Adjusting from an educational mindset to a work one can sometimes be difficult. Studies have shown that over 60% of students aren’t ready for the transition to work after graduating. Therefore, we’ve put together this blog to help you feel more prepared when going into working life. Learning to handle change effectively can provide you with the skills you need to help find the role you’ve worked towards and dreamt of.  

Find time for things you enjoy doing  
This is probably one of the most important points in this blog. It’s easy to get stuck searching for a new job or working in a new job and forget to set time for yourself to do the things you enjoy. It’s important to make sure you keep back a bit of time every day to do what you enjoy doing, even if it is just for half an hour. This allows you to stay refreshed and reduces the risk of burnout when transitioning into your new routine.  
Some things you could do to take time out:  
  • Make space for your hobby 
  • Spend time with family or friends  
  • Arrange a day out  

Accept the change  
When finishing college/university and moving onto full time work, you’ll normally have less free time & they’ll be various changes in your routine and general day to day life. Therefore, being realistic and managing your expectations should be at the top of your priority list whilst adjusting to your new lifestyle. If you allow yourself to become stressed by the change, it will be a lot harder to adjust and possibly take a longer period of time to become settled in your role. 
Ways to help accept change: 
  • Acknowledge the change  
  • Consider your feelings  
  • Seek support if needed  
  • Try to be open minded  

Get some rest  
Being tired whilst dealing with change can cause lack of concentration and add additional stress, so we suggest trying to get at least 7+ hours of sleep in order to keep your mind fresh and well rested. Keeping to a good sleep schedule is vital for your work-life balance and as well as helping your brain work more effectively, it also helps boost your mood. 

Organise your time 
Feeling rushed and unprepared can cause additional stress onto everything you’re already feeling. Therefore, we recommend having a diary or calendar that you can make plans and organise your time in. This means you’ll know where you are meant to be and what you’re meant to be doing at any specific time. 

Overall, the whole process is about handling your stress in effective ways. The process can sometimes be rocky, but by having the tools to help deal with it, it can make handling it easier.