18 Tips for New Adults

This morning, at breakfast, a friend of mine made an excellent point.

She’ll be moving to college at the end of this summer and, like most of the class of 2018, she is coming face to face with her future self. Because the same young women and men who felt that they might crack under the pressure of junior year’s infamous Death Week now know something that this year’s junior class doesn’t.

This, too, shall pass.

Fast.

“The future” has arrived. The class of 2018 is entering adulthood, and there’s nothing left for them to do except meet it. But how?

My friend’s younger sister had what I believe to be a really profound thought. She said, “You don’t have to know how to be an adult yet. You’ve never been one. It’s like being a new mom. You have to figure it out as you go.”

With that in mind, here are 18 tips to make the transition from finals to freedom easier, based on personal experience.

1. Read a book that wasn’t assigned to you.

Some of the most successful people in the world read one book per week because successful people never put learning new information and new perspectives on hold. If you want to be a successful adult, start by making a conscious decision to continuously gain knowledge. Read a book of your own free will.

2. Be here now.

I’ve said this going on six zillion times on this blog (including here), so I’ll make this brief. Wherever you are, be all there. Get everything you can out of that single experience because you’ll never get this time back. Have a story to tell later.

3. Use a calendar app.

Paper planners are fine until you forget to look at them, which is why I recommend downloading an app that will remind you of your commitments. This is one of the busiest seasons in your life. You have way too many things going on to rely on your mental checklist all the time. Calendar apps keep things organized. I have two.

4. Coffee < Water

You actually can survive without coffee. But you can’t survive without water. Take care of yourself. Calendar apps won’t keep you out of the urgent care unit.

5. Storage bins. Storage. Bins.

Your parents cleaned up after you for too many years for you to start living in I-Don’t-Know-Where-That-Is Land now. Storage bins (with labels) seriously keep my life together. I suggest making your bed, too, because simple disciplines such as this are proven to improve your day.

6. Speed wash.

Someone has to wash your clothes, and unless you have a really, really nice friend, that person is going to be you. The speed wash setting takes care of it in under 25 minutes.

7. Prioritize.

When I’m planning out my day, I start my list with the most important things at the top, just in case I don’t get to everything on the timeline that I have in place. This way, if something takes longer than expected (eh em– outlining the end of my debut trilogy), I’m not left with hours of work to deal with at 9 pm.

8. Check in.

Long gone are the days of your parents setting up playdates for you. If you want to see your friends, you have to make an effort. They’re busy, too!

9. Get lost (with a GPS).

You’ve been driving around your hometown for a few years now, but what if you were to move? My mom always says that the only way to avoid getting lost is to get lost. Eventually, you’ll learn the ins and outs of your city (especially quickly if your GPS likes to take you on the scary roads to put you back on the right one).

10. Set goals.

Wandering around aimlessly works in very few situations, like exploring Universal Studios. It won’t work in your professional life. Decide what you want and make a plan to get there.

11. Take three deep breaths.

It’s a lot, I know! Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is sit down, close your eyes and recenter.

12. Airplane mode > Volume off

Spoiler alert: you still have to sleep. Turning off the volume on your phone is great, but if you can, putting it on airplane mode is better. This stops texts, calls and emails from reaching you until you turn it off.

13. Your mom probably knows the answer.

It’s obvious that becoming an adult does not mean that you magically become omniscient. Your mom still knows things that you don’t.

14. Your grandparents know it, too.

One of my favorite things that my grandfather ever said to me was, “It just gets better, hunny, and we’re all on your side.” Don’t forget that your grandparents have been where you are now!

15. Leave the office.

Work is important, but so is leaving the office (especially if you’re like me, and your office doubles as your house). Stand up every hour. Take a walk when you have time. Do something that doesn’t involve clicking or typing.

16. Say no.

It’s okay to have a lot going on. Own it.

17. Say yes.

You still can’t lock yourself up in your office.

18. Be open to new experiences.

Becoming an adult can feel like the end of the world, but it’s actually just the beginning. Put a smile on and leap into a new adventure!

P.S. Bonus tips