Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Discovering yourself
• Part 2 of 3: Acting as an adult
• Part 3 of 3: Responsible living
• Tips

If you feel like you have been trapped in childhood forever, a routine change can provide you with an accelerated route to adulthood. Being an adult has to do with many more factors than just your age and involves more than just attitude and attitude. The more you learn about yourself and the better you can assess your own tendencies, the closer you get to adulthood. Learn to prepare for the future, make the most of your late teens, and approach your adulthood with dignity and grace.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Discovering yourself

1. Immerse yourself in your talents. What makes you unique? What makes you who you are? Use your late teens and early twenties to grow into the adult version of you. Your interests, talents, and skills should give you a reasonable sense of who you will become. It is important to use your teenage years to explore your talents and dream your greatest dreams. What do you want to become? Who do you want to become? Explore yourself.
   • Use these years to play in bands, play sports, act, read, and paint. Do this, of course, all for your own pleasure. Explore the things in which you show natural talent, but also the things you know nothing about. Try new hobbies and activities, such as photography or modern dance. Maybe you will find out that you are really good at something, something you never would have imagined.
2. Start thinking where you want to be in ten years. Although you do not need to know exactly how your life will unfold at the age of twenty, it is indeed important to start thinking a bit. What do you want to do with the rest of your life? Do you want to study? Are you studying what you would like to study? Does this fit in with your future plans? Do you want to start earning money as soon as possible? Are you going to tour with your band and live like a rock star? Are you going to travel? Make a list of priorities you want to achieve and try to get started.
   • If you want to go to college, start exploring the possibilities. Start thinking about what you want to study. Look for universities and colleges in your area that are a good fit for you. Look for the perfect training. Calculate the costs of the training, how much your family can support you financially, and whether you need to take out a loan.
   • If you want to go to work, then spend some time planning a budget. Set yourself financial goals and learn what jobs are available to help you achieve your desired goals. Research courses and training that certain jobs require. Prepare for this in advance.
3. Visit new places and embrace new experiences. To broaden your mind and learn more about the world, it is important to experience it in person. Do your best to get to know new places, spend some time among other cultures. A lot of young adults consider this an impressive and important experience.
   • Travel is more than just jaunts for the privileged elite. If you work hard but can't afford to travel to Italy or study abroad, travel as far as you can. Visit interesting places you have never been, this could also be in your own country. Visit areas of your home town that you don't often visit. Be a tourist in your hometown.
   • World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) hires benevolent workers from all over the world. This organization enables you to work abroad. There are also a lot of other humanitarian organizations that offer excellent services and travel experiences. Offer your help, give back to society, and visit new places.
4. Make friends with a variety of people you respect. Allow yourself the opportunity to socialize with as many different people as possible. Learn about yourself by spending time with hard-working and admirable people. Try to make your lifestyle and attitude resemble theirs. Maintain healthy relationships with others, and you will benefit your own mental health.
   • Find a working example. At work, look for someone who approaches the work environment in a way that suits you. Learn from them. If your colleague can rise above the petty politics of the company and let his / her work speak for itself, do so. Collaborate and empathize.
   • Find a life example. As you get older, it is easy to lose touch with old friends. It's just as easy not to make new friends. You may wake up one day and realize that you only see your colleagues regularly. Maintain friendships with people who are very different from you, but with whom you share certain hobbies or interests. Maybe your record-collecting friend is a lawyer and you are a maintenance technician; that doesn't mean you can't talk about unique musical discoveries.
5. Be honest with yourself. As you get older, you will gradually get to know yourself better. If you tend to be lazy, or worry about little things, or if you like to procrastinate, you should be aware of this around your twentieth birthday. Work on your negative traits and prepare to enter the job market. One can forgive a teenager for negative traits by throwing it on "youthfulness". But an adult should honestly and sincerely identify his shortcomings. He must realize what challenges await him and in which areas he can still grow. Growing up takes a lot of work.
   • Name your strengths. What are you good or skilled at? Take the time to map out your strengths and do the same for things you are proud of.
   • Identify your weaknesses. What do you still need to work on? What prevents you from achieving what you want? It is important to identify areas where there is still room for improvement.

