Navigating Post Grad: Stop Thinking and Start Doing! 10 Questions To Help You Refocus

Whether you’re a senior in college or a recent graduate, you’re likely trying to figure out how to make a smooth transition from the world of textbooks and exams to the world of work. It’s a challenging time, and it can be intimidating to step into the unknown. However, this is also an exciting time where you get to shape your own career and life as an independent person.

Aside from the many questions that come with graduating, or starting a new job, many of my peers seem to be at a pit stop: "What career do I want to pursue?" "I don't know what I want to do with my life" "I don't want just any job" "I don't want a desk job." And hey, that's all fine-until you have 20$ left in your bank account, you cant put gas in your car, your summer bucket list comes to a sudden halt and your parents don't seem to feel as bad for you as you do for yourself.

Then what?  (Besides beating yourself up for procrastinating.) You know you have to gather your thoughts, but you don't know where to start, the questions about your future are still there, and they are weighing heavier than ever.

You have to stop THINKING and start DOING!

For those of you still following, start by grabbing a pen and paper and find a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Close your eyes and think of a a tough decision, a big question or problem that you are weighing and would like an answer to.

You might be tempted to just skim this post and pretend you have a topic, but don’t keep reading until you have a topic or idea in mind that is so-big-it’s-scary (but also exciting).

When you have the topic, jot down your thoughts, ideas and answers on a sheet of paper.

10 questions to help you stop THINKING and start DOING

1. When you think of [topic/idea], what are you most excited about?
2. How does this [topic] fit in with your vision of your greatest self?
4. What’s holding you back / What are you afraid of?
5. What support do you need to move forward?
6. What one next step would make the biggest impact to move you forward (or help with your decision)?
7. What would achieving this get you?
8. Close your eyes and ask each major decision-making system for advice: What does your head say? What  does your heart say? What does your gut say? How can you reconcile these?
9. Dig deeper. What do you really want?
10. What are you waiting for?

After you've reflected on the questions above, take a minute to answer the million dollar question: Reflecting on your answers above, what are you willing to take ACTION on, in the next week?


This exercise can be used for any and all the big questions you may face during your transition. In taking time to reflect and think thoroughly, your job search, apartment hunt and finance managing will become much clearer! This process will help you  figure out exactly what you want, keep you organized and allow you to begin prioritizing your goals as they relate to your career!