Adulting: Month One

Happy Thursday everyone! Just one more day until you've survived the fourth week of 2017. For some of you the first few weeks of the month have been fabulous- filled with healthy eating, daily workout routines, and happiness.  For others the first few weeks might have been a roller coaster of a rough start to the new year.  The good news is that next week we start a new month, which brings and opportunity for a fresh start.  I honestly cannot believe that January is just about over.  January has been my first full month out of college, or as the majority of my fellow millennials would refer to it as my first month of "adulting". I thought I would give you all a little update as to how the post grad life is going for me.  

So where do I even begin... 

If you've been following along, then you know that I didn't graduate this past spring. Instead I graduated a semester late (this past December).  I chose to graduate a semester late for several reasons. First, I wanted to be able to do well in my classes rather than overloading credits and overwhelming myself each semester.  Second, after doing some research I found that student teaching in the fall semester is actually the best option for education majors.  Third, I refused to spend every single break taking classes. I think it's important to give yourself a little brain break in between semesters.  Fourth, transferring schools and changing majors altered my original plan.  

Most people graduate college at the conclusion of spring semester.  There's usually lots of pomp and circumstance along with what seems like endless celebrations. Graduating at the end of the fall semester was much different than the experiences I watched most of my friends have roughly six months prior. Graduating in December was rather uneventful.  Graduation was a one day celebration from brunch with my family, the actual graduation ceremony, and then ending the day with a dinner hosted by my parents.  The semester ended, graduation was a whirlwind of a day, a week later the holidays happened, my post grad friends returned back to work a few days after Christmas, and in the past few weeks my undergrad friends returned back to their college campuses for another semester. 

Then there's me and my first month adulting.  Just before graduation, I was feeling pretty burnt out.  My parents and I decided that for my mental health it would be best to give myself a month off before  really beginning the job hunt.  Needless to say, this first month of post grad has been spent focusing on improving my mental and physical health.  I've been working on creating healthy habits, finding hobbies that make me happy, and catching up on the rest that I missed this past semester.  The first two weeks of January my brother was still home on his winter break from college.  It was fun having him home during the days.  We would go to the gym, play games, and binge watch Netflix together.  These were essentially my lazy recovering weeks.  He went back to school, so the past two weeks I have been home alone most days while my parents are working.  These two weeks I have been searching for hobbies, spending time at the gym,  binge watching Grey's Anatomy, snuggling with the puppies, cooking dinners, and beginning to apply to jobs.  

The honest truth.  As everyone has headed back to school and work, I've been feeling a little lost. The past four and a half years of my life have been centered around succeeding in college in order to be prepared to enter the real world.  This is the first time in awhile that I have no idea what I will be doing a month from now.  As someone who is type A and used to being on the go, this feeling is a little scary and overwhelming.  I'm learning to embrace the uncertainties of life, but sometimes I can't help but feel like I'm standing still while everyone around me is moving forward with their lives.  I know this feeling is pretty irrational, but I think it's part of being in the minority of people who graduate in December.  Those who I've shared these feelings with have gently reminded me that most people graduate and take the summer off (about three months) before they begin working. I am working on not being so hard on myself and finding joy in this oddly calm point in my life, but I would be lying if I told you it has been easy.

Enough of the negativity, let's talk about some of the positive things that have happened my first month of post grad.  I have finally gotten back into working out again.  It has made me happier, and I'm already feeling healthier.  I've also started cooking dinner for my parents.  I'm learning to become a better cook and how to really plan out meals for an extended period of time.  My blog has been thriving.  With my free time, I've become more dedicated to writing.  This month my blog has gotten the most monthly views in its four year history.  Picture me doing a little happy dance. I've been able to spend time with our puppies.  They are full of energy and growing quickly.  They are only puppies once, so it's been fun playing and attempting to train them. I've been living at home, which has helped me become even closer with my parents.  I'm grateful that they are allowing me to stay with them to save money until I'm financially ready to stand on my own two feet. Their constant love an support has been so helpful. 

Looking ahead into month two. I'm not really sure what will happen.  I've started the on boarding process to begin substitute teaching, so I'm thinking in month two I'll begin that journey.  I'll be searching for open teaching positions to apply for, updating my digital portfolio, continuing my fitness journey, celebrating my twenty third birthday, taking a weekend trip, and watching my little brother begin his college lacrosse career. My goal for month two is to spend more time focusing on my positive traits rather than dwelling on the negatives. 

Celebrating month one of post grad like..

Thanks for reading my update. Tomorrow I'll be sharing a glance into my day to day life in my first month of adulting!

XOXO