Taking online classes does not mean our life is going to get any easier. In fact, it’s probably going to make us more exhausted than we’ve ever felt before. But if there’s anything that we’ve learned from boy scouts, preparation is key.

So you better buckle up because we’re going to reveal two secrets that can help you figure out how not to get burned out in school!

Secret 1: Learn to say no.

You probably know that you should be doing it. But the harder part is learning how to say no, right? While that is another topic in of itself, I could tell you right now that the biggest thing you need to be able to say no is having some degree of selfishness.

Well we could call it being selfish, but it’s really looking out for yourself. Learning to say no is one of the greatest forms of self-care that you’re probably not practicing.

There are two factors that may be driving you to agree to every opportunity in front of you: guilt and excitement.

 Guilt 

In this context, guilt is something you feel inside, but is brought on by external factors. There are many situations where this feeling may manifest. Common ones include a sibling asking you for a favor, or a friend asking if you can help them out.

We’re not telling you to say no to other people the moment they ask you for your time and effort. But always consider asking “why” before you agree to help out. Then, weigh out your options.

I would personally be hesitant to drop everything I’m doing just to help out someone who’s cramming a paper because they were getting wasted last night. Ultimately, whom you choose to give your time to boils down to you.

Although the greatest sin you could commit is saying yes to someone whom you don’t feel deserves it.

It may seem like it’s rude to say no to someone, but remember that they are simply asking for your time and effort. If they get pissed at you, that speaks more about their character than it does yours.

No one should force you into doing anything but yourself because it’s not your fault if you already have too much on your plate already.

Sure you may feel guilty when you say no, but it’s something you have to deal with to learn how not to get burned out in school.

 Excitement 

Being excited to do everything is a great way to easily get burned out. And unlike guilt, this is something brought upon by your own volition. What you need from yourself is to muster up a little thing called patience.

The feeling of excitement is heavily tied to one’s ambitions. When you’re as young as you are, it’s easy to get caught up in your desire to learn everything you can about the world. Unfortunately, this can lead you to try out so many things at once that you’ll end up spreading yourself too thin.

Do you have those friends with a million extracurricular activities? We call them the Type A leader.

More often than not, no one is forcing them to be a member of all these student groups, but their excitement to try out everything is driving them to make these choices. There are people who crave for that kind of exhaustion in their lives, and there are people who find fun somewhere else.

What may be good for your growth and happiness may not necessarily be good for your mental and emotional state.

You have to catch yourself during these times and have the guts to say no to yourself. It’s easier than it sounds, but everyone has some sort of self-driven motivation that will make them say yes to every shiny opportunity.

So how exactly do you avoid giving into your own excitement?

Secret 2: Plot out your priorities. Then cut them down.

You can’t do everything at once. Whether you like it or not, there will come a time where you’ll just have too many things in your plate. The worst thing you could do is add unnecessary tasks because of guilt or excitement.

It’s common sense. When your stomach is already full, you don’t order another plate; you remove it from your system.

The important thing you need to do is to mentally or physically note what your priorities are for the immediate future, and the weeks to come. And priorities here don’t necessarily mean work. This is not a to-do list where every item needs to be ticked off.

Priorities can refer to things or activities that you find valuable: reading a book, going out with friends, doing a skincare routine. Once you’ve ranked them from most important to least, it’s time to remove the ones at the bottom of the list. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to completely forget about them, it’s just that those things are gonna have to wait.

You only have 24 hours in a day. Something’s got to give.

Accepting this fact is the first step to learning how not to get burned out.

If you’re having a difficult time cancelling or “postponing” your priorities, then ask yourself: what do I need right now?

Sometimes you just need to get a certain assignment done because of a looming deadline. And sometimes, you just need to rest, so put off the online workshop you were going to attend and spend more time with your family.

Being focused on what you really need to do will help you fight guilt and excitement because you’ll know that you are saying no with purpose.

You want to learn another secret about how not to get burned out in school? Stop trying to be perfect. In this article, we give you tips on how you can avoid falling into that trap. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featured Image: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

The post How Students Can Avoid Burnout by Learning these 2 Secrets appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

How do you say no to online shopping? I was once that student who claimed that they were “broke” as I added another item in my cart. Honestly, who was I to do that? It’s not like I was earning any money back then.

There are a lot of budgeting tips for students out there, but this one is more of a personal reflection on what I could’ve done better now that I’m a bit older and am becoming more financially responsible.

