“ Adulting is hard ” seems to be a popular refrain in social media these days. But the thing is, nobody’s born knowing how to set out on a career path or get a mortgage. These are all things you can learn, and the sooner you take the time the sooner you will be on the right path.
Education is crucial to your development into an adult who has the necessary tools to learn new things, but it is not the end of the line. You don’t graduate from college knowing everything you need to know to be successful in life, but rather you graduate with all the tools in your toolbox to be able to learn and discover new things. Education is a foundation upon which you will build the rest of your life.
Companies are looking for employees who can think outside the box. Book smarts and good grades are great, but it’s what you do with those things that really counts. Soft skills are very important in today’s workplace. How well you work with others is just as important as how hard you work. Do you have cultural sensitivity and the ability to communicate with others effectively? That’s way more important to your prospective employer than your GPA.
Being able to manage your personal life can go a surprisingly long way toward helping you manage your professional life. Getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and managing your time effectively are skills that will help you to do better in your career.
Time management is something that isn’t taught in college classrooms, though it is critical to master if you want to excel in your career. Try breaking up assignments into smaller tasks, assigning a time to work on those tasks, setting personal deadlines, and prioritizing the really important stuff. And when you are working on a project, try tuning out of other distractions like your phone or the Internet so you can get things done.
[drizzle]Stress management in your personal life can also go a long way to ensuring your mind is always in the game. Telecommuting can make you more productive – 13% more- than those required to work in an office. Turning off electronic devices that emit blue light long before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster. And meditating can help you relax and stay focused.
Learn more about adulting from this infographic. Learning doesn’t end when you graduate from school!
adulting – infographic below
