What is adulting? According to the linguistics journal American Speech, the popularized term, which is sweeping across the nation means:
Meanwhile, the Urban Dictionary defines adulting as “to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent, a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown-ups.”
Needless to say, it’s a word which has been used by big brands like Reese’s and Talenti to target Millennial consumers and increased in usage by 700 percent on Twitter. In fact, scroll through the #adulting hashtag and at any given moment, you’re likely to see Millennials sharing anecdotes like: “Paid my first rent today #adulting.” “Ordered my first set of my own business cards today, since I was promoted last week! #adulting.” And, “I made dinner that wasn’t frozen pizza #adulting.”
While it’s ridiculous to say the least to reduce being a grown-up to a hobby, if nothing else #adulting has highlighted the need for real life solutions on how to “adult” better — combating the stereotype Millennials live in an entitled fantasy land where growing up is… optional. So, without further ado, here are 3 ways to take the reins – like a grown-up.
1. Take pride in your accomplishments.
A May 2016 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 32.1 percent of adults aged 18 to 34 live with their parents. To add some perspective, in the 1960s, only 20 percent of young adults lived at home. Though living at home won’t stop you from reaching your goals, hiding behind your adolescence undermines your actual accomplishments.
When you tweet as if “doing your own taxes,” “making a home cooked meal,” or “heading into the doctor’s office for the first time (without mom)” are your greatest accomplishments, you downplay your actual accomplishments. Say you graduated college, landed your dream job and are taking on the real world one day at a time. How would anyone know? Better yet, why wouldn’t you want anyone to know just how incredible you are?
2. Celebrate the fact you know how to handle business.
Instead of jokingly belittling “adult activities” like paying your bills on time, having life insurance or apartment/house hunting as a way to come to grips with the reality that your youth is fading — embrace it. Adulthood is not a life choice. It’s a natural part of life that you need to accept sooner than later. Before you know it, you’ll be “going about my normal day #adulting,” as the above happenings are simply a day in the life.
3. Engage in a healthy sex life.
If I got paid a dollar each time I came across a tweet promoting “Go out, get drunk, have sex” while #adulting, I’d be a millionaire. “Adulting,” in real life, requires that you embrace healthy behaviors surrounding intimate relationships. The days of getting wasted past the point of remembering, not liking how a condom feels or blasting it for that matter via social media are over (never should have been a thing to begin with). It’s not cute! According to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, understanding and applying a life course approach to sexual health early on will promote healthy development and health equity across communities, populations, and, ultimately, improve healthy development across generations. So, do it for the babies!
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On those days when adulting feels like #TheStruggle, know that you’re handling it like a boss and it looks good on you.
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