Here’s a list of six ways to save some money without even lifting a finger!

The golden rule of money-saving: out of sight, out of mind. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you have more cash than you already do! If you have money, put it in your alkansya and lock it if you must.

Wherever you go, make sure you only bring the amount that you need. While I do recommend always bringing a debit card for emergencies, looking at the amount of money you have left in your savings account is a good reminder not to spend anymore than what you need.

It’s simple: if you don’t have cash in your hand, you simply cannot buy anything. When I catch myself spending too much on an everyday basis, this is the rule that I go back to because it never fails.

Unless of course, you’re with a rich friend who offers to lend you some money. That is where the real temptation begins.

Thankfully, I’ve never been the type to spontaneously buy something online. I do remember having quite the scare last year during the 10/10 sale though.

Do you know how these shopping sites make you buy more? By *gasp* making you install their apps on your phone. They’ll offer you all these amazing discounts and promos if, and only if, you fulfill that condition.

One of our most important budgeting tips for students is to simply delete those pesky little things.

It’s become Gen Z nature to swipe through random apps in our phone one second after we get bored. The big e-commerce sites know this and are banking on your boredom to get some purchases. So the moment you get your mobile-exclusive promo, make sure to uninstall the app in an instant.

Source: I work in marketing. But hey, I want to keep the doors open for these shopping giants to promote on our website. So on that note, keep your shopping apps in your phone, kids!

This is a savvier way to execute “out of sight, out of mind.” There are so many e-wallets out there like GCash, Paymaya, LazWallet & GrabPay. What you can do is to place some money in these wallets.

That way, you won’t get complacent with seeing one large number in your savings account.

If you decide to go through with this, make sure you’re only just putting the money you know you’re going to spend. So if you’ve allocated PHP 1000 of your monthly allowance to Grab, make sure to only put that amount in the wallet and nothing more.

But of course, I can already hear the financial experts screaming how idiotic a move that is. That is exactly what these companies want you to do.

The wiser decision would be to invest. Yes, purchasing stocks is one of our most important budgeting tips for students.

Leading online stockbroker COL Financial has made it so much easier to open an account with them. You can actually start investing with just PHP 5,000 and a few clicks!

If the steep learning curve of investing worries you, then I’m assuring you that it only takes a whole day of dedicated reading and Youtube videos to get the basics down. COL Financial also has an Easy Investment Program which is basically what the name suggests it is.

You’re inevitably going to learn more about investment when you’re older anyway, so why not start now? One of my biggest financial regrets is being too lazy to set up an account when I was younger. Don’t be me, it’s not fun.

And if you’re asking, this isn’t a sponsored post… shockingly enough.

It’s a cliche because it’s true: home-cooked meals are just so much cheaper. This is a must when it comes to budgeting tips for students.

However, this one in particular depends heavily on your living situation.

If you live in a house where someone else does the cooking, it would be easier to ask them to prepare extra food for you every day to avoid accidentally splurging on expensive meals in school.

If you live in a condominium or apartment, you should practice the art of meal planning. It’s basically when you set out a day in the week to prepare all the food you’ll be eating in the next days. It sounds like a lot, but try it out for two weeks before giving up on it. There are a lot of benefits you’ll enjoy like saving precious time in the future, and of course, keeping your money.

This one is more challenging for dormers and people without easy access to kitchens. If you’re one of them, we suggest finding a few go-to places near your area that sells cheap food and you legitimately enjoy.

The idea would be to buy from one of these places every morning and bring them to school like it’s your baon. That way, you’ll avoid being dragged to expensive restaurants by your friends!

It’s easier than it sounds. There are so many free personal budgeting apps available right now that helps you list down all the expenses you’ve amounted. Most budgeting apps let you place what category your expenses fall under (e.g. restaurants, entertainment, transportation) so you’ll be able to see where you are needlessly spending too much on.

Thing is, you don’t even have to install any of these apps if you don’t feel like it. I tried out one of them before and found it too complicated for my liking. Do what works for you!

Instead of doing it on my mobile, I place all my expenses in a personal budget template I found online. I do this every weekend to help me determine if I can spend more on my wants or not.

When you see all the expenses you’ve racked up, you are going to be hit with the cold hard reality that you’re spending way too much than you need to.

But you know what, us zoomers need a reality check that money doesn’t grow on trees!

In simpler terms: do some real budgeting. I know planning isn’t sexy unless you’re one of the few people who have a fetish for it. But when you actually lay out where your money will go for the next month, you’re going to want to stick to it. Trust me.

