Advice on Adulthood

Hello there lovelies,

If you're not familiar with the Hyperbole and a Half post that accompanies this graph, then you should go get familiar. I've been thinking a lot lately about being a "grown-up". This is probably because the teenagers at work seem to think I'm a good person to ask for grown-up advice because I have a drivers license and live away from my parents (it truly is a new experience to have teenagers ask you how to read a pregnancy test, but that's another story). I honestly don't think that I'm very good at being an adult. My first piece of advice about adulthood would be to put it off for as long as possible. But, assuming that you've already moved out of home and only just realised that yes, you do need to pay rent, then there's probably a few things you should know.

You have to do things. I KNOW RIGHT? Dirty clothes don't wash themselves, nor do dirty dishes. Your fridge doesn't get restocked with yoghurt unless you go and get some, no matter how much you whine. In a strange new turn of events, appointments don't get made when you push the paperwork aside and forget that you're even supposed to make an appointment. Simply put, adulthood kind of sucks this way, but just close your eyes and imagine the day when you'll be able to pay someone to clean your house.

There is always more housework. This may suck, but it is a huge secret I'm letting you in on. No matter how often you do laundry, or wash dishes, or vacuum the floors, there is always more dirty clothes, dishes, and dirt. So, as far as I'm concerned if you've done the groceries and a load of washing you've been adult enough for one day. Don't stress too much about having everything done, because there's always more to do. Just roll with it (hint: scotch & loud music usually helps intense cleaning sessions).

Don't forget what you love. It's easy to get overwhelmed by "grown-up stuff" if you're not used to it. But don't let household chores, and the boring normalcy of everyday life (eg. bills, rent, two minute noodles for dinner again) make you forget that you love to read, or paint, or make magnificent sculptures out of random found objects. Make time to do awesome things because there's always time for more boring adult stuff later. Besides, is the person who buys your amazing trash sculpture going to care if all your socks aren't starched?

Make good use of what you have. An annoying fact of starting adult life is that you often have very little funds to begin it with. So make good use of everything you already have - refashion clothes, trade in old video games for new ones, sell things that you don't need to help you buy things that you do. Anything that means you struggle less to fund your basic needs (especially if you're working a retail job, like me) is a good option. Plus, the whole scotch and loud music thing makes refashioning clothes an especially fun past-time.

Remember, growing up takes time. If you've only been a "grown-up" for a few weeks now and you're having trouble managing everything, don't sweat it. It takes a long time to be mediocre at being a grown-up, and some of us don't ever get good at it. If anyone takes issue with this just tell them that you're more concerned with staying in touch with your inner child, and take to wearing dandelion headdresses around them just to further unsettle them. What's the saying? Rome wasn't built in a day, so if anyone questions the way you're building your Rome make them doubt the way they built theirs? Eh, something like that. The main point is don't worry if you have a major meltdown, end up subsisting on cake and dry noodles, and spending all your waking hours on the internet every once in a while. It happens to the best of us.

And that's it. The best advice I have to offer from my limited years of attempting to be an adult. Oh, and if you ever need to read a pregnancy test they usually have instructions in the box. See, all bases covered.

Until next time, xo.