At 18 years old, you are coming into adulthood. This means that your responsibilities and expectations change significantly. So, if you are thinking “what should i know at 18”, here are 9 key things you need to know or at least start thinking about.
1. How To Make Your Own Decision
You are now an adult and have the ability to make your own decisions.
Your parents may not agree with every decision you make, but ultimately it is your life. You have the freedom to choose your own path in life and should not let anyone tell you what to do.
2. You should start thinking seriously about your future.
You are now responsible for yourself and should start thinking about your future.
Make sure that you are taking steps to protect yourself from getting hurt or taken advantage of. It can be with the simplest things. For example, always tell your parents where you are going before you leave your house and make sure that you bring a cell phone with you at all times in case of an emergency.
Most importantly, though you should know how to organize your life and work on nurturing that skill. Not sure how to get started with organizing your life. You can read up just how here.
3. You Should Know the Basics of Budgeting at 18.
You are responsible for your finances now and need to start planning for your financial future.
Make sure that you have a budget plan in place so that you can save money for the future. You should also start making saving for college a priority. Start researching the different colleges and universities that are available to you and get a head start on the college application process.
Don’t worry if you have no idea. I have quite a few articles here at your disposal to help you learn. I suggest first learning about the most common personal finance terms you will come across now that you are 18.
4. You Should Know How to Plan for Your Future
It might seem like you shouldn’t, but trust me you should.
Why? Well, because time is on your side. And by knowing how to plan you are already in a good position to achieve whatever you want.
You also need to start thinking about your career and start preparing yourself for the job of your dreams.
How does the saying go? Success is just luck meeting preparedness.
I think that’s how it goes but I digress.
Take courses that are relevant to the career that you are interested in and make yourself more marketable to potential employers. You should also look for internships in your field of study so that you can gain practical experience and make connections that can help you in the future.
5. You Should Know to Avoid Unhealthy People
You also need to start dating and building healthy relationships in your life.
Dating can be a lot of fun but can also be risky if you are unprepared to deal with the challenges of dating. Make sure that you are open and honest about your feelings and never have sex with someone that you don’t trust. Always protect your health and safety and always take precautions to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
6. If You Are Religious, It’s time to Think Harder About Your Personal Spiritual Journey
You will need to think about your spiritual life and think about ways that you can grow as a person.
Be active in your religion and look for ways that you can make a positive difference in the world. Pray regularly and look for opportunities to help those who are less fortunate than you.
7. How To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
You will also need to make sure that you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet.
Try to eat foods that are good for you and avoid eating junk food that is high in calories and unhealthy fats. You should stay away from fast food as much as possible and try to eat natural foods that are grown without pesticides or other chemicals. You should also avoid drinking too much alcohol and do your best to stay physically fit.
8. Going To The Doctor Is A Smart Preventative Measure
You also need to make sure that you keep up with all of your medical appointments.
This includes getting your annual check-ups so that your doctor can make sure that you are staying healthy. Make sure that you continue to keep up with all of the vaccinations that you need to get to prevent yourself from getting sick. It is also important to make sure that you can get insurance coverage if you need it to help pay for your medical bills.
9. You should know how to take care of a home.
This can include how to clean your home and handle needed repairs whether by yourself or through hiring. Your home is your safe haven. Make sure that you know how to keep it clean, tidy, and in good shape.
At 18 there are a ton of things that you should know. These are just some of the most important ones. Be sure to search around the blog to learn what else could be useful to know about adulting.
I’ll help you get started. Here’s an article on what you can legally do at 21.
So, are you still wondering “What should I know at 18?”
Let me know in the comments!
Best of luck adulting!
And Remember,
Adulting Starts Here
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