If your money should always be out of sight, then your budget should always be in sight. When you have your numbers laid out in the back of your head, you’ll realize that there is always a way to cut down on expenses.

You just have to get creative or endure some inconvenience.

Do you really love this particular restaurant but ordering takeout for the eleventh time will mean going over your budget? Maybe it’s time to search for a cheaper alternative. Are you used to buying branded clothes all the time? Well Shopee is a great haven for local small fashion stores. You just have to look for the good ones.

Here are some more personal budgeting templates that you could use to help you get started.

Saving money can be a real pain in the butt for people who have not even received their first paycheck. But we hope these budgeting tips for students will at the very least, help you become more mindful of the places your money goes to.

Not shelling out money is a great practice of self-control; you just need to mentally swat away all the temptations that life has to offer. Definitely easier said than done.

Enjoyed this article? Look over here for more great advice that zoomers like you might need. And don’t forget to follow us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Featued Image: maitree rimthong from Pexels

The post 6 Easy, Useful Money-Saving and Budgeting Tips for Filipino Students appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

So you’ve decided to take off your toga and suit up for your first real job. You are now officially part of the workforce, and it’s just a matter of going from “unemployed” to “employed”. It’s a tough journey ahead, but it’s just a matter of knowing how to maneuver your way to success! Here are Zoomers Corner’s handy tips for fresh graduates seeking a job.

Don’t: Compare your pace with others.

Job hunting isn’t a race. I remember when I was job-hunting for the first time, the pressure to find a job kept getting higher and higher as more of my classmates got signed to a workplace. Looking back, I shouldn’t have felt that pressure because it really did nothing except increase my anxiety.

Just because all your friends are getting job interviews left and right while you aren’t, doesn’t mean that you should feel bad about yourself! Rejection is perfectly normal and an avenue for growth.

Instead of wallowing in sadness, take the time to improve your resume, brush up on interview questions, and send out feelers.

Do not let anyone else’s success dictate your pace. If your privilege permits it, take the time you need for the job hunting process. Your only motivation should be to find “the right job” ⁠— a job that makes sense for whatever your life priorities (e.g. wealth, work-life balance, skill development) may be.

Do: Compare company and job offers with trusted friends.

You are not an island in the job-hunting process. One of the most important tips for fresh graduates seeking a job is having a support system that includes your closest friends.

Creating those group chats specifically to discuss all things job hunting-related can help you practically and emotionally. One group chat I had was filled with my high school friends from different majors and colleges.

We had sent links to job openings that the others might have interest in, gave feedback on each other’s resumes and LinkedIn profiles, released our emotions after every interview, and yes, compared job offers.

Listen, I know there is still a taboo on discussing salaries and all that jazz. But as long as everyone in your group is secure with themselves and comfortable with the idea, I don’t see why you shouldn’t.

It’s extremely helpful especially if you’re applying for similar roles in the same industry. Do not cheat yourself by settling for a job that undercompensates!

Don’t: Mass-send job applications.

It’s tempting to just send out an application to numerous companies. But what you’re actually doing is reducing your chances of getting hired by not taking the time to craft out a specific and tailored application for every single one of them.

Remember, you only have one shot to make a good first impression.

These companies probably sift through numerous application forms, and if you just send out a generic resume and cover letter, you won’t get the chance to stand out. Make it feel like you are really fit for the job by addressing all the things they listed in their job opening.

Do: Personalize every job application.

You can’t be lazy with the job-hunting process. Recognize that every job opening has different priorities. Let’s say that you’re applying for the role of Social Media Assistant in two companies.

Company A might prioritize someone who can write social media posts and create visuals, while Company B might prioritize someone who can reply to customer inquires.

Having seen both job openings, you decide to send the same application for them. However, if you only focused on how proficient you are in crafting social media content in your resume, then you just lost your chance to get a job in Company B. They had specifically looked for a person who is great with interpersonal communication, which your resume does not address.

Take the extra 40 minutes to add stuff and rearrange some things in your resume. Then another 20 minutes to craft a cover letter specifically for that job position. Remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Don’t: Underestimate the power of social media.

The internet is your best friend. There are numerous Facebook groups where employers constantly post job listings. Just search “Philippines jobs” under Groups and you’ll see most of them.

What’s great is that there are Facebook groups that cater to a specific industry like marketing and content writing, for example. There is also a high chance that your school has an online group dedicated to job listings. Ask alumni you know if something like that exists for your school!

