Battling Grad-itis: Wrapping up the Year Strong

It’s almost our time, Class of 2024! Being in this portion of the Spring semester can feel like a constant, never-ending Wednesday. I use this analogy because Wednesday is that in-between day where you know you’re close to the weekend, but you still have a little to go before getting there. For me, that is what the end of February and March feels like regarding graduation in May. In this period, it can be easy to get caught up in Grad-itis – the graduate school equivalent of high school senior-itis. I describe it as a feeling of knowing there’s an impending life transition, being ready to be finished with school, but finding it hard to get everything on the checklist done and power through. As I am learning how to move through this period, here are three tips I’ve picked up to help me stay successful while wrapping up the year.

• Write and schedule all commitments when you learn about them.

It can be super easy to lose track of responsibilities within this period, especially because there are so many factors to consider for our upcoming transition. We are being bombarded with questions about what life after graduation looks like, future occupations, trying to keep up with classes, staying committed to our internship, LCSW-A details (if that’s up your wheelhouse), among other life details. I have found it extremely helpful to write all responsibilities down in something you can easily reference to make some room in your brain and ensure all tasks are completed.

• Set aside a time to plan and review what you want to do after graduation.

If you’re anything like me, this has been the most challenging part. My mind is still trying to play catch up to the fact that graduation is approaching, so to plan for it feels like a big and daunting task. I have found it helpful to set aside a time in the future to look at job postings and requirements for the social work profession. I want to emphasize scheduling this time so you can mentally prepare for it as it approaches. If it still feels like too much to do as the scheduled time approaches, something I’ve found to ease anxiety is either 1) doing this process with a support person and/or 2) getting yourself a little treat or reward. Starting something is one of the most challenging steps in beginning a new experience, so having support in whatever capacity can be very beneficial. Once you complete the initial research, it can be much easier to follow up because now you have some idea of what life after graduation can look like.

• Indulge in and enjoy breaks and available time for yourself.

As important as making time for our responsibilities is, it is equally important to nurture space for ourselves. When we don’t take breaks and make time for the activities we enjoy, burnout can quickly and easily manifest in that space instead. It can be hard to do things you enjoy while you’re thinking about everything coming up, but try to keep in mind that while you’re in resting space, the responsibilities can’t and won’t reach you there. I have found it very helpful to stay organized during this time so that you know you’re not missing anything. We can get very caught up in trying to get all of our ducks in a row so that we can graduate, but this is also the time to rest before this significant transition so that we can be a bit more mentally centered for it. With that being said, don’t feel guilty for resting and taking care of yourself. If you don’t, it will be so much harder to take care of anything else.

This unique space before graduation is a period where a lot of life factors are taken into consideration. It can be easy to lean toward doing everything all at once or not wanting to do anything at all; I am here to tell you that wherever you fall on the spectrum, all of your feelings for this new experience are valid. Battling grad-itis can prove to be challenging, but I am confident we will all finish strong. We got to this point because of our excellent capabilities, which will propel us to succeed in the way that will be best for us. I’m sending positive energy and tons of support!