100 Best Lifehack Lists for Recent College Grads

Published on Monday 8th of December, 2008

Recent college graduates tend to be anxious and excited about the new adventures that face them, but even the most capable grads can have a hard time adjusting to moving across the country alone, dealing with rejection on the job front, and maintaining a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle after school. To help them out, we've put together 100 lifehack lists that feature countless tips on staying fit, eating right, keeping track of a sensible budget and more.

General Tips

Here you'll find all sorts of tips for post-college life, including looking after your old car, avoiding Internet scams and cooking up comforting, healthy recipes.

1. How to adapt to life after college: Find valuable tips like "change sleeping habits" and "purchase work attire," which will help you transition to your new lifestyle.
2. Inexpensive Tips for a Greener Life After College: Learn how to implement energy-saving, environmentally beneficial lifestyle changes without overspending.
3. Caring for an Old Car: You probably don't have the money to buy a new car just yet, so get tips on keeping your old ride in good shape.
4. Finding Online Travel Deals: Whether you want to revisit your study abroad days or apply for a job in another city, online travel deals are a recent college grad's best friend.
5. Kitchen 101: Cooking Supplies: Find out what to stock in your kitchen here.
6. Life After College: Read this list to figure out what decisions you should be making and goals you need to set for yourself after college.
7. 7 Cheap and Easy Vegetarian Meals: Learn how to eat right on a budget when you learn these recipes.
8. Top 5 Internet Scams: Protect yourself from identity theft and fraud by checking out this list.
9. How You Do: Making Homemade Soup: Now that you don't have a cafeteria or your mom to make you good homemade soup, learn how to do it on your own.
10. 30 Happiness Tips: Program Your Life for Optimum Enjoyment: These tips can help you feel at peace with your life and the transition you're making.

Finding a Place to Live

Whether you're moving across the country all by yourself or moving back in with your parents for a little while, these lifehack lists will help you find a place to live.

11. Moving Back Home as an Adult: If you're considering moving home for a while to save money or to look for a job, consider these tips.
12. Relocating: Tips for Making Your Move: If you're moving for another job, learn what to ask for in terms of assistance and payment here.
13. Packing 101: College kids are used to throwing all their stuff in the car and taking off, but when you have real furniture and more grown up toys, you'll need to adopt a new moving style too.
14. Tips for Relocating for a Job: Here's another great guide for anyone who needs to relocate.
15. Preparing the Necessary Pre-Apartment Search Documents: Learn how to organize and understand leases, guarantor forms and more.
16. Key Tips to Save You Time and Money: Moving can get expensive; learn how to keep costs down here.
17. Setting up the Utilities: Depending on your new home, you might be responsible for setting up all power, cable and phone service.
18. 10 Tips for First-Time Apartment Renters: Learn how to communicate with your landlord, meet your neighbors and stay within your budget.
19. 6 Tips for Renting an Apartment: This list recommends using Internet tools for your search and visiting properties in person if you can.
20. Expectations of your Real Estate Agent: If you can afford a real estate agent, read this list before hiring anyone.

Paying off Debt

Get control of your debt by checking out these guides, which can help you set up a payment plan and stay organized.

21. Sell Back Your Textbooks: Campus Grotto reveals the best ways to make back some of the cash you shelled out for those expensive textbooks.
22. 25 Tips, Ideas, Resources for Paying Back Student Loans: This lifehack list has tips for consolidating loans, paying them yourself and more.
23. Tips for Saving Money and Paying Off Debt: Get easy-to-follow savings and debt payment tips here.
24. 4 Tips for Paying Off Your Student Loans: Tips like "never miss a payment" are incredibly important for making a dent in your student loans.
25. Drowning in Debt? Six Tips for College Students and Recent Grads: This guide from Anna Ivey recommends paying on time, consolidating loans and more.

Graduate School

If you're interested in graduate school, medical school or law school, check out these lifehack lists for tips on getting in and succeeding once you get there.

26. Getting into Law School: This list won't guarantee your enrollment, but it has several great tips.
27. 100 Best MBA Admission Tips All in One List: Get 100 tips for polishing up your application to business school here.
28. Time Management Tips for Graduate Students: Chances are, your college study habits won't be sufficient in graduate school. Learn new time management strategies here.
29. Teach Yourself the GRE: West.net has great tips and guides for cracking the GRE, GMAT and more.
30. PhD in Nursing, Tips on Student Health: Get tips for surviving med school here.

Staying Healthy

Staying healthy is vital for recent college grads, for their energy, budget--especially if they don't have insurance yet--and general well being. These lists are full of tips for going to the doctor, eating right and more.

