: @cramseylayne
Website: http://cramseylayne.wixsite.com/christinalramsey