Striking Out On Your Own: Four Things That You Can Do Help You Actually Feel Like A Real Adult

It’s honestly never been harder for young people to find their direction in life. In previous generations, people would go to college, then go straight into work and stay there for most of their lives. They moved out; they got married, and they retired. Their lives might have been more restrictive, but at least they always had a sense of what they should be doing and where they should be going.

Now, despite having more options than ever before, it’s incredibly difficult for young people to figure out their place in the world. This means that you’re often left in this bizarre, in-between state where you’re expected to participate in society and all of the things that come with it, without really feeling like you’re actually a grown up. It’s a pretty familiar feeling to a lot of young people that they’re just pretending to know what they’re doing while everyone else around them has their life much more in order. But in truth, just about every single young person feels that way at some point.

Without the direction in life that previous generations took for granted, it’s tough to feel like an adult. But that doesn’t mean it has to be that way. Instead, there are a lot of things that you can do to take control of your life and find that direction that you’re missing. Here are just a few things that will help you feel like a real adult.

Start saving

One of the biggest sources of anxiety for young people is, unsurprisingly, money. With house prices higher than they’ve ever been and the increasing cost of living, it’s hard to feel like you’ll ever have enough money to live any way other than hand-to-mouth. But one of the best ways to combat this anxiety and to feel like you have more control over your life is to give yourself that safety net of some savings. Now, don’t worry, you’re not going to need to start putting away the majority of your income for a rainy day. In fact, you only need to start saving a small amount.

Plenty of people simply assume that they can’t start saving. That they don’t have the money to spare. But in reality people actually are in a better position to save than they think they are. It’s just a matter of being a little bit more sensible with your money. It’s a really good idea to set up a budget that lets you know exactly what you’re spending your money on. That way you can see exactly what you have leftover after you’ve paid all of your necessary bills. You’ll probably find that there’s more leftover than you thought. Even if you’re just setting aside a tiny amount each month, over time that starts to add up so that if you’re ever in need of some extra cash, you already have some to hand for whatever comes along.

Finding your own place

Statistically, people are living with their parents for longer and longer. And that’s actually pretty understandable. After all, unlike your parent’s generation, most young people don’t have the means to buy even the cheapest houses. But that doesn’t mean that you can get out on your own. There are plenty of ways to lower the cost of houses and apartments. Living with friends is the best way to split the costs, but even if you’re living on your own, then there are ways that you can avoid bankrupting yourself. You might want somewhere with plenty of space, but if an apartment comes along that’s pretty small but offers you the freedom of living on your own, then you should at least consider it.

Living independently puts a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. All of the bills now fall on you, and it’s your job to make sure that they get paid on time. Every little job that you took for granted while you lived with your parents is suddenly something that you have to deal with on a daily basis. But this means that you actually have a fantastic opportunity to take your life by the reins. The responsibility that comes with having your own place also means that you’ve got far more freedom than you ever did before. You have the opportunity to take control of your own life without having to answer to anyone else. The way your home is arranged, decorated and run are all down to you. Few things can help to make you feel more adult than that.

Learn to cook

Being able to cook is one of those skills that every self-respecting adult should have. It means that you’re officially able to take care of yourself on your own. Getting take-out over and over might be fun for a while, but it gets hard to shake the feeling that you’re not exactly doing the best thing for your body. If you’re able to cook you can make sure that you not only stay fed but stay healthy as well.

The best thing to do is just to find a few simple recipes and get good at those. Rather than constantly trying out lots of different things every meal time, figure out the foods that you can cook and experiment with them. Try adding different ingredients and flavors from time to time. It might not always work, but at least you know for next time. Not only is it a great skill to have for yourself, but it’s also fantastic for impressing friends, relatives, and dates. Being the one friend out of the group who can actually cook is a pretty good way to make yourself indispensable. Plus, your friends will probably find themselves wondering how you managed to become so grown up!

Take care of yourself

As an adult, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re not going to have anyone around to take care of you when you’re sick. It’s now your responsibility to take care of your health. Eating right is obviously an important part of that, but it’s just as important to get your health checked out regularly. Make sure you’re registered with your local doctor’s office so that you’re not stuck with no idea what to do the next time you get sick. And if you find yourself getting sick, for goodness sake don’t just ignore it! Far too many people, of any age, just try to pretend that everything’s fine instead of just going to doctors with a problem.

If something’s wrong, get it checked out. Whatever it is, it’s going to be easier to deal with than if you just leave it until it becomes a genuine problem! Of course, this doesn’t just apply to your physical health. Make sure that you’re taking good care of yourself mentally as well. Get enough sleep, don’t push yourself too hard, and if you feel like you need support, then there are always organizations available to help. And remember, sometimes the most grown up thing that you can do is to ask for help. Whether it’s from a friend, a parent or a professional, there’s nothing wrong with needing some support now and then.

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Main. PiggyBank.  Rent.   Cook.   Healthy.