This spring semester probably hasn’t gone the way you expected. You were ready to crush the rest of your classes, wow your profs on your projects and presentations, spend time with friends, head to events, and enjoy the rest of the year. But circumstances came up. You had to head home, figure out a new way to do things, and grasp onto fleeting memories and moments; it’s been hard, no doubt about that.
But there’s still a future to look to and a future that you can plan for, no matter the current circumstances—it just might look a little different than you planned. After all, what’s life without a bump in the road? Below, we’ll delve into some important ways college students can prepare for the future, no matter what’s going on in the present. There are things you can learn, ways you can save, and steps you can take to put you a little closer to life’s starting line. Check them out below!
Learn Ways to Manage Stress
Especially with all that’s going on now, you’re probably feeling way more stressed than usual—and that’s saying something. College students deal with a ton of stress, and one of the best ways to prepare for the future is learning healthy ways to manage that stress. It’s not drinking and it’s not staying up until all hours of the night. It’s getting in daily movement, it’s writing it out, and finding other healthy ways to manage your anxious feelings.
Join Professional Networking Groups
People have probably been saying this since you started college—but that’s because it’s important. Now you have the time to sit down, research some groups, and join them. Put a bunch of feelers out there and see what groups fit your needs best. There’s no harm in trying, but there is benefit from success!
Get Your Finances in Line
One way to feel like more of an adult after college is by having a good grasp on what your finances look like. There are a few different ways to get your finances in order before heading out into the adult world. Number one: get a budget in place. You have the time to sit down and go over what loans will look like. Figure that out sooner rather than later; it’ll save you loads of stress.
Improve Emotional and Cultural Intelligence
An underlying theme throughout this article is that you have more time now than you did before. Though the circumstances that brought about this extra time are far from ideal, this extra time is a silver lining. Use the time to improve and enhance your cultural and emotional intelligence. Learn about how different cultures react to different phrases and how they talk to one another or handle events. Going out into the adult world means having a stronger grasp of how you personally react to things (and how you can improve that with your emotional intelligence) and how people different from you react to things.
Stay Connected with Loved Ones
This may seem silly, but adulthood has a way of making you focus very intently on yourself. Though not necessarily a bad thing, it can make you lose sight of those closest to you. Get in the habit now with social distancing and take time to connect with loved ones virtually. If you get into the habit of calling your roommate now, then you’ll be more likely to continue that in the future.
It may not be the year you planned, but you are in charge of how you light the way for your future. Be your own light in the darkness.
