Adulting is hard and abrupt. You never really realize how fast life catches up to you when you move with the wind. You’re a kid one day, and your biggest worry is finishing your homework on time. Then all of a sudden, you’re here, trying to juggle work, school, and a social life while also figuring out how to build a future for yourself. It’s overwhelming and exhausting, and if I’m being honest, it sometimes feels like no matter how much you do, there’s always more waiting for you.
Nobody prepares you for the moment when everything shifts. It’s not a gradual change, it’s more like a slap in the face and you’re forced to get it together. One minute, you’re asking your parents for money to go out with friends, and the next, you’re budgeting to make sure you can afford groceries and gas. It’s realizing why your mother would come home and start yelling or have a lousy attitude… because life is stressful.
Adulthood hits differently when you’re responsible for keeping your life together. You have to make decisions that matter: choosing a job, handling bills, and setting goals for the future. And let’s not even talk about time management. Adulting is setting six or seven alarms and still being late to work. It’s planning to be productive, then suddenly it’s 11 p.m., and you’ve done nothing. It’s constantly feeling like you’re catching up, even when you thought you had everything under control.
By “you” – I mean me!
But the hardest part? Staying true to yourself through it all.
There’s this unspoken expectation that you should have it all figured out by a certain age. People at church ask questions like “What are you doing after graduation?” “Where do you see yourself in five years?” as if I’m just supposed to have a perfect roadmap for life.
The truth is, most of us are just figuring it out as we go. And that’s okay.
It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Social media makes it even worse, scrolling through posts of people landing dream jobs, graduating, traveling the world, or seemingly having it all together can make you feel like you’re falling behind. And sometimes, I don’t even realize I’m comparing myself. It’s not always intentional, but when I sit back and reflect, I notice these thoughts creeping in: Am I doing enough? Should I be further in life? Why does everyone else seem so ahead? But here’s what I’ve learned: success isn’t about how fast you get somewhere; it’s about making choices that align with who you are and where you want to go.
So what do I do about these comparisons?
I remind myself that social media is just a highlight reel and no one posts their struggles, doubts, or bad days. Why would they? You focus on your journey instead of trying to measure it against someone else’s. And most importantly, give yourself grace. Just because your path looks different doesn’t mean you’re behind. It just means you’re moving at your own pace.
Being an adult means making choices that aren’t always fun but are essential. Sometimes, it cuts off distractions, even when they look like opportunities. Sometimes, it’s choosing discipline over comfort, saying no to a night out because you need to save money, or staying in to finish an assignment even though you’d rather be somewhere else.
It’s also about learning from mistakes. And trust me, you’re going to make them. You’ll overspend, procrastinate, choose the wrong thing, and probably question yourself more times than you can count. But every mistake is just a lesson in disguise.
The biggest thing is to trust yourself. The world around you will always have opinions about what you should do, but ultimately, you’re the only one who has to live through your choices. So, make the ones that feel right to you, not just the ones that look good to everyone else.
Adulting is tiring but it doesn’t have to be miserable. The key is balance. On some days, it’ll feel like you have everything together, and other days will feel like everything is crumbling into pieces. It happens. Keep pushing. It’s the process. While adulting is a lot, it is also filled with chances to grow, learn yourself, and literally build the life you want.
As long as you are trying to build your future and have something to show for it, you are on the right path.