Part 2 of 3: Acting as an adult

1. Learn to recognize and control "child mode". There is no button for adulthood, so there is no neat line between youth and adulthood. Growing up doesn't have to mean getting rid of all your youthful qualities. It simply means that you can control your youthful tendencies; that you can transform your youthful energy into adult goals and ambitions. Recognize your childish tendencies so that you can take advantage of them.
   • Kids mode is chaotic. A child is ill-organized, unprepared, and usually walks around like a headless chicken. Youth is chaos. While many adult lives are also busy and full, chaos - the lack of control or structure for stress and business - is a sign of childhood mode. Map the chaotic parts of your life, and use your energy to organize these parts.
   • Child mode is powerless. Someone needs to tie a child's shoes, feed the child, and provide emotional support. Adults are much more independent and able to raise their own children. This is because they have a greater degree of selflessness. As you grow up you will be able to do more and more yourself, and depend less on others.
   • Child mode is spiteful. In kid mode, you might despise someone for being promoted and not you. Or if a high school ex is about to get married. Resentment is the kid mode equivalent of a tantrum. If things don't go the way you would like, then you store that frustration and let it grow into resentment and anger. Just like a child does. You can also learn to express your frustration in a healthy way and get on with your life.
2. Learn to say "no." Teenagers are impulsive. Teens say "yes" to another drink or a long night out, or ask to go on vacation the next day. When you grow up, you also have to learn to know your own limits. Withdraw from the mentality of your youth and stand up for yourself. If your friends are going to a music festival but you don't think you can ask for time off, you need to learn to be able to say "no." Responsibility sometimes involves saying "no".
   • The more you keep your long-term goals by making sensible short-term decisions, the more mature you will become. Taking a day off to play Halo may sound appealing, but if it prevents you from getting a raise, then you in turn keep you from achieving your goals - this is very immature.
3. Dress according to your age. Whether you go out or go to work, keep the shorts and your Simpons shirt in the closet. Men and women should wear clean, professional clothing that is appropriate for a given situation. You don't have to throw out your old junk, but keep it for days when you are free.
4. Take care of your body. Adults cannot have noodles or macaroni and hot dogs for breakfast. If your school door closes behind you, you should also leave those eating and dressing habits behind.
   • Exercise and eat responsibly. However, you will gain weight when you go to college. When kids go to college, it's not at all uncommon to stop exercising and eat whatever they want. The whole day long. The weight comes on quickly, and it can be very difficult to get it off again. In addition, it is difficult to unlearn the habits.
5. Deal with adversity like an adult. Children get excited when they don't get their way. Teens sulk. Adults take responsibility for their actions, deal with adversity, and move on. Growing up also means learning to account for failure and how to overcome failure. You cannot give up if something does not go the way you would like or expected.
   • A hard truth about the world: just because you deserve something doesn't mean you get it. Keep your goals in sight, stay happy, and don't let life's dishonesty discourage you. Life is difficult, and everyone has had to overcome setbacks. So you too.
6. Begin and maintain meaningful relationships. Many childhood relationships develop around certain circumstances: you are friends with people you go to school with, the people you work with, and the people you know. However, as you grow up, it is common to look a little further, to leave old friendships behind and form new ones. It can be difficult to determine which friendships will be maintained over the long term and which are only situational. Differentiate between these friendships and take active steps to nurture relationships that you want to maintain. Speak up, visit, and take an interest in the lives of your close friends.
   • Once you grow up, it is also more common to have long-term romantic relationships. If you're more into dating and you'd rather not commit yet, try dating for a few months. See if you actually don't like this better. If you lean towards the long term, don't be afraid to end relationships that are no longer sustainable. Don't keep relationships just because you like it because you like the security. Know yourself.
7. Improve your empathy. Meet new people, learn about their lives, and try to understand other worldviews. Actively work to understand your understanding of people who are completely different from you. Teenagers often find themselves very open-minded compared to their parents. It is not until their late twenties that they discover that they have had certain assumptions and prejudices about classes, races, gender, and other factors for years. Growing up is also related to being able to deal with others with empathy.
   • Hang out with people older than you and try to learn from them. Teens often lash out at people over 30, but adults recognize wisdom when they see it. At work, in your community, and in other social interactions, you can do your best to learn the wisdom of people from other generations. Befriend your coworker who has been with the company the longest, or that woman at church who has been there the longest.
   • Read a lot, and try to learn about other perspectives. Read about a variety of political movements before you commit to and identify with something.
8. Be trustworthy. Adults should live up to their word. When you say you do something, do it. Relationships, jobs, and personal development are difficult if you are not considered a trustworthy person. Teens and kids can get away with screwing up over and over again - they're kids after all! But adults should behave like adults. People need to know they can rely on you.
   • Always treat your family, friends, and colleagues with respect. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. If you don't respect others, they will likely lose respect for you too. If you are reliable, you will get a lot further in life and be a lot happier.
9. Take Responsible Steps. As you get older, the hangovers that you let slide right past you when you were 21, get longer and longer. The body becomes less resilient. What could pass for well-intentioned mischief and debauchery in your college days, later in life, starts to come across as desperate and addictive behavior. If your life revolves around parties, and if you have to call in sick at work because you drank too much, then it's time to make the switch. Time to grow up.
   • Do everything in moderation. Getting older doesn't mean you can't do fun things anymore. It does mean that you have to plan everything better. Arrange a babysitter, make sure there is nothing on the agenda the next day, and show the youngsters how to do it.
10. Be open and non-defensive. An adult is confident and emotionally mature enough to go through life without defense mechanisms. Don't make excuses if your boss tells you that your work wasn't quite right, or if your partner tells you that you should pay more attention to your personal hygiene. Take it with a grain of salt.
    • Being non-defensive doesn't mean you should become a stepping stone to others. An emotionally mature person can receive well-meaning negative criticism without reacting indignantly or defensively. Be open to criticism, but stand up for yourself when the situation calls for it. Recognizing the difference between the two is part of growing up.