31. Joining a Gym: Now that you're on your own, you probably don't have access to your university health center anymore. Learn how to select a good gym by reading these tips.
32. How not to gain weight at your first job: If you're too tired and stressed to exercise after work, make sure you compensate with these tips.
33. Going to the Dentist: This list discusses steps like figuring out payment, even if you are uninsured.
34. Eat a variety of fruits and veggies every day: Here you'll find tips for adding more fruits and veggies into your meals.
35. Recipes: Get recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner that incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables.
36. Eating Healthy on a Budget: Even if you're making a small salary, you can still find ways to eat right.
37. Tips for Staying Healthy - young women: This list encourages young women to manage stress, exercise and take a multivitamin with folic acid.
38. Tips for Staying Healthy at Work: Just like school, the office is an easy way to catch germs. Learn how to avoid them here.
39. International Travel: Tips for Staying Healthy: Many young professionals choose jobs that allow them to travel frequently. Learn how to stay healthy on international trips here.
40. Your 9-Point Health Bailout Package: Learn how to stay healthy "in a struggling economy" here.
41. Ten tips -- your guide to better health: This straightforward guide includes tips like "practice safer sex" and "be safe on the roads." It's simple, but it's true.
42. Fitting Exercise Into Your Busy Schedule: Exercise is still an important part of your day, even if you're working extra hours or job hunting all day long. Get tips for sneaking it in here.

Networking

Networking is crucial to recent graduates who are looking to expand their contacts base, find jobs and meet new people in general. These lifehack lists will help you feel more confident and make the most of any networking opportunities you pursue.

43. Cleaning Up Your Online Profile: A lot of professional networking is done online now. Learn how to make the most of your online profile by reading this guide.
44. 10 Tips for Successful Business Networking: Discover 10 great tips that will make your networking opportunities more successful.
45. How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People: Networking for shy people can be excruciatingly painful, but it's still necessary.
46. Networking Tips from the White House: Tim Ferriss interviews Christine Comaford-Lynch, a five-time CEO and consultant for the Clinton and Bush administrations, shares her networking tips.
47. Networking Your Way to an Interview: Get tips for networking through alumni organizations, informational interviews and more.
48. Seven Tips for Social Networking Online: Learn appropriate social networking etiquette here.
49. Networking Tips to Offer Your Recent Grad: Hallie Crawford's tips encourage recent grads to break out of their shells, rehearse their "elevator speech" and more.
50. Network, Hollywood-Style: Here you can learn how to make a lasting impression and "find key access points."

Finding and Keeping a Job

One of the most stressful adjustments college grads face is finding and keeping a job. From knowing where to look to avoiding office politics, you'll be able to manage it all after reading these lists.

51. Top Ten Tips: Finding Your First Post-College Job: The Tip Diva shares tips for college grads looking for their first job here.
52. College Student Job Search for Beginners: If you're trying to find a job while you finish your last semester, read this list for helpful tips.
53. Dressing Appropriately for Work: Recent grads probably don't have a closet stocked with work clothes, but make sure you pay attention to dress codes anyway.
54. Entry-Level Realities: Writer Michael Ball shares tips with the Washington Post about negotiating a salary and more.
55. Work Tips: This list shares tips like "always negotiate," "always give credit where credit is due" and "anticipate work before others have to ask you to do it."
56. 5 Common Resume Mistakes: Pay attention to these five tips to make sure your resume stands out in the right way.
57. Industry Lingo Cheat Sheet: Here you'll find commonly used abbreviations for working for nonprofits, on Capitol Hill, in publishing, and more.
58. Knowing Where to Look for Job Openings: One of the hardest parts of the job hunt is figuring out where to focus your efforts. Find out here.
59. Avoiding Office Politics Pitfalls: Tips here include "maintain a good attitude" and "take the high ground."
60. Evaluate a Job Offer: Here you'll find tips to help you evaluate company culture, growth opportunities and other important factors.

Work-Life Balance

Once you've found a job, it can be easy to let it run your life, especially if you've moved to a new city or are working hard to prove yourself in the office. Remember to balance work, personal and social commitments by reading these lists.

