How to Manage the Stress of Graduating College

Graduating college is a big life change and, most of the time, very stressful. The stress itself can cause even more problems to deal with.

During this time, it is important that you take the necessary steps to manage the stress of graduating college before it gets too overwhelming and detrimental to your health.

Just six months ago, I graduated college and my world completely changed. I moved to a new city, started living with my boyfriend, and entered the job market. I’ve had the stress of finding a job, managing my money (that I didn’t have), and dealing with my body trying to adapt to my new life.

Take it from someone who has recently gone through exactly what you are going through, give it a few months and I’m sure you will feel more at ease.

Until then, here are 7 super effective steps for managing the stress of graduating college.

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7 Effective Steps to Manage the Stress of Graduating College

1. Start a Journal

Journaling is a way to express your opinion in a completely safe space.

Sometime after graduation, the shock of your life change creates so many unease feelings. Journaling with help make sense what you are feeling and had a sense of relief.

It can help you prioritize any problems, fears or concerns you may have. It is also a great opportunity to express gratitude and positive self-talk to yourself.

Keeping a journal will also help you look back on yourself as a person 6 month or a year down the line. You will be able to see how far you came and

2. Understand your body will change

Your lifestyle will most likely change a little bit, if not a lot once you graduate college.

Understand that your body will change and adapt to it’s environment just like you. Your weight might fluctuate a little bit.

For me, it took a 5-6 months before I felt ‘normal’ or comfortable in my body again.

If you were super active in college and played a sport, this change might be more dramatic.

In this situation, simply maintain a balanced lifestyle including being active, exercising and eating a nutritious balanced diet. Your body will quickly adjust.

3. Workout

Not only does exercise increase your overall health and your sense of well being, but it also acts as a stress reliever. Most any form, from yoga to high-intensity aerobic exercise, can help with stress relief.

Exercise boost your endorphins, also known as your feel-good hormones thus, improving your mood, boosting your self-confidence, and low symptoms of mild depression and anxiety.

Try to aim for at least 90 minutes of physical exercise per week or three 30-minute workouts.

4. Try yoga or meditation

Yoga and mediation specifically focus on connecting your body and mind as well as improving your mental well-being.

Getting into a regular routine of doing yoga or meditation creates mental clarity, increases body awareness and induces relaxation and flexibility.

While any kind of exercise can help, yoga and meditation relaxes the mind, centers your attention and sharpens concentration.

In times of mild to extremely stress, yoga and meditation can be one of the most powerful tools.

You can sign up for a few classes at a local studio or grab yourself a mat and follow along to a YouTube video.

One of my favorite quick 15-minute yoga workouts is a Sun-Salutation flow. It’s perfect for some morning movement that sets your body and mind up for a successful day.

5. Accept that it takes time

It takes the average college graduate 3-6 months to get their first job.

It takes the average college graduate another year or two after getting there job to become financial stable and 3-5 years after that to accumulate savings.

It takes time. You don’t have to have your whole life mapped out the second your graduate college. You don’t have to have a job lined up right now either.

You are not behind, you are just right. It will happen when it happens.

Worrying only causes unneeded stress. If you have somewhere to live and people who care about you that are supporting you, take some time to relax.

6. Find things that fill your bucket

The time between graduating college and figuring out your next steps is a critical time. But, it also may be a time that feels like it lacks purpose. You might not be doing a lot of things that fill your mental and physical buckets.

Maybe you haven’t started a job or your further education. Or maybe you don’t know what you want to do yet. Whatever it may be, this time is difficult.

Finding temporary things or new hobbies that fill your bucket and give you a sense of purpose can greatly help reduce stress and keep your mental health in check during this slower period in your life.

Things may include:

Take a class
Learn a new skill
Start a new hobby
Get a temporary job
Spend more time with family & friends

7. Take a Break

You just accomplished a major milestone and deserve a break. Use the time right after graduation to slow down and take a break.

Reconnect with nature and simply exist.

When I graduated, I panicked because suddenly I had so much time and not very many responsibilities. I thought that I was wasting time if I didn’t have something to do at all times of the day.

This created a lot of stress and unfulfillment.

If you are in a transitional period after you graduate, enjoy it! Go lay out by the sun, bake some cookies, or make your own smoothies.

More responsibilities and the rest of your life will come soon enough. For now, relax and celebrate the last 15+ years of hard work during school.

Now that I am working full-time, that is something I wish I would have done more of during that time.

And that it is!

Thing little tricks can greatly help you manage the stress of graduating college. Enjoy every second of your life and appreciate change. This is time where the possibilities are endless.

“Celebrate endings — for they precede new beginnings.” — Jonathan Lockwood Huie

“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” — Arthur C. Clarke

How to Manage the Stress of Graduating College