If you’re looking for a job in advertising, most agencies use the hashtag #MayOpeningBa on Twitter to find potential hires.

And of course, LinkedIn is the place to be when it comes to anything job-related. Not only is it a great networking app where you could connect with people from other industries, but you can also find lots of openings here!

From my experience, it’s one of the most user-friendly job listing sites out there, so make sure to use it to the fullest.

Do: Create a strong brand for yourself.

“Who are you?”

Depending on the HR officer in charge of the hiring process, you have a limited window of opportunity to answer that question. With that, you have to create a “brand” for yourself, as cringworthy as it sounds.

If you look at my LinkedIn profile, the professional objective in my resume, and my cover letter, you’d always see the words “passionate” and “loyal” in there somewhere. Those are the qualities that I want to stress to potential employers that help them remember who I am.

So what is your “thing” ⁠— are you the proactive go-getter, the hardworking leader, or the methodical artist? Here are some powerful adjectives to help fuel your brain when determining your brand.

There are loads of online tips for fresh graduates seeking a job in listing sites like Jobstreet, Kalibrr, Linkedin, and Glassdoor.

But the most important thing I can impart is to fill out your profile cleanly and completely. Make sure you look good in your professional headshot, there are no typos in your profile, and all the pertinent information are there.

When you apply through some of these websites, they send your resume along with your profile to the employer. So make sure everything is in tip-top shape!

By the way, part of maintaining your professional image is cleaning your social media profiles.

Most companies do look you up online as part of the process. You won’t win over anyone with your drunk party photos from college or your expletive-laced rants on Twitter, so make sure to adjust your privacy settings accordingly.

Don’t: Settle for a company.

If it doesn’t feel right, then it’s not right! Settling doesn’t mean turning down every job offer that doesn’t fit all the items in your “perfect job” criteria. I retain my position that there is no such thing as a “perfect job” especially for your first one.

But I encourage you to heavily consider turning down an offer that goes against something that you consider mandatory for a job. It’d be good to breakdown and prioritize your needs and wants in a list.

If a job offer doesn’t fulfill one of your needs, ask yourself again if you think that it’s really a need for you. If the answer is still yes, then don’t go for it.

Again, this goes back to setting your own pace when it comes to the job-hunting process. As much as possible, try to keep external factors from clouding your judgement.

This may come from a family member telling you to take the job, the company setting a deadline for you to make a decision, or your insecurity from seeing your friends working already.

Do: Search only for companies that fulfill your needs.

Everyone’s priorities are different. When I had first gone job-hunting, I wanted a company with high salary but needed one with good benefits.

Even if I feel like we shouldn’t be picky about salary for an entry-level job, it is a deal-breaker for those who either want to live independently, or have a family to support. The usual trade-off would be the lack of a work-life balance, which is something that I know I needed.

Real talk: looking for a job would be easier if you had an idea where you want to be in the short and long-term.

Nevermind that it’s a common job interview question. But in this cruel world we live in, your lifestyle heavily depends on your job.

I had refused a really damn good offer for a managerial position as a fresh graduate. It had crossed everything off my list, but I knew that I couldn’t push through with it because I wanted to start something on the side (thanks, Shark Tank).

With how fast-paced the job is, I knew that I just wouldn’t have the time to do what I wanted.

So what does it mean for you?

I would have saved some effort and transportation money by not applying for that position in the first place. Even if I knew that the environment was fast-paced when I had applied, I still pushed through with it anyways.

It’s normal to be trigger-happy when it comes to sending out all these job offers. Hey, it’s excusable right now since we’re in a pandemic!

But if you’re really applying with zero, as in zero, intent of joining a company: just don’t go for it. You’d just be wasting your time, and the employer’s time.

Thankfully, you’re just one Google search away from looking at employer reviews.

With a few clicks, you can gauge whether or not a company is a great working environment, if they compensate fairly, and what benefits they offer. If the company isn’t big enough, one thing I do is look up their website and the owners’ social media profiles to get a feel of how the place is run.

But in essence, do your company research well! Make sure you’re a fit for whatever you’re applying for.

These are just some of our tips for fresh graduates seeking for a job! The whole job-hunting process is a really exciting part of every zoomer’s life, and it can even be a positive experience as long as you’re well-prepared for it. We wish you luck, and we hope to see you employed soon!

