5 Real Tips to Stay Motivated After College (Because I’m Still Figuring It Out Too)
1. Find Your Life’s “Niche”
When you think of niche what comes to my mind as someone who studied marketing is finding your corner in the market and excelling in it, but when it comes to post-grad Find your focus. Whether it’s travel, saving, or building a career. Write down your wildest dreams and start aligning your daily actions with those goals. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just honest. And don’t be afraid to change it, pivoting is the pivotoal part of being in your 20s, so they say.
My wildest dream building community, so I started this blog and I’m committing every week to post and work on it.
2. Stay Disciplined
Stay disciplined. This isn’t just about working out or eating right, but about showing up for yourself and others. Discipline is a form of self-respect, and it’s the foundation for any big goal you’re trying to reach. Staying discipled is a form of self love, never disappointing the one person that matters the most: you.
What I’ve learned about discipline is that it’s less about a specific outcome and more about showing up for yourself every day. In 2024, I thought my goal was to be a size smaller, but as I found myself pushing through Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve workouts, I realized it wasn’t about the size on the label. It was about consistently showing up for myself and that discipline has stuck with me. I’ve carried it into my career and my relationships, and now, as I head into the new year, I’m not dreading it. Discipline isn’t just about hitting one goal; it’s about building a mindset that carries you through everything.
3. Self Care
Self-care isn’t just about a spa day it’s about giving yourself grace. Post-grad life is overwhelming, and sometimes you just need to rest. I’ve had days where I felt like I wasn’t doing enough, but giving myself a break helped me come back stronger. Give yourself the kindness and love that you would give your bestie on their worst day, because you deserve that of yourself.
My version of self-care is about dialing back overly critical thoughts and replacing them with kinder ones. Instead of thinking, ‘I’m not where I should be,’ I remind myself: ‘I’m learning and growing. This is just another opportunity.’ Or I’ll tell myself, ‘One day, this will be just an anecdote I share, and it won’t define me.’ It’s a simple shift, but it makes all the difference.
4. The “MY WAY” Approach
Yes, I mean listen to that Frank Sinatra song and internalize that shit. Post-grad is full of unsolicited advice, but now’s the time to trust yourself. Look at your goals, your “niche”, make your own plan, and ignore the noise. It’s your life, and you get to decide what it looks like.
The first time I heard My Way in the back of my dad’s car at 10, I thought it was the most powerful song. To me, it felt like a reflection of all the choices that shape who we are. Even at that age, I could sense that it was about looking back on your life and asking, ‘Am I okay with the way things have turned out? Did I live in line with my hopes and dreams?’ That’s the essence of doing it your way. Owning every decision, no matter where it leads.
5. Financial Literacy is KING
Financial literacy isn’t just about making money. It’s REALLY about understanding where your money goes and making it work for you. I highly recommend ‘I Will Teach You to Be Rich’ by Ramit Sethi to help you build your financial foundation. Personally, getting a grip on my finances gave me the mental clarity to focus on other goals.
To check it out on Amazon click here.
Whether you have your first post grad job and are finally bringing home real money or you’re unemployed and figuring out next steps (I’ve been there) find a rhythm with your finances.
My first step in managing my finances was confronting where my money was going. I realized I was spending over $400 a month on Uber Eats without even thinking twice. Did I immediately cut back on those takeout orders? No, not really—food delivery is still a priority of mine. But what I did do was create a monthly budget spreadsheet, track my spending, and find other places to cut costs. That helped me save a six-month emergency fund, which was a lifesaver during my six months of unemployment.
The point is: don’t feel like you need to sacrifice everything in the name of saving. Enjoy your daily coffee or the occasional takeout—but also plan for your future. Small, consistent actions can lead to big financial wins down the road.
But anyways, while I’m still figuring things out step by step, these five tools have kept me motivated and moving forward. If you’ve got any tips that’ve helped you stay on track post-grad, I’d love to hear them! Drop a comment below!