My white dress just came in the mail, and I’m picking up my cap and gown next week, which means it’s time for the bittersweet graduation season. This time of year brings a lot of excitement and anxiety for what’s to come — even for those who know what their next step looks like.
I’m lucky enough to have a job lined up after graduation — something I’m very grateful for, given the current job market for new grads — but the thing is, my start date isn’t until July. Which means, for the first time in four years, I have nothing to do. No classes, no job-hunting, and no practice — as a (now former) student-athlete, I haven’t had more than two weeks off since freshman year. Whether it’s a bowl game over winter break, a summer class, or my work-study schedule, I was always too busy to pursue hobbies, or even just feel like I have my life together.
With my post-graduation break quickly approaching, I realized I don’t really know what to do if I’m not being assigned something. Knowing I can only bedrot for so long, I’ve decided to use the free month and a half I have to prep for a life as a “real” adult… or at least attempt to become someone who knows how to cook, manage money, and keep a routine without a syllabus. So, here are seven productive things I’m doing before my job starts to feel a little more like a functioning adult, and to enjoy my freedom at the same time.
Revisit Old Hobbies
Any busy college student will understand the feeling of losing their hobbies over time. Between managing classes, internship hunting, and trying to keep a social life, it seems like there’s no time to partake in an activity you actually enjoy, just for the sake of doing it. For me, I used to play piano for years and have been itching to get back into it. So, I plan on taking a few hours every week to start practicing again. I have some fun sheet music (think Taylor Swift classics) ready to go, and I can’t wait to start playing an instrument I used to love so much.
I also want to get back into baking. Before college — and tiny dorm kitchens — I loved to bake for friends and family. Now that I have my own kitchen and baking supplies, I can’t wait to funnel my creativity into something tasty. I have already started getting into baking again with some delicious lemon bars I made last week, but I’m ready to test the limits of my skills.
Learn to Manage Money
As a FGLI (first-gen, low-income) student, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I know even less about managing finances than the average student. But this is an amazing time to learn how to deal with money. Since I’ll be on a salary for the first time in my life, I have come to the realization that I have no clue what to do with it. So, I am planning on watching some YouTube videos and maybe cracking open a book about how to save and spend when you have no idea how to.
Read for Fun
Growing up, I was an avid reader. Think two or three books a week, and at least a few hours a day of reading. Once I got to college, though, I got burnt out on reading. As a product of my major and classes I was interested in, I got thrown into 250-300 pages of dense and jargon-heavy readings a week. As much as I loved reading and enjoyed the challenge of harder material, I did not have the brain power to read for fun on top of what I needed to do for class. Reading was left to one or two books over my brief breaks in the summer, when I could fit it in. Now that I have a break, I want to work the “reading for fun” muscle in my brain. That way, when I start my post-grad job, I can bring back using a good book to wind down after a long day. As a lover of history and nonfiction, I’ve pulled some books on those off my TBR to dive into, but I have also started to look into inspo for fiction books.
Learn to Cook for Myself
Cooking is a great way to relax and unwind, and a super fun, social activity. But that applies best when you’re making food for multiple people. One challenge I have faced while living off-campus is cooking for one. Every recipe seems to make enough for a large family, and college-friendly meal prep can get very repetitive. So, I have started my deep dive into creative and fun recipes to make that are leftovers-friendly. I have already tested the water with some teriyaki beef bowls and Greek chicken salad (both were delicious), and I can’t wait to truly immerse myself in the culinary world during my time off.
Acquaint Myself with My City (and make some friends along the way)
Since my new job is in Chicago, a short drive from my campus in Evanston, I’m lucky to say I don’t have a super far-away move coming up. However, my life revolved around campus and Evanston during my four years in school, so I’ve only recently started to discover everything Chicago has to offer. So, with my newfound free time, I want to get familiar with the city I’m living in. From finding hidden gems in underexplored neighborhoods to hitting a few happy hours to meet other post-grads, I’m exploring what I hope become my go-to spots around the city. I also plan to join some social clubs in the city to meet new people and try out some new places.
Make an Exercise Routine
As a cheerleader, I was lucky enough to have a workout plan basically drawn up for me every week. Between practice and lift sessions with our strength coach, I did not have to take on the same mental load as my peers to stay in shape. However, that chapter of my life is ending, so I need to learn how to stay mobile on my own. With the time I have now, and with the time I have after I graduate, I am creating a new workout plan to help keep myself healthy. I have already started lifting weights again, but I also want to dabble in a workout class for the structure. No matter what, I want to prioritize my health during this transition period.
Spend Some Time with Loved Ones
Moving out of state for college was super hard on me, given how close I am to my family. While I loved the change of scenery, I missed the face-to-face connection I had with them. With the giant opening in my schedule, I plan on taking a weekend trip home to spend time with them. Now that my friends are making their own graduation plans, I also plan to spend the gap soaking up the last few weeks I have with them. Everyone is moving to different cities and will be trickling out all summer, so I plan on making sure I’m savoring the time I have with them before I’m working full-time and they move away.