You’ve just completed a major milestone in your life, graduating from college. You’re relieved, and you’re excited about what comes next, but you’re also feeling a sinking, negative sensation. If you need help making sense of your graduation anxiety, keep reading.
Why Do You Feel This Way?
You’re getting ready to close a very important chapter in your life, and though you’re mostly excited to see what the future holds, part of you might be hesitant. It might feel strange to experience mixed emotions surrounding something you worked so hard to achieve, but it’s not uncommon.
Some graduates, or students approaching graduation might be feeling anxious about what comes next because, at the end of the day, you don’t know. You’ve just spent the past few years with one major goal in mind, and you became accustomed to following the routine you needed to maintain to finish your degree. Now, you’re getting ready to start all over again with something new.
Remember how you felt when you graduated from high school and you were anticipating college life? You may have felt anxious about that transition as well, because you’re human, and it’s completely normal for human beings to find change difficult. Plenty of us worry about doing things we’ve never done before, and moving from college into a career is a major step you’re taking. You’re likely going to experience a great deal of firsts in this part of your life, and to be anxious about it is acceptable. After all, you care about the future you’ve set for yourself.
Tips for Managing Mixed Feelings
Just because it’s normal to have mixed feelings about graduating from college does not mean it’s a pleasant experience. Chances are, you don’t want to feel anxious. You want to enjoy your graduation and focus on the exciting things that lie ahead.
Here are a few tips to follow if you want to manage the mixed feelings you’re dealing with when you think about your recent (or upcoming) college graduation.
Maintain Meaningful Connections
Some of your graduation anxiety may stem from the thought of not seeing the friends you made as often as you want. Though you’re all pursuing your own paths, there’s no rule that says you have to leave behind every meaningful relationship you’ve developed.
Stay in touch with your college friends, not only to maintain your connections to one another but to keep something familiar to you within reach.
Pursue a New Hobby
If you have spare time and you find yourself bored, consider pursuing a new hobby. Now that you’re out of college, you might need something to do in order to keep your mind engaged. Take some time to try new things and explore potential pathways that you find rewarding. You might spend more time at your local library, volunteer to support a cause you care about, learn a new language, or sign up for a group.
Revamp Yourself
You’re moving into a new part of your life, and sometimes, doing something nice for yourself can make the process easier. Much like how plenty of people reinvent themselves after New Year’s, you’re welcome to make some changes after graduation. Change up your wardrobe, do something with your hair, get a tattoo, or start working out. Do things that make you feel like the person you’ve actually become.
Seek Support
Anxiety and sadness are normal human emotions, and even if you’ve just accomplished something worth being proud of, you might very well be dealing with complicated feelings.
Avoid bottling your emotions, and instead, seek support from people you trust. Reach out to a friend or family member, talk to a mentor you respect, or seek help from a professional therapist.
In most cases, your negative feelings will subside in due time, but if you’re struggling to overcome what you’re experiencing inside, there is absolutely no shame in asking for help.
Cut Yourself Some Slack
Obtaining a college degree is hard work, and if you’re feeling anxious, you may very well just be combating exhaustion. The thought of jumping directly into more hard work right after completing several years of hard work is enough to make most people uncomfortable.
Instead of barreling headlong into your career or the next phase of your life, take a moment to pause. Take a deep breath and relax. You don’t have to earn the right to rest. Take it easy on yourself and allow your emotions to stabilize before you gear up for your future.
Congratulate yourself. You’ve accomplished something that many others have not and nobody can take those years of hard work away from you. Allow yourself to experience your feelings so that you can work through them, and if you need help, reach out to DK Therapy and schedule an appointment with one of our experienced therapists.
