Endless Bliss | Happy Lifestyle Blog: College Versus Real Life

College Versus Real Life



It's that time of year again when everyone is posting about graduating, and I'm just over here being old. I had such a fun time in college, and some days, I miss it so much. Some things about college were just a lot easier...

FRESHMAN 15 VS REAL LIFE 500
College: I didn't gain much weigh in college because I had to walk everywhere. actually miss having to walk to class every day. It took me about fifteen minutes to walk from my on-campus apartment to the business building with a couple sets of stairs in between. Back then, I thought it was an inconvenience. Now, I'd welcome that walk any day. 

Real Life: Everyone says they want a desk job, but then they wonder how they mysteriously packed on 20 extra pounds. Forget the freshman fifteen; when you get a desk job, that's when the pounds really start sticking around. I sit at my desk for most of my day, and because of that, my body is constantly at rest, and my food is just sitting there with no movement to help it digest quicker. It's a sad reality. 

8 AM CLASSES VS CLOCKING IN AT 8:30
College: My hardest quarter in college was probably the one where I had 8 am classes five days a week. I'm baffled by the fact that I started high school at 7:30 every morning. I don't know how I did it. Having classes at 8 am was the worst...or so I thought. 

Real Life: Because I don't have to study or even think about work when I get home, I have horrible sleeping habits. I stay up late, roll out of bed late and on weekends I make no attempt to have a steady sleeping schedule. It's an every day struggle, y'all. 

COOKING IN COLLEGE VS COOKING AT HOME
College: I don't know what it was about college, but my senior year, I had my ish together when it came to planning out my meals. I would plan ahead for an entire month. I had a calendar where I wrote down what I was going to eat for each meal (usually skipping breakfast because who has time?). I went grocery shopping once a month for all of the things I needed, and I was good to go. 

Real Life: Admittedly, Jon does pretty much all of the cooking because he gets home from work a lot earlier than I do. We've gotten better at planning our meals, but I'm in no way on the level I was on back in my college days. 

RUNNING INTO PEOPLE AT WAL-MART VS RUNNING INTO PEOPLE AT WAL-MART
College: Oh, the dreaded Wal-Mart. I swear my roommates and I made weekly trips for random things. Sometimes for groceries, but most times for things like an ice-cream craving or getting a Redbox movie. Running into people at Wal-Mart in college usually meant that everyone was in sweatpants, and no one judged each other. To quote High School Musical, we're all in this together. 

Real Life: When you move back to your "hometown" (I use the term loosely, because I don't consider Shreveport/Bossier my hometown) after college, everyone has one goal: Be better than everyone that you run into from high school. For that reason, when you go to Wal-Mart, you're trying to look your best. If you see someone you know, you instantly judge their life against your own. Is their boyfriend cuter? Have they gotten married? Any babies in the cart? Unlike college, we're all playing Judge Judy. 


All jokes aside, I really do love being an adult. Yes, paying rent and other bills sucks, but I love that I'm working toward a better future for myself. I love living with my boyfriend. I love being able to love on my dogs every day. I love not having to study. I love not living refund check to refund check. I miss college sometimes, but being an adult isn't all that bad. 

Are you in college or a living life post-grad? What do you love/hate about it? 

69 comments :

  1. Haha I remember those college days as well, It's like that even here Raleigh, NC where I stayed and it's just so funny to think back to all of those early mornings, late night fast food runs, the partying Thursday through Saturday and getting up to go to church on Sunday, only to turn back around to go back to class early Monday morning. Time has flown by so fast lol

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  2. This is so true.


    I'm 5 years out and it just keeps getting MORE true.


    two things that are different, both roommate related:
    1) Shared roomate wardrobe vs. One set of clothes. A year out of school I was looking for a dress I used to LOVE wearing to bar... only to remember it belonged to my roommate who now lives two hours away


    2) "My life is over, my date was terrible, can I eat Ice cream in your bed while we snuggle and watch Pride and Prejudice until I feel better?" vs. Phone calls, because your best friend isn't just upstairs anymore.


    We could fight like cats and dogs, but I miss having my girls on hand.

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  3. Macarena FerreiraMay 13, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    Love this post! All sooooo true. My biggest struggle is sitting at my desk all day. I'm so bored sometimes all I want to do is EAT! Ugghhh.

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  4. Your Friend BrittanyMay 13, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    I always tell people that your last semester of college they should make everyone take a class that goes from 8-5 and you have to go! lol. I don't think anything can prepare you for having to be at work every, single day, for a set amount of time! It was the biggest adjustment for me after college.

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  5. love this. I so need to get better at planing my meals again.

    http://www.amysfashionblog.com

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  6. I agree - I have no idea how I got up to start high school at 7:30, I refuse to take an 8AM ever again! My sleep schedule is either hit or miss, and I'm terrible with meal prep!

