Your foray into adulting

The US Department of State declares an individual to be officially an adult at the age of 18.  Come to think of it though, many 18- year olds don’t actually behave like adults until they are well into their mid 20s.   Even science seems to disagree with the legal age.  According to one study conducted by Lancet Child and Adolescent Health Journal, brains only become fully developed when you reach the age of 24. Maybe that explains the apparent state of denial and temporary peter pan complex of young adults whose ages fall within this period gap.  Regardless of your actual age however, you will know if you are adulting when these situations apply to you.

Having stable employment

You’re done with hopping from one job to another because you have finally found something that you like doing.  Being paid well for your work plus a host of fringe benefits do not hurt either.  Given this stability, you should be able to establish your career, build and maintain professional relationships, and secure your financial capacity.

Paying your bills diligently

Are you one of those that stash credit card statements and other documents reflecting your financial obligations inside your drawer and totally forget about them?  You have to stay on top of your finances by setting aside payments for your utilities, loan payments and other miscellaneous expenses.  Ignoring them will not make them go away, they will just incur penalty charges along the way, making all the more cumbersome for you.  Stay within your means so you can manage your finances

Eating healthy and exercising

You begin to realize that processed sugar and lack of physical activity are truly bad for your health.  As such, you decide to turn your back on your previous eating habits to practice a healthy lifestyle.  And that’s  primarily because you want to have a high quality and long-lasting life.  You may either have regular exercise routines by enrolling in a gym membership or doing morning runs.  For your food intake, you observe a sensible diet instead of succumbing to the latest pseudo-science fad that promises instant gratification.  Looking good as a result is just an icing on a delicious cake.

Becoming calmer and patient

You know how when you are much younger you are easily fazed by negative criticism.  You start to understand that such criticisms can also be taken constructively. Even when you dine in a restaurant, you are more forgiving when you were served the wrong order especially that the waitress was apologetic about her mistake.  Or you’re calmly stuck in an unexpected traffic jam which would normally raise your temperatures.  These renewed attitudes come with adulting.

Traveling long haul to a new place by yourself

Not that traveling with companions is a childish thing.  Whether you’re going by bus or plane for as long as travel time is at least 7 hours.  The fact that you are doing it alone and arriving at a place where you don’t know anyone can be very daunting.  But it can also be very relaxing.  When you’re able to go to places in that new territory like eat in a restaurant by yourself, make friends along the way, and basically do everything without help from family or friends, these indicate that you have reached a level of maturity.

Getting involved in a serious romantic commitment

You may have dated casually or been in a number of fleeting relationships in the past.  You have tried online dating sites like Tinder and was able to go out with different sorts of individuals who had attractive and interesting profiles. But you rarely went beyond the second date.  Then you meet someone.  And this time felt different.  Yes she looks alright but her personality and intelligence are the things that got you. So you fall in love and decide to commit to a serious relationship that’s a precursor to marriage. In your mind, whatever happens in the future, you want to nurture your relationship and not just bask in the fun of the moment.

Establishing a savings or investment account

It is a good time to start building your bank account for future financial freedom. You can allot a conservative ten percent of your salary every month and forget about it by just working with your remaining income which will form part of your sacrifice.  If you are earning more, your can invest your money in stocks or government bonds.  You’ll thank yourself later when you are reaping the benefits.

Making a big but sound purchase

In your mind, you also want to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  But you don’t want to waste it on one shopping spree where you are riding on an emotional high then later regretting your haphazard extravaganza.  You want something that makes a lot of sense.  It could be buying a new car or a new small house, the value of which may appreciate over time.  It’s not only an investment but something functional for you as well.

Rising above a failure

Life is not without trials and tribulations.  You may have hits and misses along the way.  They say you haven’t lived if you haven’t experienced failure.  It is easy to judge a person by his or her accomplishments but you will know who he or she truly is with how he or she handles his or her defeats.  When a deal or a romantic relationship falls through, you pick up the pieces, stand up with head held high, learn from mistakes, and move on.  You don’t dwell on your emotional hurt because you know that there are better things to come.