Questions? Agree or disagree? Any tips for our new zoomers entering the workforce? Shoot us a comment below!

Still on that post-graduation high? Boy, do we have some life lessons for you! For more advice and tips, don’t forget to follow us @ZoomersCornerPH on Twitter and Instagram.

Featured Image: Ketut Subiyanto

The post Honest Do’s and Don’ts for Fresh Graduates Hunting for Jobs (2020) appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

With all the disturbing news in the country and the world, it’s time for us to speak out. In a world where social media reigns, it’s become your responsibility to learn how to use your platform effectively.

While most of us think that it just means spreading awareness about the issue, you can go much, much deeper than that.

1. Share content that educates.

Ever watch a video or read an article online that made you think, if only everyone knew this. Well the first step to using your platform is actually sharing that piece of content in your timeline or news feed. Sharing something nowadays literally only takes two taps, and it can already do so much.

Always remember that staying silent is why nothing gets changed in the first place. Make it a mindset to share anything that adds value to a topic that you feel needs to be talked about.

2. Do not underestimate your reach.

You may only have five followers, but never be discouraged to educate online just because you feel like you’re not “influential” enough. Changing the mind of even one single person is important in the grander scheme of things.

You never know how strong an impact you really have on others. Who knows? Maybe one of your followers could be so inspired with what you had shared that they start to influence their own set of followers instead.

And then it becomes a chain reaction with more people starting to influence each other…. just because you chose to share something online!

3. No dilly-dallying, take a stand.

Creating awareness about an issue and educating your friends aren’t enough. You absolutely need to pick a side and share your personal opinion to be successful in using your platform effectively.

While most hashtags are already a stand in of themselves, they’re really nothing without your personal input. Your internet moots would like to read something that comes from you personally. After all, they’re not online friends with the news organization where you had shared the article from, they’re friends with you.

If you want to change mindsets, you need to understand that you play a pivotal role that comes after awareness and education.

4. Speak like a human being to your audience.

This is a common mistake that a lot of people including myself make from time to time. Learning how to use your platform effectively means erasing your narcissism and pride. It’s the worst time to sound smart!

I know it’s not just me who rolls their eyes when they see an online post with so many “big” words. Yes, you can probably speak in perfect English and you know all these relevant concepts.

But who are you talking to here? Whose mindsets do you want to change? Do they understand you?

Flaunting your intellect and trying to outsmart others could actually be counterproductive in your goal to influence. It’s difficult to do especially when you’re used to a circle of friends that can understand what you’re trying to say.

If you want to influence others, however, you may have to dumb it down. Otherwise, you’ll find that the people whose opinions you want to challenge will just gloss over everything you had said.

5. Mix facts with emotions.

In using your platform, avoid sounding like a fact-spitting robot or an emotional trainwreck.

Do you know why the top-selling products on earth are probably not the best at solving the problems they try to address? Because advertisers know that having the best product is just half the game. Creating an emotional connection with their customers is what separates the top dog from the rest of the pack.

Trying to influence other people online isn’t a game of Jeopardy. You have to appeal to their emotions, too.

On the other hand, you can’t just let your emotions drive the statement you’re trying to make either. Cursing is okay, but it’s not really an effective way to use your platform. You have to explain why you feel strongly about something through facts.

6. Be creative.

If you’re an avid news feed scroller, you probably only read the posts with compelling images and videos. In the same way, when crafting a post online, make sure it’s not just a generic statement that anybody could make. It has to stand out!

All the things you have learned about how to use your platform so far will be for nothing if no one reads your piece.

Inject your personality into whatever you’re posting, and the reader will probably be enticed to listen to you more. This is why memes can be an integral part in many online movements. Humor is an effective way to educate others when done tastefully.

7. Defend your stance, but be open-minded.

Once you post your opinion to the world, there will undoubtedly be those who disagree with you. The first thing you need to do is to keep an open mind; maybe said person has a point. Now what you can do is engage with them so you can educate each other.

Correct yourself if you must. The worst thing you could do is be stubborn when all the facts had been laid out for you.

However, if you still feel that you’re right, you have to address their comment. It’s not a good look if there’s a flood of people contradicting your argument, and you have nothing to say to them. It makes you look like you didn’t really know what you were saying in the first place.

Finally, choose your battles wisely! You do not want to waste half of your day arguing with a troll who just wants to annoy you. Argue with the ones whose minds can be changed.

