As the spring semester draws to a close, the college students who have yet to go home will soon be returning for the summer. For one group in particular, however, the journey home may bring some mixed feelings. College seniors who are planning to move back in with their families while they search for jobs, apply to graduate schools, or figure out their next steps in life can often feel as though they are regressing or stuck in place. Luckily, there are a few ways to shift your perspective and help you make the best of your time at home!
One of the best parts of living at home—assuming your parents or whoever you live with doesn’t make you pay rent—is that you’ll likely be spending less money overall. Use this time to consider making a fund for future plans. Whether it be saving for grad school, travel, or your next home, put away the part of your earnings that you would normally spend at college into a savings account for later use.
A good way to keep perspective is to make a plan for where you want to see yourself in one year, three years, and five years. Then, outline the steps you need to take to get there. This will help you stay focused on your big picture goals as well as your smaller scale goals, and remind you that the things you accomplish at home are also helping you long-term!
Finally, remember that living at home does not mean that you are devolving, lazy, or unmotivated. In fact, in many cases living at home is one of the most fiscally responsible choices to make. It’s also a great opportunity to reconnect and build solid relationships with your family members or others you may live with, so take this as an occasion to spend quality time with them before you move out permanently!