“Enjoy your University years, they’re the best years of your life!”. Similar phrases have been said to me by almost every adult I’ve encountered in the last 4 years accompanied by a nostalgic smile- and it’s completely terrifying. This is as good as it gets?
I woke up at 10.30am, went to a 2-hour lecture about the South African Apartheid, ate cheese on toast for lunch and then wrote a pathetic 200 words of my essay- before spending the evening drinking wine and shouting at The Apprentice with my housemates. It may not always feel like I’m living the dream, but my life at University is pretty fantastic. My time is my own, I can study the modules I’m interested in, I can choose to have late nights and lie ins- I don’t answer to anyone.
The working world is different. Even if you work for an organisation that embraces flexi-time, working from home, dress down Friday policies- it is still nothing like Uni. The transition can come as a shock and ultimately make your first few months in the ‘real world’ feel a bit miserable. So, here are my three top habits to embrace in University life to make that transition not quite so harsh!
- Collaboration
In my degree, the vast majority of the work I do is completely individual- I don’t have to articulate my ideas to anyone else, I don’t have to take any other views into account, I can work completely to my own schedule. On my placement year, everything I did was collaborative. Seek out modules at Uni which include collaboration through group projects and presentations- it may be frustrating at times but it is waaaay better to learn how to deal with that now. Added bonus: employers are v likely to ask about times you have had to demonstrate teamwork, work collaboratively, or managed a tricky situation in a group- so it’s handy for building up the examples you have to hand for these questions.
- Time management
There’s no easy way to say this, but…mastering adulting involves getting up early Monday-Friday for approx 48 weeks of the year, every year from your twenties, until retirement. It’s a sad fact, and better you get used to it now. If you can’t bear to sort out your sleeping pattern at Uni, at least try and improve your sleep schedule for a few weeks before starting a graduate job.
I would also have a go at making University life feel a bit more like a 9-5, by giving yourself Saturday and Sunday off completely and making Monday-Friday busier. See if you can minimise working in the evenings too. Has this made you more productive, less stressed or the opposite?
- Communication
When I lived in University halls, I could go entire days without talking to a single person above the age of 19. You live in a weird bubble and become more and more similar to the people around you in the way you communicate. When I started volunteering, it forced me to make small talk with and eventually be friends with people of all ages, and this was a really underrated skill when it came to transitioning to the workplace where I was surrounded by proper adults. My advice is to seek an opportunity to feel confident talking to people of all ages, it will help you to feel a part of your team quicker.
I hope these 3 tips have been useful! As ever, feel free to message me on LinkedIn. 😊
Katie
Adulting for Millennials 