8. Persuade others to take action.

Now that you’ve convinced your followers that there is a terrible problem that needs to be addressed, the next step is, well, to tell them the next step. Basically, show them the way so they can help.

Is there a petition that they can sign? Is there somebody that they can e-mail? Can they donate somewhere? Whatever it is, remember to include that important information in your post. If you don’t, you’ll basically just leave your followers hanging without knowing what to do.

People’s attention spans are short. If they’re not able to take action ASAP, the worst thing that could happen is their losing interest. They may forget to help out in the future.

You don’t have to follow all of these items in the list every time you want to signal-boost an issue, but it’s just a guide on how to use your platform to its fullest potential. The most important thing to realize is that you, a zoomer, have the power to influence other people, no matter how small you feel in this world.

Feel like you now have to use your platform for something? You can read up certain issues that the Philippines have come across during the coronavirus pandemic here. Don’t forget to follow us @ZoomersCornerPH on Twitter!

Featured Image: Plann on Pexels

The post ‘Use Your Platform’: What it Means and How to Do it Effectively appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Stop trying to be the perfect person. You’re not Superman or Wonder Woman. It’s time we normalize being mediocre because success doesn’t always mean happiness. In fact, the drive of being perfect all the time can kill you. We’re gonna have to stop being a perfectionist someday.

What kind of perfectionist are you?

Every perfectionist has their own motivation that explains why they want to overachieve all the time. A study conducted across three decades identified three types of perfectionists, succinctly explained by Evolve Treatment Centers.

Self-oriented perfectionists find the desire to become perfect from within themselves. Usually, this translates to a higher level of productivity and career growth.

Other-oriented perfectionists are those who expect other people to be perfect. They’re the type to judge too harshly because they have high standards for everyone else. Basically, this is the groupmate that chooses to do everything themselves rather than assign tasks to others.

Socially-prescribed perfectionists are those who feel a pressure to perform better because of other people’s expectations, and as a result, are prone to getting anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, being pressured by external factors puts them at a higher risk of self-harm.

What are the downsides to being a perfectionist?

You might have identified yourself as a self-oriented perfectionist and thought: a higher level of productivity and career growth? There’s nothing wrong with that.

Unfortunately, you’re not off the hook. No matter what kind of perfectionist you are, thinking like one is generally associated with suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression. That’s because of the voice in your head telling you that you’re not good enough. Being a perfectionist is an endless train of thought where you never feel a sense of self-adequacy. Or when you do, it’s just temporary.

When it comes to work, be prepared for major burnout and stress. While it’s true that perfectionists are more motivated, they also work way longer hours. “Get a life, ya workaholic,” said the voice in your head as you willingly open a new Google Docs tab.

You want to know something really interesting though? In a study by Harvard Business Review, they saw no correlation between perfectionism and performance. This means that the people who put in extra work to make sure everything is in tip-top shape don’t necessarily perform better. As the popular adage goes: work smart, not hard.

Is it possible to stop being a perfectionist? Definitely, but we can’t change our behavior overnight.  The last thing we want to do is trying to be perfect at not being a perfectionist.

But here are small reminders that we could give for zoomers who can’t help but overachieve:

Motivate yourself the right way.

When you start to constantly doubt yourself and your abilities, it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate your “why”. There’s a fine line between healthy motivation and toxic overachievement.

Your motivation should be the reason you get up in the morning and look forward to living life. It’s something that should make you happy, as opposed to something you dread. For example, going through a school or work week because there’s a big party on Friday night is motivation. Doing it just because you don’t want a grade lower than a B+ is something that just stresses you out.

Imagine yourself in that situation: you’re on your desk at 3 AM anxiously overstudying all the reviewers and slides for midterms. Then you start to break down because the test is in a few hours, and you start to doubt that you’re ever gonna get a grade higher than a B+. All this, while someone who just wants to go to that Friday night party is probably asleep having studied the right amount… not stressing.

When you pick out your reason for doing something, make sure that it will not cause additional anxiety. Having a positive source of motivation is important for you to stop being a perfectionist.

Be realistic.

When your goals start becoming unrealistic, you should re-align them to be more achievable. For example, when we don’t reach our goals in a certain time, we tend to overcompensate by working a hundred times harder in one big burst. By the end of the day, we’re too exhausted for life.

There’s a reason why they say life is not a sprint, but a marathon. You’re not supposed to rush through the process because if you do, you’re just gonna end up being the loser.