61. 5 Tips for Better Work-Life Balance: WebMD shares tips that will keep you organized and stress-free.
62. 10 Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance: Learn how to "take charge," "share the load" and more when you read this list.
63. 20 Work-Life Balance Tips for the Overworked Entrepreneur: Wendy Piersall shares tips like "set up a busy schedule" and "get support" which can make a huge difference for you and your business.
64. Need work-life balance? 7 Tips: Learn how to avoid overbooking and losing sight of your priorities when you read this list.
65. Five Sensible Tips for Achieving Work-Life Balance: This guide from CIO emphasizes the importance of self-discipline.
66. Get a life: 10 tips for achieving a better work/life balance: This guide focuses on IT and computer professionals, but its tips are great for anyone.
67. Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stress: The Mayo Clinic and CNN relay tips for taking back your personal life.
68. How to Avoid Becoming a Workaholic: Tips here encourage readers to exercise regularly, know when to say "no" and stick to regular working hours.
69. 10 tips for better work-life balance: Learn how to relax and reset your priorities from a laid back but dedicated Australian.
70. Top 12 ways to restore your work/life balance: Tips like "stop multi-tasking" and "hold your vision" are great for restoring the balance.

Managing Your Social Life

Recent college grads have to adjust to nurturing and creating their circle of friends, and it's much harder doing it outside of college. These guides will help you meet new people and keep in touch.

71. Keeping in Touch with Old Friends: Learn how to keep your college friendships close when you read this lifehack list.
72. Saving While Eating Out: Learn how to save money even when your friends want to eat out.
73. Getting Involved in an Office Romance: Find out if dating a co-worker is a good idea or not when you read this lifehack guide.
74. Attending a Wedding: Now that you've graduated, you'll start noticing old friends' wedding invitations piling up in the mail. Learn correct wedding etiquette here.
75. Social Networking Sites: Etiquette and Safety: Facebook and LinkedIn are great sites for keeping in touch with college friends, but read this list before posting anything potentially incriminating.
76. Staying in Touch Cheaply: You can stay in touch with old college friend without running up your phone bill or flying across the country. Find out how here.
77. Worst food for the first date: Never order asparagus on your first date. Or any date.
78. Meeting New People: Meeting new people doesn't have to be hard just because you're out of college.
79. Ways to meet people and expand your social circle after college: This forum on quarterlifecrisis.com has great tips.
80. 6 Tips for Meeting New People When You Move: Learn how to branch out when you move to a new city.

Budget and Savings

Manage your new salary--or lack thereof--with these budgeting and savings tips.

81. Overlooked Tax Deductions: Whether or not you're self employed, read this list to find out if your Nintendo Wii or dance classes are tax deductible.
82. Five Investments Tips for Recent College Graduates: Learn what to do with your 401(k) and set up your own personal savings budget here.
83. Making Cents of Your New Career: Maximize your salary and benefits so that you can save for retirement.
84. Pharmacy Technician Certification, Student Shopping Guide: Compensate for your entry-level salary by remembering these tips when going shopping.
85. A Financial Game Plan for Students: This lifehack guide is also a valuable resource for recent grads who are nervous about saving.
86. It's OK to hate budgets: Read these tips for easy-to-follow ideas that will help you save and stay within your budget.
87. Four steps to your first million: This guide makes saving for $1 million seem attainable.
88. Financial survival tips for recent grads: These 10 tips include "pick the right bank," "save, save, save" and "pay each and every bill on time."
89. Easy Tips for Saving a Little Dough: Even if you aren't making much money, you can cut down on shopping, make your own lunch and save as little as $10 a paycheck.
90. Filling Out Your W2: Learn how to fill out your W2 when you get a job.

Mental and Spiritual Health

Remember to look after your mental health and spirit with the following guides.

91. Making a Good Cup of Tea: In college you could just skip class or take a nap if you were getting too stressed. In the real world, a good cup of tea will calm you down and relax you.
92. Loneliness is a Bitch. How NOT to Deal: This guide can be helpful for students and recent grads struggling with a breakup or their new life alone without college friends.
93. 10 Tips to De-Stress for Success at Work: Learn how to regain your perspective and feel calmer at work.
94. Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Quieting the Mind: Learn how to get the most of your meditation and breathe properly with these tips.
95. Easy Steps to Avoid Depression: Learn how to avoid trigger factors, get enough sleep and more in this article.
96. 10 Tips for Mental Health: From volunteering to budgeting to eating right, these tips can really improve how you feel about yourself.
97. Five Great Ways to Conquer Your Fears: Whether you're afraid of the dark or trying new things, this guide can help you move on.
98. 3 Quick Tips for Bouncing Back from Failure: Don't let missed job opportunities or bad interviews get you down. Learn how to bounce back and keep trying.
99. 10 Ways to Grow Your Spirit: This article encourages you to embrace your talents, confront your inner demons and let go of useless attachments.
100. Eight tips for making yourself happier in the next hour: Here you can buoy your spirits with a phone call to friends, plan out "some future fun" and more.

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