'Doomscrolling on Instagram, drained from work': Indian man in US shares reality of life after college
An Indian-origin man in the US has gone viral on LinkedIn after candidly sharing his struggles transitioning from university to corporate life. Gaurav Chintamneedi, a Chapman University graduate, spoke about the emotional and physical challenges he faced during his first year in the workforce. He revealed that moving halfway across the country after graduation marked one of the most difficult periods of his life. Now working as an assistant store manager at a major e-commerce company, Gaurav said he puts in up to 60 hours a week—far from the post-college life he once envisioned.
Feeling drained from work and spending all your time working? Indian man in US shares three tips to
help break the Post-College Rut
Check full text of post here
It's been just over a year since I graduated college and moved halfway across the country to Virginia. And let me tell you—this has been one of the most challenging years of my life.
When I first arrived in the DMV, I imagined living the dream early-20s life—like the ones we see on TV or romanticize on social media. I pictured myself working a 9–5, grabbing drinks with coworkers after work, striking up conversations with strangers on the metro who'd eventually become close friends. I thought weekends would be filled with brunches, coffee shop side projects, and late-night online courses to build new skills.
But reality hit differently.
Over the past year, I've worked 50–60 hours a week—often waking up at 3 am for opening shifts. I've spent 95% of my weekends working. And on the rare days off, I was too exhausted to do much of anything. I found myself lying in bed doomscrolling on
Instagram
, drained from six consecutive days of work, using my limited free time to catch up with friends and family thousands of miles away. Making new connections in a new city wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. I even started to wonder: Did I peak in college?
The truth is: I didn't. But the mental transition from college to the real world? That was harder than I ever expected.
This post isn't a complaint—it's an acknowledgment. Because I know that struggling with this transition is quite normal. If you're also in your first year post-grad, and struggling to adjust, you are not alone. The feelings of doubt, disconnection, or disillusionment are more common than we think.
Even now, I still miss college and sometimes scroll through old photos just to feel closer to that time. But as I cross the one-year mark, I'm shifting gears—ready to build a version of my 20s that I'm proud of.
Nope, although I feel it, this year hasn't been wasted time. It's been a year of progress that encompasses; tenacity, self-realization, and redefining purpose. Adjusting to a new society and lifestyle takes time. At the end of the day, it's a life skill that you're now equipped with for the future.
Here are 3 mindset shifts I'm working on to help break the Post-College Rut:
𝟭. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆. That lifestyle isn't coming back, but that doesn't mean better days aren't ahead. Life can still be fulfilling, exciting, and full of growth.
𝟮. 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Practice gratitude daily. It keeps you grounded and reminds you of the good around—even on the hardest days.
𝟯. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀. Just because the past year hasn't been as exciting as the previous four years of university, doesn't mean you peaked in college. Adjusting takes time, and even though life has become more routine-like, you've made tons of progress just by sticking it through this past year
How people reacted?
"You said what needed to be said - practicing all three daily! Great insight G," said one user.
Love the introspection and advice G! As you've said, the 20's is undoubtedly a challenging time for many of us. There's so many changes and adjustments that happen, that it's ultimately important to adopt these healthy mindsets you've laid out. You've truly grown so much this past year, and your resilience and other skills you've learned will serve you well!" added another user.
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"As I approach graduation, I can't help but think about how scary post-graduate life seems like. As usual, thank you for your empowering and reflective words," said another user.
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