I thought time would be a great example for this piece of advice because that’s where we usually fall short when setting our SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic & time-bound) goals. Yes, you can be a CEO of a hundred million-peso company but you can’t give up when you’re just a month in.

Just remember to be honest with yourself when evaluating your capabilities in relation to your goal. And by the way, don’t feel like you’re settling when you adjust or scale down your goal to something more achievable. It’s perfectly normal!

Trust others to take the lead.

You could stop being a perfectionist by not trying to fix everything yourself. It’s just impossible!

We talked about how being a perfectionist could lead to intense burnout. Well, it could be a byproduct of wanting to solve every issue that pops up, and having a hand in every single decision that’s made. But sometimes, you just have to step away and pass the baton to other people.

I know how hard it could be to do that especially if they have let you down before. I’ve been in that position; I get you.

Although, it’s important to realize that not everyone is at their 100% all the time. Maybe they were just off their game during that time they “broke your trust” when you had delegated a task to them. Try to understand that, and look at the things that they’ve done right. ‘Cause that probably outweighs all the shortcomings that they have.

Learn to trust others, and build genuine connections with other people to foster that trust. It’s time you learned the value of teamwork.

Besides, who’s to say your version of perfect is the only version of perfect? You might just be making things worse putting your hands where they shouldn’t be.

Learn to prioritize.

Human beings in general have a lot of goals they want to achieve. However, everyday life is already so draining that we can’t do everything that we set out to do.

If you’re one of the people that believes you can be everything that you want to be, then make sure you’re not tiring yourself out. There are only 24 hours in a day, and you’ll have to make a ton of compromises to not go through life like a walking zombie.

In that case, it’s important to know what you need to do, what you really want to do, what you just want to do, and what you can cut from your life completely.

When you don’t do this, something’s gonna give eventually and mess everything up, domino effect-style. It’s better to avoid going through all that in the first place by determining what goals can wait and what cannot.

Don’t get me wrong, you shouldn’t really “stop being a perfectionist”. I mean for most of us, we’ve seen good results in our lives from dreaming big.

But the important thing is to not lean too hard into a toxic mindset where it becomes normal to beat yourself up over being “just okay”. While being excellent is impressive, being okay will suffice a lot of times. Know when to turn on the perfectionist switch, but always remember to turn it off!

Are you anxious over graduating and need some advice on that too? Read our article on lessons for college graduates. Don’t forget to follow us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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The post What You Don’t Know about Being a Perfectionist (and How to Stop) appeared first on Zoomers Corner.

Congratulations to the new batch of “gradwaiting” and graduating students! Now, it’s time for you to face the real world. The post-graduation life is both confusing and overwhelming, but the lessons you’ll learn are endless. It’s been a year since I graduated, but I’ve learned more about the world in the past months than I have in the four years that I’ve been a student. Here are some lessons and tips for graduates in the Philippines that I want to share from the experiences of both myself and my friends.

1. Rest before you find a job.

If your parents aren’t kicking you out of your house or forcing you to get a job, take a break. Not everyone has the privilege of being able to rest after college. So if you do, take the chance! You will thank yourself later.

It’s tempting to go job-hunting when you’re worried about competition, but rest doesn’t come so easily as a working adult anymore. I’ve heard many friends tell me they regret not taking a break after college because they were instantly burnt out after they landed a job.

Remember: life isn’t a race, it’s a marathon.

2. Finding a job isn’t instant.

When I was a college senior, I really thought it would be easy to secure a job. But obviously, I was wrong. There are a lot of things you’d have to do, like prepare a killer resume and/or portfolio, filter through jobs and companies, send out e-mails, and ace job interviews.

As a fresh graduate, you’d find a lot of jobs that is beyond your experience level. Reality is, there are also many companies who will not get back to your job application. These things delayed how long the job-hunting process for me. Luckily, the internet is full of tips for graduates in the Philippines that will ensure that you get that dream job.

I was lucky enough that everything only took me a month and a half. For some, it took three months or even more. If you’re going to rest after college, make sure you’re realistic with the timetable that you set when it pertains to job-hunting.

3. You will meet people who are so different from you.

This one is kind of obvious, but you won’t really realize how true it is until you’re out there. When you’re in school, you more or less grow up thinking the same as your classmates and friends.

However, once you get out of that bubble, you will inevitably meet people who have different opinions and mindsets as yours. There will be people who will make you think: what kind of messed-up environment did they grow up in?

You thought you had the patience and tolerance to deal with those people? We’ll see.