    Pick Your Beau

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  7. I absolutely love this! You always have such great posts! I'm on the college end of it now, so we'll see once I graduate. Yikes!


    xoxo
    Lauren Ashley
    www.thefashionistasdiary.com

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  8. This post is awesome, I'm almost done with college so we'll see how my adult life turns out!

    Xo, Rach | Seashells + Sparkles

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  9. I'm living post-grad and this post is right on target haha .. the longer you're in "real life" though you will start to fall into a good routine. I'm 3 years out of school and I have mine down now. It's hard to get used to a new schedule!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It ...

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  10. Great post! That is a tough transition but it gets easier over time :)

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  11. Entering post-grad as of last weekend! Great post.. although I am a little nervous about sitting at my desk all day!

    Allyssa | Life with Lyss

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  12. I can totally feel this right now!! Even though I'm still in college I can feel a total culture shock between summer and college life. Great post :)

    Annie N Belle

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  13. I'm graduating after summer quarter and I already see myself doing this. I'm not moving back "home," but I am moving to Charleston where there are tons of beautiful people. I currently live in a town where I don't think anyone tries to look good, even at work or nice events. I miss feeling that need to dress up and put on some makeup for the day. I feel like there are pros and cons in ever stage of life, but that's the fun of it!

    xx. Brittany
    Life Like a Twenty Something

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  14. This is my first year out of college and I really like your analysis. I miss walking to class too although I definitely are WAY more unhealthy in college...I loved dorm food!

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  15. Oh the college days! Benefit of not living in my home state: still wear sweats to the grocery store. :)

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  16. Oh this post is so true! I had to make a Kroger run at 8 this morning because I was sick and I prayed the whole time that I wouldn't run into anyone I knew.

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  17. "Everyone has one goal: Be better than everyone that you run into from high school." hahahahahaha YASSS.
    But you're so lucky your school had Wal-Mart closeby! We've just got an extremely overpriced grocery store. And I still do not understand how high school me was at school for 7 AM EVERY DAY. WIth no coffee. Like, I must've been superwoman and then graduated to normal and caffeine-addicted.


    cominguprosestheblog.com

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  18. BAHAHAHA Running Into People at Walmart vs Running Into People At Walmart. Living in a small town will do it to ya. I play the game of "How many people do I know?" when I go to Walmart at home. It's always horrifying. Fake hellos and smiles and darting into the other aisle hoping they didn't see you. If I could never go to Walmart ever I don't think I would go back. I'm glad that there is life outside of college! I'm hoping my sleeping habits will get better-ish. But I live 5 minutes away from work. . . so probz not.

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  19. hahaha this is a great post! I have yet to experience most of the college stuff, due to the type I attend. But this is hilarious!

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  20. I'm definitely with you on the "freshman 15!" I walked + biked everywhere and was wayyyy more active in college than I am now. :[ (Although since I'm still a student, I guess I haven't technically entered real life yet, haha.) The morning struggle is definitely real though! ._.

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  21. It's definitely been a rough time adjusting since graduating a year ago but I think I am finally getting the hang of it.
    I enjoy not having to study and do homework after work but I miss all the free time I had during college.
    There's definite pros and cons haha.


    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

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  22. Hahaha PREACH GIRL! I love this post - especially the freshman 15 vs. real life 15. Desk jobs are such a burden on active lifestyles. That and I guess our metabolisms just slow down as we get older? That said, I do love being an adult and supporting myself!

    Strum Simmer Sip

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  23. I'm at such a weird in between point...I'm a senior in college but I'm also getting married! But this is so accurate...especially the Wal-Mart thing!

    xoxo, SS

    The
    Southern Stylista

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  24. This is sooooooooo x 1000000 true. Dude, real life is awesome but sometimes I freaking miss college!

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  25. Fun post! So much truth too! I am beyond impressed that you meal planned like that in college! You're a rock star!

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  26. I am avoiding the real world for a couple of more years while I get my life together. I just graduated college (yay me!) and I am going to grad school this fall. I have gone to Walmart way too many times already and seen way too many of the people from my high school. I come from a small area so Walmart is like the mall. It's unfortunate really.

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  27. Number one is SO REAL. Since graduating from college and starting my desk job I've gained weight! I was shocked when I went to the doctor and they told me my weight.

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  28. I completely agree. I seriously don't like running into people at Wal-Mart at all! I try to avoid it, but it's Wal-Mart. Sigh. Good luck with grad school and congrats on graduating! Yay!

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  29. I wish I could meal plan like that now!

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  30. I miss college so much sometimes! Things were just easier haha.

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  31. Wal-Mart, a necessary evil. Yay for getting married!

