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It’s finally happened; you’ve sat the last exam, handed in the last project, and packed up your room. The day has come and you have finished Uni… And now you don’t quite know what to do (Other than drink and nap, of course.) Well have no fear, I’m here to help!
I’m not talking about career goals or large summer plans… I have a separate post all about those here. I’m talking about the small things you can do to remove yourself from the uni bubble and start moving on with your life.
1) Clear your computer
Nothing screams “next chapter” like a brand new computer… But brand new computers cost money, so clearing it so it feels brand new is the next best thing. Get a large chunky hard drive (I have this one* off Amazon), and backup everything. Then, once that backup is done, revel in the joy of removing every essay and lecture note you have stored. While you’re at it, go on your internet browser and delete all Uni-related bookmarks. You’ve finished uni now, so take all that boring education stuff off of your laptop and have it feel like fun again.
2) Sort out your accounts
Most of us got student bank accounts and cards before going to Uni. If you are part of this majority, it may be worth going back to your bank and checking out the terms of your card. Find out when your overdraft needs paying off, see if you have to do anything to switch cards. It’s worth making sure that you know all the details now so that you don’t end up in a sticky situation down the line.
3) Revamp your room
If you moved out for Uni and you’re anything like me, then your room at home probably doesn’t feel like a permanant room anymore. Get it back to feeling like a personal place of residence, and merge all your stuff back together. (I may do a whole post on this in the coming months, let me know if you’re interested.)
4) Get a hobby
Some of us leave Uni with no concrete plan yet, others leave uni with a grad job starting once the summer is over. If you’re going to have a large chunk of free time following University, it may be worth throwing yourself into a hobby. Uni can be quite a busy and hectic time, and while relaxing for a while afterwards will be fun, you may soon find yourself on a comedown if you have nothing to do. The last thing you want is to start feeling like your social/active life peaked at University and now it’s over. Make some plans, and find things to do. (If you’ve got nothing, I have a whole list here.)
5) Arrange the graduation stuff
If you’ve finished uni but not yet graduated, now’s the time to finalise all those details if you haven’t already. Check and ensure you’ve sorted the grown rental, the tickets, the outfit, the hotel (if needed) and the celebration meal. And then start counting down the days and getting excited.
And there you have it! Though these are five simple things to help you full emerge from the Uni cocoon once you’ve finished uni, remember that you should also dedicate some time to relaxing. You’ve finished a whole degree, that’s pretty impressive! Go easy on yourself for a while.
My best advice to you as a fellow gap yearer is to plan your gap year. Now that you know you’re taking one, what do you want to achieve in the new year, what do you want to see, do etc My gap year was a last minute decision and I’ve been figuring it out as I go alone but BOY is it stressful. I’ve got a gap year series coming on my blog from July but feel free to text me if you need any help or advice, always happy to help you out
Fran | http://www.franciscarockey.co.uk
Thanks Fran
Jas xx
God I need to organise my computer and my phone so bad, I’ve let it get so messy and it really needs a good clear out. As of last month, I’ve become a lot more organised with my finances by working out how much I spend on things like food, clothes, make-up etc. so I can work out where I need to cut down. I’ve set myself a spending limit per week which is helping a lot! I’ve been feeling like doing a bedroom revamp recently, I’ve had a browse in Primark as well as George (ASDA) and they have some lush stuff in at the moment. All of these tips are perfect for getting out of the habit of being lazy and counter-productive once you’ve finished uni! Love this post.
Alice xx
Thanks Alice!
Jas xx