How to feel more put together before starting your first full time job (Post Grad Guide)

As graduation gets closer, there’s this weird feeling in between. You’re still in college, but you’re constantly thinking about what comes next. Your routines are flexible, your schedule changes every week, and your friends are always around. At the same time, you know that is about to shift into something unfamiliar. 

Research shows that this stage of life is defined by identity changes and instability, which points to why so many fresh grads feel a lot of nerves for going into their first real job. It goes beyond work into stressing about how to build a new routine, manage your time or lack there of, and show up at your best in a new environment. Because of this, feeling “put together” doesn’t come from suddenly having everything figured out. It comes from starting small and building habits before you actually need them. 

Here are some ways to start feeling more put together before starting your first full-time job: 

Start building structure while your schedule still has flexibility 

It feels silly how growing up from elementary through high school we were expected to survive 8 hour school days, balancing sports practices, and other extracurriculars, but suddenly in college we’re blessed with so much free time. It almost feels like it reverses all of the habits and ability to be productive for whole days at a time. It can also be an advantage, since your schedule isn’t fully set for you, you have the space to figure out what actually works best for you. Using this time to test out small routines, like what time I start my day, how I plan things out, and what makes me the most productive. It’s not about finding the perfect routine, it’s more about figuring out what I want my days to look like in the future. 

Get used to planning your week ahead 

One thing I’ve noticed is that when I don’t plan anything, my week just ends up feeling like chaos. It feels like I can only react instead of feeling in control of it. 

Making daily to do lists, store lists, and planning out the week is so helpful. Finding ways to make everything feel more manageable and less overwhelming. I know that once I am working full time, this will be something useful for being my best self. 

Pay attention to what makes you feel more prepared 

I’ve started realizing that feeling put together isn’t really about big, dramatic changes. It’s the small habits that build over time. For me, it’s like having a notebook with me, knowing what I need to get done that day. I think that the feeling of being put together is something I’m starting to pay more attention to, because I know once I am working full time, those small details will be even more important. 

Focus on consistency over perfection

Sometimes in this era of perfectly curated instagram posts and pinterest boards, it feels like everyone has their life completely figured out. It puts so much pressure on girls in their teens and twenties to have everything perfectly figured out, but that just isn’t realistic. What actually helps the most is focusing on small things I can do consistently, even if they aren’t picture-perfect. I think that’s what will actually make the transition feel easier, not trying to rush into having everything together all at once.