Once you snag that diploma and propel your graduation cap into the air (cheesy and cinematic, but you’ve been dying to do that for years), your life will officially change. While securing a job, attending graduate school, or moving home with your parents are some of the more obvious changes, many grads forget that they’ll also have to ditch some of their bad collegiette habits before entering the real world. You had to do the same thing before you started college, so before you graduate, take a look at our top habits you should ditch before you’re a post-collegiette.
1. Procrastinating
When your favorite frat is having their annual rager or a movie you wanted to see just came out, your deadlines mysteriously become less of a priority. It’s nothing to be ashamed of; even the most diligent collegiettes procrastinate every now and then.
However, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but an excessive amount of procrastination is unacceptable in the real world. “The workplace has no room for procrastinating,” says Eden Lipke, a 2013 Boston University graduate who is also the co-founder and contributor for Beauty in the Bag, a beauty website. “Projects and deadlines will just pile up.”
To minimize your procrastination now, create a daily or weekly “To Do” list and reward yourself once you complete every task. If making a list doesn’t work, there’s an app for that. Programs like Self Control exist to minimize procrastination. After you create a customized list of websites you want to avoid and choose a length of time, Self Control blocks these tempting sites from your Mac for that amount of time. If you’re a PC user, try Self Restraint, which is compatible with Windows and Linux. By staying focused on the task(s) at hand, you’ll be able to accomplish everything you need to in a timely and effective manner.
2. Partying too much
As a collegiette, your social agenda probably looked a little bit like this: drinks with your crush on Wednesday, house party on Thursday, frat party on Friday, clubbing on Saturday, and drinks with the girls on Sunday. Let’s face it: college is almost synonymous with partying. You shouldn’t stay cooped up at home every night of your post-grad life, but leave going out four nights a week in college. “It’s less socially acceptable out of college,” says Lauren Grossman, a 2013 University of Delaware grad who is pursuing a career in social work. Though going to lecture hungover may be no big deal, your employers and coworkers will expect you to be focused and alert. Saving your crazy nights for the weekend may seem like a buzzkill (literally), but you’ll be happy you decided to stay at home when your boss notices your attentiveness. Not to mention, saving your going out for the weekend means you’ll have something to look forward to once the workweek is over!
3. Skipping classes
Most collegiettes are guilty of skipping at least one class during their four years at school. When your professor doesn’t take attendance and you have last night’s Game of Thrones episode to watch, how can you refuse? However, in the real world, skipping work is a big don’t. You won’t get points taken off your participation grade—you’ll just get fired.
If you’re no longer taking college classes, you can kick this bad habit by choosing a workout class to go to every week. Even though Pilates sounds more exciting than “Intro to Astronomy,” attending each class will help you get rid of that “I don’t have to go” attitude.
4. Wearing sweatpants all the time
Since it’s so easy to throw on sweatpants and a T-shirt and head to class, many collegiettes fall victim to this fashion crime. As much as we love our trusty college sweatshirt and matching pants, sporting them in public no longer suggests you’re a standard, stressed out college student—it just makes you look unprofessional. Instead, choose an ensemble that makes you look like a bright, driven graduate. For a comfortable outfit, opt for a chunky sweater and cozy pair of skinny jeans on the weekends. But what are you supposed to wear during the workweek? Try updating your wardrobe with these style tips.
5. Not keeping up with current events
Besides those CNN push notifications that pop up on your smartphone, you might not always keep up with the news (unless you define news as the recent Beyoncé/Solange drama). However, you should know what’s going on in the world—especially once you graduate! “I like to read about current events as well as news in my industry,” says Stephanie Mulvey, a 2012 American InterContinental University graduate who is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of the Arts London. “My boyfriend and I have started to read the Sunday paper every week since we are both so busy during the workweek.”
If you’re too busy to read the newspaper, start following prominent news sources on Twitter—their tweets can give you a quick look into current events. Not only will knowing current events help you come across as well-rounded and an expert in your field, knowing what’s going on in the world will make for great small talk with that cutie you met at your office’s happy hour.
So what newspapers or blogs should you start paying attention to? News organizations that focus on national and international happenings will give you a wealth of knowledge: The New York Times, CNN, and The Daily Beast are great ones, just to name a few. Even though you will no longer be a collegiette, feel free to read about the latest news on The News Blog after graduation—we won’t tell if you won’t!
6. Eating junk food every day
Even though we supplied you with healthy tips to adopt before you went to college, you may have been too tempted by your unlimited dining plan or favorite late night pizza place to really stick to them. Unfortunately, these unhealthy tendencies won’t disappear when you graduate unless you make an effort to change. In addition to having limited time to hit the gym, your grueling work schedule may make you more prone to ordering Chinese takeout. After all, who would want to prepare something nutritious and delicious when an order of sesame chicken will be ready in 20 minutes?
By instilling healthy habits now, you’ll be more likely to stick to them after graduation. If you have access to a kitchen, start cooking your own meals. You can finally make those dishes from your Pinterest board, plus you’re bound to be more cautious about what you put into your meals. In addition to checking out some of Her Campus’s favorite healthy meals (desserts, too), it’s time to get a crash course in reading food labels to make sure what you’re eating is actually good for you. If you can cook a nutritious dish and decipher how much sodium is in that bag of snap crisps, you’ll be on your way to adopting a healthier lifestyle.