Part 3 of 3: Responsible living

1. Look for a job. Your first job is an essential step in growing up. Unless your parents are very wealthy, you should go to work when you grow up. Some start work earlier, in high school for example, while some wait until they have all their degrees. There is no perfect point to start work; adapting to your job is an important step in growing up.
   • A part-time job can be a great way to build certain work skills and earn a little extra, regardless of whether or not your parents are still supporting you financially.Gradually work yourself up to an independent breadwinner.
2. Manage your budget. It can be tempting to throw your first paychecks right down the drain, but that's how a teen would do it. Rather put that money in the bank and start saving. Make sure you draw up a balanced budget for yourself with which you can live comfortably, keep in mind the fixed costs, etc., and save. Try to balance your financial obligations in the here and now with your long-term goals.
   • Monthly expenses include rent or mortgage, bills, and food. You will already have a good idea of ​​most of them, but try to set aside a little more money for food than you think you need. If you're not sure, try to keep track of how much money you spend on food each week. Then multiply this amount by 4.
   • If possible, try to start saving as early as possible. If you put a certain percentage of your wages in a savings account, this can pile up considerably over the years. Even if you can only set aside 50 euros, you are taking the necessary steps towards adulthood.
3. Pay your bills on time. When you leave the parental home, you can face a difficult in-between period. It is difficult to become completely financially independent when you have just left school or during school. You can already take small steps towards financial freedom and independence. Your goal is to manage your budget properly without needing anyone else.
   • Good first steps are paying for your own gas and light and rent. Then try to cover the telephone costs, the car payments, and other expenses. Gradually work your way up to financial independence.
4. Start saving money. Put some extra money in your savings account and try to stay away from this. It's easy to waste your money on the new Playstation, but keep an eye on your long-term financial goals. Keep the money in the bank.
5. Don't live beyond your means. If you don't, you can't. If you can't afford something, try to find a way to do it. And if it really is not possible, then you better leave it. Try not to borrow money unnecessarily. You will pay your squint in interest.
   • Obviously, it is quite difficult to buy a house, tuition, or a car with cash. It is therefore likely that you will accrue a loan debt at some point. Discuss your case with a financial advisor to take out the best possible loan.
   • If possible, try to consolidate your debts. Paying off multiple loans each month can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you are unable to make enough payments that will only lengthen the process.
6. Be ambitious at work and take on new responsibilities. As you get older, a sign of your maturity is your willingness to take on new responsibilities. Be ambitious.
   • Apply for leadership roles at work, if the opportunity arises. Do not worry whether or not you are the right person for the position.
   • You should have an ambitious reputation at work and in your relationships. However, this does not mean that you cannot decline requests that are inconsistent with your personal goals and ambitions. Being ambitious doesn't mean you have to accept everything that's thrown into your lap. Be proactive and create opportunities for yourself to get closer to your long-term goals.

Tips

• Adulthood is not an age. Everyone gets older, not everyone grows up.
• Try to depend on others as little as possible. Determine your own ambitions and life goals. Stop complaining and realize that life is what it is: you came into the world with nothing, and you will leave the world with nothing. Everything that happens in between depends on you.
• Growing up isn't about turning against your parents. They can even help you on your path to independence.
• You are the crown witness of your own worth. If you believe you are worth it, people will too. If you don't value yourself, other people will have an idea too. If you don't like who you are, find yourself. Improve the things you are not satisfied with.