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  32. I completely agree! I never knew that having a desk job would affect me like that. Such a sad reality. I love being an adult too! Most days haha.

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  33. I miss all the free time too! I just felt like the world was my oyster when I was in college. Definitely pros and cons to both.

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  34. I've been trying to walk a little more lately by taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work, but it only does so much.

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  35. Me too! It's a sad reality. I need to get my act together and exercise! I seriously contemplate calling into work on a daily basis. I just want to SLEEP!

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  36. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Angela! :D

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  37. Haha right?! I hate running into people at Wal-Mart so much! I do my best to avoid Wal-Mart, but it's impossible. Darting the aisles is an art form. Five minutes from work?! Lucky! I really need to get better about my sleeping habits, but I can't. Who needs sleep? Me, but I'm not gonna do anything about it haha.

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  38. That's so unfortunate! I don't know how I would have functioned without a nearby Wal-Mart. I would have been even more broke than I already was if I always had to go to the grocery store. I feel like you had to be superwoman in high school to have gotten up that early. I can't imagine doing that now. Ugh!

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  39. Haha I always have that fear going into the grocery store! I hope you feel better soon!

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  40. I miss all the college conveniences so much. I'm such a sloth now.

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  41. Good old dorm food. I actually miss it some days.

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  42. I definitely feel you on that! Sometimes when I run into people, I'm like "what the heck are you wearing?" Even strangers. People just don't care anymore. I enjoy dressing up and looking nice when I have time to get ready. There are definitely pros and cons!

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  43. It is definitely a bit of a change!

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  44. Sitting at a desk all day can get boring! I'm now trying to get up and walk around for no reason every other hour or so. It's just good to get out of the office.

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  45. I'm three years out too, but I feel like I can't get my act together! Haha. I just have a problem with setting a schedule and sticking to it.

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  46. I'm so jealous. I wish I was back in college! Haha I miss it!

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  47. I really don't know how I ever got up that early. It's a miracle, I tell ya! I really need to get on a proper sleep schedule. It's so hard to convince myself to go to bed some nights.

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  48. That's such a good idea, Brittany! That would seriously prepare people for desk jobs haha. It's such a HUGE adjustment.

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  49. I get bored sometimes too. It was such a big adjustment.

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  50. I'm such an old lady now. I can't imagine doing all of the things I did back in college haha. We were all superhumans!

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  51. Yes! I miss being able to share things with my roommates. Jewelry, scarves, shoes. And being able to walk over and rant with my roommates was the best. Phone calls just aren't the same!

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  52. I'm so glad I'm not the only one that gained 20 pounds after starting a desk job! I blamed the catering. Haha. And I agree - I always try to look decent when going to Wal-Mart or the grocery store!

    XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass

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  53. I know exactly what you mean about putting on weight once you are done college because you are staying behind a desk from 9-5. I loved college, it was an amazing experience for me because I got the opportunity to discover what I love.

    Sophie

    http://smittensophie.com

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  54. Haha all of these are so true! Having a desk job is so rough and I miss all the walking I did while I was in college! I would have gotten my steps so easily everyday. ;)

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  55. I used to walk 25k steps a day when I worked retail. Now I've got a desk job (when I'm not working from home) and yikes! Lol

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  56. A week in post-grad life and I can already say this is true! I have a desk job and every time I eat (at my desk) I can feel the pounds piling on since I'm not moving. Also now realizing that setting regular sleep times is normal because you cannot just miss work.

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  57. Haha I've definitely put on a couple pounds in the belly area since I started my job. And I definitely try to look mostly put together when I go to Wal-Mart!

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  58. I miss college so much! It was such an awesome experience.

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  59. I've really been trying to walk more lately and have been taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work. It was so much easier in college!

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  60. Yea, it's such a huge change! I'm so lazy now that I work at a desk.

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  61. Haha it's just an every day struggle. I've been trying to walk around more, but there's just so much to do that it's hard to break away from my desk.

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  62. That last one is SO REAL! I swear everyone in my graduating class is now married and everyone seems to want to compare to everyone else! (I think it's a small town thing) I already have a terrible sleep schedule, I'm the opener at my store so I'm always up at 6am or earlier, sometimes 5am. So I want a desk job SO BAD so that I can wake up at 7am instead, that'll be a God send!

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  63. I feel like everyone I know is getting married and/or having babies, and I'm just over here being a dog mom. Totally okay with that though! I can't imagine having to wake up at 5-6 am! I don't think I'd make it through the day.

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  64. I could definitely see all of these being true for me! Even now theres a huge difference between how much I walk at school versus how much I walk when I'm home for breaks, and even running into people at Walmart when I'm home versus at school!

    Anchors and Pearls

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