This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mizzou chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Between graduation countdowns, job applications and trying to figure out what comes next, trying to live in the present can feel overwhelming. All the unknowns make your stomach feel twisted like a wet knot that can’t be undone.

With the holidays and the months of spending more time with family approaching, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard or are going to hear some version of the same question: “So you’re a senior; what are your plans after graduation?”

At first, it feels exciting to talk about. Graduation is getting closer and the idea of a new chapter is something to look forward to. But after answering that question for the fifth time, it can become stressful. Suddenly, you’re stalking everyone’s LinkedIn profiles; it seems like everyone is scheduling interviews, announcing post-grad plans or has a job. Meanwhile, you’re still figuring out what you’re actually wanting to do with your life. You feel stuck.

Frankly? That’s OK!

The transition from college to the workforce is a huge step. We’re thinking about how to build careers, earn a full-time salary, figure out what we want our post-grad life to look like and try to stay happy.

The good news is that you don’t need to have everything figured out right now. The bad news is that one day you’ll have to, but you just need to take baby steps. Here are some things I’ve learned throughout the past few months that I’ve been focusing on.

Start before you feel ready

It can be tempting to put off applications until winter break or until you feel qualified for a specific position. Getting started early gives you more time to explore your options without feeling like you’re racing against the clock come May.

Start browsing job postings that interest you even slightly. Pay attention to job titles and responsibilities that may appear in the descriptions. You may reveal a career path you haven’t considered previously.

You don’t need to apply to 20 jobs in one sitting. By setting aside a little time each week to apply to a few, you can feel more relaxed and truly understand what you applied for. Research companies, save interesting positions and submit a few thought-out applications. These same steps will make your future self feel a lot less overwhelmed.

Spend time on your Resume and LinkedIn

Your resume and LinkedIn are often the first things your potential employers see, so you want to reflect on your experiences thoughtfully. You probably have more experience than you think. Internships, campus organizations, part-time jobs and volunteer work all demonstrate valuable skills. Maybe you managed a social media account or worked with a team on a campaign. Balancing multiple responsibilities while attending school shows employers what you can bring to the table.

Networking Doesn’t Have to Be Awkward

I used to hate this word. I thought it was so intimidating, especially if I pictured myself walking into a room full of professionals. I quickly learned that networking doesn’t have to look like that.

Sometimes, networking starts with a simple conversation. Reach out to a professor or family friend who works in the field you’re curious about. Ask how they got started, what their day-to-day looks like and what advice they would give someone who is just getting started in the industry. You might be surprised by how willing people are to share their experiences; you just have to reach out first.

LinkedIn can be a helpful way to connect with alumni from your university. Having something in common, like attending the same university, makes a conversation feel more natural and you can start by talking about what you have in common and then move forward to talk about careers. The goal is to learn and ask insightful questions.

Get Organized and Keep Track of Your Progress

Once you start applying to multiple positions, it can become difficult to remember when and where you applied and whether or not you heard back from a company. I learned this the hard way and spent so much time backtracking into LinkedIn trying to figure out who was emailing me when I got my first interview.

I made a spreadsheet and it made a huge difference. I created columns for the company, job title, application date and application link. I added notes on the side if I heard back from the company and who the contact person was.

This isn’t the most exciting part about job searching, but being organized helps you feel more settled. Now I’m never scrambling to remember the details of a position and it makes following up professionally and preparing for interviews much easier.

Stop Comparing Your Timeline to Everyone Else’s

This might be the hardest part of job searching. The brain is such a fascinating organ, but it can also play tricks on you. When one friend announces a job offer and another starts talking about moving to a new city, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind (if you start the job hunt now). Social media can make that feeling even worse because we usually see the exciting announcements, not the months of applications, uncertainty and rejection that may have come before then.

Everyone’s career path looks different. Some know exactly what they want to do after graduation, while others need time to explore. This is why it’s so important to start searching right away. No timeline automatically determines who will be more successful: someone who has a job lined up months in advance or someone who needs to find their footing after graduation. But when you start job searching early, you won’t feel like you need to find your footing as you’re walking across the stage at graduation.

Celebrate your friends’ accomplishments but remember that their progress doesn’t take anything away from yours.

Make Room for the Rest of Senior Year

It’s easy to let the pressure of finding a job consume you. Between applications, classes and interviews, you might feel like every spare minute you should be planning your future.

But senior year is also a time you’ll want to remember.

Make time for your friends and the student-led organization you love and appreciate the routines you have built over the years. You can still take your career seriously without allowing job search to become your entire life.

Celebrate the small wins, take breaks and remind yourself that you don’t need to have your entire life figured out.

As graduation creeps up, feeling all the emotions is normal. After graduation, we leave behind familiar streets and faces while walking into something new, and there’s no perfect way to prepare for this transition.

Instead of focusing on where you think you’ll be after graduation, focus on what you can do today. Update your resume. Go to a career fair. Research a company and follow them on social media. Send messages to employees at a company you like and set up a meeting to introduce yourself. Give yourself credit for taking these steps.

Senior year is scary, but your job search doesn’t have to be