What Does Adulting Look Like?

Adulting can be tough to define, but we all know what it feels like. You might be an adult when you’re paying your own bills, working a full-time job, or even just contributing to society in some way. But what does adulting actually look like?

For some people, adulting looks like being independent and self-sufficient. This could mean living on your own, cooking your own meals, and taking care of yourself financially.

For others, adulting might mean being a responsible parent or guardian. This could mean doing things for others like taking care of your loved ones.

Whatever adulting looks like for you, it’s important to stress that it’s a journey and not a destination. There’s no one right way to do it, and you’ll likely make some mistakes along the way.

But as long as you’re learning and growing, you’re on the right track. So let’s take a look at how adulting has changed over the years as well as some of the biggest challenges and triumphs of adulthood to uncover just what adulting looks like for us today.

Adulting Then

In the past, let’s say Post World War II, adulting looked generally similar across the board for everyone.

People grew up, finished school, and got a job. Not long after getting a job people got married and started a family. All of this happened in a fairly short amount of time and everyone went about their lives relatively the same.

By the age of 30, you could argue that most people had pretty much accomplished everything they were going to do.

Fast forward a few decades and times have changed, and adulting today looks a little bit different for everyone.

The pathways are no longer as clear and linear. People on the whole are taking longer to accomplish traditional “adulting” milestones while new milestones are being added to the list.

So what does this all mean?

It means that people are redefining what it means to be an adult. Adulting today doesn’t look the same for everyone, and that’s okay. Again, there’s no one right way to do it.

I’ve put together a list of some of the biggest changes in adulting over the years as well as how people are redefining what it means to be an adult today.

Adulting: Changes In The Traditional Milestones

Some of the biggest changes in adulting over the years include:

Living independently: In the past, most people got married and started a family right after getting a job. Now, people are waiting longer to get married and have kids and are more likely to live independently for longer periods of time.

Defining success differently: In the past, success was defined by getting a good job and providing for your family. Now, people are defining success in a variety of ways. For some, it’s about having a successful career. For others, it’s about being happy and fulfilled.

Technology: Technology has changed the way we live and work. It’s made adulting a lot easier in some ways (think online banking and grocery delivery) and a lot more difficult in others (think 24/7 work culture and social media comparison).

How People Are Redefining Adulting Today

Adulting today looks different for everyone, but there are some common themes in how people are redefining what it means to be an adult.

Some of the ways people are redefining what it means to be an adult include:

Making time for themselves: You could argue that in the past, adults didn’t have a lot of free time. They were too busy working and taking care of their families. Today, people are finding more of a balance between work, family, and their personal time. They’re learning to prioritize their time and do things that are important to them.

Continued education: In the past, people finished school and then got a job. Now, people are more likely to continue their education throughout their lives and have multiple careers. In fact, Gen Z is more likely to start a new career after just a few years in the workforce. Compare that to past generations that stayed at one job for their entire lives.

The rise of the self-employed: In the past, most people got a job and then started their own business. Now, more and more people are choosing to be self-employed from the start. And, thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to start your own business.

Being their own person: In the past, adults were often defined by their relationships. They were someone’s wife, husband, daughter, or son. Today, adults are more likely to be their own person. They’re defined by their own interests and accomplishments.

Now, these are just a few of the ways that people are redefining what adulting looks like today.

Amongst all this change though one thing is for certain – adulting is a bittersweet experience. Let’s close out by looking at some of the pros and cons of adulting today.

Adulting: Pros And Cons

One of the biggest challenges of adulthood is financial responsibility. Even if you’re doing great financially, there’s always the risk of not having enough money in case of an emergency.

This can be a challenge for anyone, but it’s especially hard for young adults who are just starting out in their careers.

Couple that with the price tag of paying student loans and you have a recipe for financial stress. On the other hand, it’s amazing to have control over your own finances.

Another big challenge is finding a partner and/or starting a family. This can be a daunting task, but it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.

And finally, one of the biggest triumphs of adulthood is simply making it through another day. Many of the challenges we face in adulthood seem insurmountable at first, but they eventually become less daunting.

As long as you keep learning and growing, adulthood will be a success. So congratulations on making it this far!

Now, let’s keep going and see what the next day brings. In summary, adulting is a challenging but rewarding experience.

And what does adulting look like today?

Well, it looks like whatever you want it to look like. Whether you want to focus on your career, education, family, or all of the above, it’s up to you. It comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s also full of opportunities for growth and development.

What do you think? What does adulting look like? Are people adulting differently today than in the past? Or is there another explanation for these differences?

Maybe people aren’t adulting at all and I’m just crazy.

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Best of luck adulting!

And Remember,

Adulting Starts Here

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