7. Pulling all-nighters
While staying up all night seems like a rite of passage for collegiettes, sleep is even more valuable once you graduate. “I’m definitely trying to lessen the amount of naps I take and have a regular sleeping schedule,” says Christine Chen, a 2013 Boston University graduate who is currently a freelance photographer. “I want to have a normal, fixed schedule.” In addition to all the harmful effects pulling an all-nighter has on your mind and body, you’ll be exhausted at work if you stay up all night working on a project or watching Netflix. In case you weren’t sure, falling asleep at your desk will not impress your boss. Want to avoid an all-nighter? Check out some of these tips.
8. Sleeping in late
“Five more minutes,” you tell yourself as you hit the hit the snooze button for the fifth time. Though we all love cuddling up with a pile of soft blankets and pillows, sleeping until noon is no longer an option. Unless you’re only working night shifts, you will have to wake up early during the week in your post-grad career. Say goodbye to the snooze button during the week by making sure you go to bed at a reasonable hour. As for the weekend, keep up your early schedule by making morning plans with a friend. Whether the two of you are meeting up for brunch or a morning trip to the gym, having something you’re looking forward to will make getting out of bed easier.
9. Speaking, like, totally, like, unprofessionally
Every now and then, even the most eloquent collegiettes succumb to using “like” as a filler word. Instead of rolling your eyes whenever your dad mocks you for incorporating the Valley Girl phrase into every other sentence, kick the bad habit immediately. “The word ‘like’ needs to evaporate from your vocabulary,” notes Stephanie. “People won’t take you seriously or think you know what you’re talking about.” Less-than-sophisticated phrases scream, “I’m immature.” So how do you ditch this collegiette lingo? The key is thinking before you speak. If you know exactly what you’re going to say, there’s no need to use filler words. As a result, you’ll sound like a post-collegiette.
10. Not participating in group projects
It’s no surprise that your work ethic magically takes a turn for the worse when you’re working with a group. When you’re swamped with other obligations, it’s so easy to leave the assignment for the rest of your group to complete. Though you may not be working together for a grade, don’t be surprised if your new job involves working with other people. Unlike college, not participating is unacceptable.
“It’s quite obvious when you haven’t done your fair share of something, and there are plenty of other eligible graduates who want your job and will work harder,” says Eden. Though your fellow classmates might shrug if off, don’t expect your coworkers (or your boss) to be so understanding.
Find a happy medium between being too laid back and too controlling by suggesting that each team member has specific tasks that they are in charge of with strict deadlines. That way, everyone is required to participate. In the future, getting the job done will show your boss and employees that you’re dependable and a team player.
11. Only interacting with people your own age
Besides your parents, professors, and college advisers, you’ve been interacting mostly with people around your age for the past four years. While you may have mastered socializing with the collegiettes and collegents, it’s now time to expand the age range of your social circle. “Not everyone you meet or work with will be around your age,” says Stephanie. “It’s important to make sure you can mingle with older people.”
If you can talk to those who are your age, what’s so different about your elders? Since there is an inevitable social gap, it may be a little awkward when you’re gushing about Joseph Gordon Levitt and your older acquaintance has no idea who he is (we can’t fathom that, either). Assimilate yourself into an older crowd by actually going to those dinner parties your parents’ friends host. You know, the ones you’re always invited to but never actually attend. Break the ice by talking about what’s happening in the news, and you may find that talking to older people is just as easy as talking with your friends. See, we told you keep up to date on current events would be useful!
12. Not paying attention in lecture
Unless your professor forbids laptops in the classroom, you usually spend that lecture checking emails, Facebook chatting your sorority sisters, and adding new pins to your Pinterest boards. In the real world, it’s imperative to pay attention when others (particularly your boss!) are talking. Unlike your class notes, there are no online summaries for important meetings. Translation? Zoning out of important work-related meetings is more detrimental than getting that question on the midterm wrong—it can lead to you making a mistake that impacts the entire company. So instead of bringing your laptop or phone to work meetings, limit the number of distractions by bringing a pen and notebook. Not bringing your phone will show your boss that you’re present and invested in the task at hand.
13. Taking on too many responsibilities
You’re the president of two clubs, Campus Correspondent for your school’s Her Campus chapter, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, and on the executive board for your sorority. Though being involved is never a bad thing, it’s especially important not to bite off more than you can chew in the real world. As most collegiettes know, having too much on your plate may lead to not doing your best. In the real world, less-than-amazing work has more serious results. “Not doing the best quality of work can have a real impact on other people’s work, or even their lives depending on the job,” says Lauren. Before you tell your new work friend that you’ll help her get caught up with her assignments, think about if you really have time in your schedule. If not, don’t be afraid to say no. By focusing on a few essential projects, you’ll be able to produce work you’re actually proud of.
14. Having a very public social media presence
It’s no secret that collegiettes love to tweet, tumble, pin, Instagram and post Facebook statuses. Though you may have been indifferent about your privacy settings as a collegiette, it’s time to tighten up security on your social media accounts now that you’ve graduated. “It’s probable that potential bosses, not to mention your actual bosses, will look for your profiles,” says Stephanie. We’re not saying you must delete every account you have—social media is an addiction we’re not willing to quit—but we do advise limiting who can see your profile.
However, if your desired career requires a strong online presence, making your Twitter and Instagram private isn’t always the best idea. So what’s a post-grad to do? Just keep it professional. Delete those angry tweets about your ex as well as those blurry Instagrams from last weekend’s crazy night out. As tedious as it may seem, you definitely don’t want your boss making sly comments about that scorpion bowl you and your girlfriends devoured.
In addition to all these tips, there’s one bad habit you must break: being afraid of the real world. Though leaving school behind is a little nerve-wracking, your post-collegiette life will be filled with amazing opportunities and unforgettable memories. So keep our tips in mind and enjoy the real world—we promise it’s not that scary.