Welcome back for the third post in my new blog post series, all about surviving graduation.
In this series, I want to discuss the issues facing current graduates, including finding a job and getting into a new routine post-graduation.
Whether you’ve just finished school, you’re looking for a new job or you’ve recently graduated from University- I hope I can offer a few relatable tips about life as a graduate!
In this post, I want to discuss a trap that many of us will fall into after graduation- comparing ourselves to others.
It is so easy to compare yourself to others, whatever stage you’re at in life.
Does someone else have a better job than me? Why is someone else on track for a promotion, and I’m not? Why have they moved out of their parent’s house and I haven’t?
But comparing yourself to others achieves nothing, and it can be a harmful habit as you’re trying to work out what you want to do with your life.
In this blog post, I’ve put together 5 reasons to stop comparing yourself to others. Don’t let pointless comparisons get in the way of your plans and ambitions!
Your home is what you make it
One of the ways you might compare yourself to others after graduation is where you’re living.
Whether you’ve been studying from home or you’ve been living with students during your time at University– every graduate will have a different place to live after graduation.
There’s nothing wrong with living at home while you find your perfect job or save up some money- and I’ve been so lucky to spend the past year with my family.
If you want to live with your friends after graduation or you want to strike out on your own- that’s fine too.
Your home is what you make it, and there’s no right place to end up during this transition period in your life.
All is not as it seems
It’s so important to stop comparing yourself to others after graduation, as not everything is as it seems when it comes to other people’s lives.
People will always present the best image of themselves on social media, and not everyone who says they have their life “together” actually does.
While some people will have everything sorted- and that’s fantastic- stop comparing yourself to other people when all you see is a glowing social media post.
Take your time
Finding what you want to do after graduation takes time, and it’s so important to stop comparing yourself to others while you take your time to find your way in life.
Take the time to find something you love- and avoid disappointment later in life.
Don’t rush into any big decisions because you feel pushed, and definitely don’t rush into a Master’s because you don’t know what to do!
There’s plenty of time to sort out the direction that your life is going.
No, not everyone has their career sorted
It might seem like it, but not everyone has their careers sorted when they get straight out of University.
Stop comparing yourself to people who have their perfect career sorted, or who are going to be making more money than you.
Not everyone has their career sorted, so don’t feel the need to compare yourself to others.
You are on your own path
It sounds cheesy, but this really is the main reason to stop comparing yourself to others after graduation!
Everyone is on their own path, and while you are finding your way it doesn’t help to compare yourself to others- whether that’s training to be a solicitor, studying for a Master’s or looking for your first job.
Have you fallen into the trap of comparing yourself to others? What’s your best tip to avoid comparing yourself to other students? What do you think of my graduation blog post series?
Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂
Happy reading x
Not-So-Modern Girl 
Some great advice here. I realized long ago there will always be someone with a bigger house, better car or higher paying job. There’s a lot to be said for being grateful and content with what you have.
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Yes there will always be something to feel bad about- so it’s much better to just focus on yourself! Thank you for sharing x
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I love how you said that we are on our own path in life, that’s so true and it’s important not to compare your path to others! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
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Thank you so much Lucy x
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These are brilliant tips and I agree, they could apply to any stage of life. I can imagine the comparison game is pretty strong after your graduate!
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Yes they definitely could, whatever you’ve done and wherever you are in your life you need to focus on your own journey- I feel it now with blogging 🙂 thank you Jenny x
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My career wasn’t sorted out, still isn’t after graduating my undergraduate or postgraduate. Dealing with comparisons is hard, I’ve never felt good enough once in my life, but even if that was true, what good does dwelling on that do any of us?
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That’s very fair, and I agree that dwelling on what others have/what they are doing never helps our own journey 🙂
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I totally agree with you, Eleanor! Making comparisons is toxic for the mind, body and soul! Great post!
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Thank you!
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Thank you for sharing!
This is exactly what I needed to read today -in this day and age you are constantly comparing yourselves to others, especially career wise. It’s important to know we are on our own path and to keep going without investing too much time on what others are doing.
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Aw thank you, I’m glad I could help! It’s so easy to compare with social media etc. but everyone does their own thing and that’s okay x
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Great advice! It’s so hard to be a graduate. I had a job that was decent but as I got older I really outgrew it and started comparing myself to my friends who were getting further up the ladder!
Corinne x
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Thank you Corinne 🙂 I think it’s so easy to do that, thank you for sharing x
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I am guilty of comparison. I find it hard not to sometimes. I am trying to focus on myself as not everything is as rosy as people make out also. Thank you for sharing your blog post.
Lauren -bournemouthgirl.com
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We all do it! I’m glad you’re getting there, thank you for sharing Lauren x
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Oh these are some fab tips – it’s so hard when you fall into the comparison trap especially at that age after going through uni etc. It can be quite unsettling! Xx
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Thank you Alice 🙂 Yes definitely, and when you’re in that transition period you should focus on your own path, for sure x
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Some really great advice here! I think so many people are guilty of comparing themselves, me included. Its a horrible feeling but I think these tips are gonna be really helpful. Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
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Thank you Elle! We all do it, but we need to learn that everyone does things differently- if we are happy that’s all that matters x
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Gosh, I think these are important things far past graduation. I didn’t go to college and I’m nearing my 30’s, but these are topics that I’ve found challenging over the past decade when it comes to comparison. It really is helpful to learn to just be happy and satisfied with where you’re at in your life because everyone has a different journey!