4. Finding friends isn’t easy.

My college friends and I would talk about this a lot when we first started. In school, there are many opportunities to make new friends through classes, and extracurricular activities.

However, it’s kind of tough to create new connections after college because you’d have to willingly put your foot forward. You’d have to put some effort in finding people to talk to, which may be an introvert’s worst nightmare.

On top of my head, you can meet people through Tinder, mutual friends, workout classes, or work. So there are options, but no one’s going to force you to be friends with anyone anymore except yourself.

5. Doing vices was a phase for many people.

College was a playground for experimentation. For many of us, it was the “wildest” phase of our young lives where we were into sex, drugs, smoking, and alcohol.

Now that we have bigger problems to take care, those things have taken a backseat. Most of my friends who doubled down on vices during college eventually grew out of them.

Of course some of us still do engage in them, but don’t be surprised if your lasinggero friend isn’t always up for blackout nights anymore. Oh, and just to make it clear, we don’t condone the use of any illegal drugs here. Please stop if you are.

6. College friends are forever… or not.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Post-graduation is a great test of that.

I’ve already drifted apart from friends whom I thought I was going to be close with forever. But I’ve also forged even deeper connections with a few of the people I met in college even when we started working.

There is definitely some effort involved in maintaining the friendships that you have, so it’s up to you to decide which ones are worth fighting for.

7. Everyone has their own lives.

In college, it was easier to be there for your friends when you saw each other regularly.

But in the real world, it’s sometimes hard to find time and energy to be there for each other.

As you’re making all of these adjustments in life, it’s hard not to get caught up in your own little world. There will come a point where you’ll think you’re a crappy friend, but the guilt is perfectly normal. You can’t be there for everyone all the time, and not everyone can be there for you all the time too.

The important thing is the effort you exert in finding time for each other, because that alone speaks volumes.

8. College did not prepare you for the important stuff.

I can tell you about some communication theories and frameworks that I learned in college, but I’d be lying if I said I knew how taxes worked.

The post-graduate life has taught me that I was clueless about a lot of important, real-life stuff. For instance, knowing how to apply for SSS, PAG-IBIG, PhilHealth, TIN, and NBI Clearance was a task I needed to learn on my own. Back in August, I was involved in a car accident, but had no idea how insurance worked. Also, don’t even get me started on bills.

One of the most important tips for graduates in the Philippines is to do your research as early as now!

Looking back, I wish I had some sort of guidance on how to go about them. And I’m sure there will be more surprise life lessons to come.

9. You can’t take away the school from the graduate.

Unfortunately, you will be judged a lot by the school you graduated from, especially if it’s relatively well-known.

There are a lot of times when I’ve heard I only act a certain way because I came from UP. Which is a slap in the face, because I am more than my school. That’s why I’ve decided to always refrain from telling people where I went to college unless it’s relevant to the topic.

Whether you like it or not, you represent your school and your school represents you too.

10. Priorities change.

I remember being quite ambitious after I had just graduated from college. There were big dreams that I wanted to follow. But shit (that I’m probably gonna blog about soon) happened, and now, I just want to be happy.

When I was still in college, I always planned to work in the developmental sector through an NGO. However, when I had to go the corporate route because NGOs wouldn’t hire fresh graduates, I realized that I needed to work on myself and my hard skills first.

Truth is, most of us don’t know what the hell we want in life. Because of that, the things we find important will definitely change.

We will all go through certain events that will lead us to constantly rethink the things we hold dear and the path we ought to take.

11. People change.

It’s hard to accept, but you know it’s gonna happen.

The people around you will not be the same people they were in college. Everyone will face different obstacles and triumphs that will shape the way they think, feel, and behave. Sometimes, you won’t even recognize who they are anymore.

But it’s not just them. You will change, too. It’s human nature so don’t try to fight it.

However, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most of the time, people change for the better.

With everything have been said, I hope I didn’t scare you too much. Because trust me, life after college can be difficult, exhausting, and downright mean. But it’s also exciting and magical. This is the beginning of your lifelong journey to becoming your own person.

Once again, congratulations to the 2020 graduates! May you show the world how beautiful zoomers can be.

Got more tips for graduates in the Philippines? Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to share the post to your graduating friends!

Make sure to find more pieces of advice for zoomers here if you enjoyed reading through our tips for graduates in the Philippines.

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The post 11 Lessons for College Graduates I Wish I Knew Before appeared first on Zoomers Corner.