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Thank you Stephanie, I agree that they are important things to remember wherever you are in life 🙂 I love that, you’re so right x
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Great post here!! I am totally agreeing with this but as in human nature I still get into comparisons sometimes, because I am taking a break and deciding what I really want after graduation. It’s difficult sometimes but yes My path is different and so my journey is from other people, so no Comparisons. Thank you for sharing these helpful tips 🙂
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Thank you!
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Great advice and insight!
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Thank you Michell x
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Good tips for people in their 20s. It takes a long time to figure out how to not do these things, but I think it’s great that this message is getting out. It wasn’t when I was in my 20s.
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Thank you! Yes definitely, your 20s can be time to find out what you want to do and we shouldn’t force people to know what they want to do straight away x
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love this blog post! when i graduated from college, i learned patience is key. getting a job right after graduation isn’t always cut and dry. and comparing your path to anyone else (whatever you may be accomplishing or wanting) is never a good idea. comparison is the thief of joy as they say for a reason.
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Thank you so much! Yes you definitely can’t compare your journey to someone else’s, whatever you happen to be doing with your life x
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Loved this post! I haven’t been to university but totally felt all this at the end of high school! I felt like everyone had their wits together and were ready to make big decisions right away, but as you said, we are all on a different path and not rushing things! It took years to learn x
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Thank you! I think we’ve all felt this way at some point in life, whatever your path in life 🙂 we definitely need to focus on ourselves x
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Great post! I graduated back in 2019 and spent pretty much the entirety of 2020 looking for a job (definitely a challenge in a pandemic!) so I love that you’ve made a point of saying that not everyone has their career sorted 🙂 x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
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Thank you! Yes I agree, the pandemic really hasn’t helped with job-hunting and graduation- I graduated in 2020 so had the same issue. I think we all have our own path to travel and not everyone has the perfect career straight out of graduation x
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I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of comparing myself to other people! But I try to remind myself that we are all on our own individual journey, and to enjoy the process even though I am not where I want to be yet! Thank you for this post 🙂 x
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I think we all have, but that’s such a great thing to remember and I’m glad you found my post relatable x
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Some amazing points here, especially the one that not everyone has their career figured out as it’s so true – people can take a lifetime to find a career right for them. It’s so important not to compare yourself xx
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Thank you Della, I think everyone changes their mind when it comes to career moves and you can’t compare that to someone else 🙂
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It is easy to compare yourself to others. Great article!
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Thank you Jamie 🙂
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Love this post – so much important advice and info! Comparing on social media is a great caution as you mentioned it’s not likely as it seems. I also love how you’ve outlined no one has their career perfectly sorted, and that advice even carries years after graduation as well! Thanks for sharing.
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Yes it can definitely present a very positive image! Thank you for sharing, I’m glad you enjoyed the post x
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Great points! Yes, there will always be someone who looks like they have more than we do. Comparison really is the thief of joy. Sounds cheesy, but it’s so true. Going at your own pace is so important because you are the only one who has to live with the decisions and choices you make. Don’t make those choices just because you want to keep up with others. You won’t be truly happy unless you do things because they are right for you. Wonderful post!
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Thank you Heidi 🙂 Yes exactly, everyone will have different experiences and we need to make our own choices without comparing ourselves to others x
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Fab tips here. This is filled with great advice. Comparing yourself to others can cause so much turmoil.
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Thank you Jordanne 🙂 it’s really good to just focus on you x
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This is really great advice. I completely agree that we are all on our own paths and we need to focus on that and not what other people are doing.
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Thank you Kelly! Yes definitely, it’s so important to remember that x
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Love the advice – mine and my best friends paths are so different. I’m focusing more on volunteering (partly because there are literally no paid environmental jobs), whilst she is working and gaining experience that way x
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I get that, and it must be so tough if there are no paid jobs in your field- you’re doing great though! x
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Ah I feel the same, and I love that you can relate to my ideas- thank you! x
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This was very helpful and motivational. Thanks.
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Thank you!
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It can be really hard to stop comparing ourselves to others as I think it’s something we almost naturally do without thinking — your reminders about forging our own path and focusing on what that looks like for us is really great advice.
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Yes I agree Molly, it can be tough and I’m glad you found this post relatable x
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Honestly love this post. Wishing I saw this earlier when I graduated and had nothing going on. Although not everything is what it seems but seeing your friends excel while you have nothing going is hard. So thank you for this amazing post. It is really helpful
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Thank you so much! Yes it can be so difficult when others are doing something different to us, and you have to just keep going and have confidence in your own path x
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This is a great post! I can definitely be guilty of falling into the comparison trap, but I’m slowly getting more mindful about it x
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Thank you! Me too, we all do sometimes but it’s a journey and we can do this 🙂 x
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I never went down the Uni route, but I know a lot of my friends expect jobs straight away and are disheartened when some people get better jobs than they do. I love the idea that everyone is on their own path, plus ever experience will be different. This is such an important message!
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Yes I think it can be tough- and comparing yourself can happen in any time in life, whatever route you’ve taken! Thank you x
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Thank you for sharing! I’ll admit, I’m a nightmare for comparing myself to others. I haven’t reached graduation myself (I start uni in September) but I can imagine there will be lots of comparisons popping up throughout my time to uni which, I agree with you, can be toxic. Great post xx
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Me too! It can be hard I think when you think someone is doing better than you, but focusing on your own path is a great value to remember x
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