Adulting 101: What to Know About Becoming a Responsible Adult

This guest article was graciously contributed by Leslie Campos, founder of Well Parents. Leslie knows that to raise well kids, parents have to take care of and invest in themselves, too. Whether it is exercise and body movement, eating a nutrient-dense diet, or coping with stress, Leslie has numerous articles to support you. Check out her website for tips and resources so you can show up fully as a parent.

Adulting is hard, and many young adults struggle as they learn how to manage their money, juggle work and school, and live independently for the first time in their lives. According to a 2016 survey of millennials and Gen Z’ers, the majority of respondents hadn’t felt prepared for the real world after graduating from college or high school — and about 40 percent wished their schooling had taught them how to invest money and file their tax returns. Moreover, only about 47 percent of respondents were paying for their own housing — while just 41 percent were paying for health insurance. 

According to a 2016 survey of millennials and Gen Z’ers, the majority of respondents hadn’t felt prepared for the real world after graduating from college or high school.

From landing a job as an adult to going back to school, adulting isn’t easy by any means. However, the following article from LifeTutors will help to guide young adults as they transition into adulthood and enter the next chapter of their lives. 

Employment

If you’ve recently graduated from high school or college, there’s a good chance that finding a stable job tops your list of priorities. And while you may be tempted to apply for every job posting that catches your eye, it’s important to consider your resume, location, connections, and ideal work environment before beginning your employment search. These considerations will help you to find the most rewarding career opportunities for you. 

Once you’re ready to begin your employment search, you can start reaching out to your connections and using job search websites such as Monster, Indeed, Glassdoor, FlexJobs, and LinkedIn. Job fairs, staffing agencies, and networking events can also help you to look for work and make new connections. Just remember to evaluate your options for employee benefits before accepting a job offer, including your 401(k) plan, health insurance coverage, paid time off (PTO), and disability insurance.  

Education

Even if you’ve already graduated from college with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you — like many other young adults — may choose to continue your education at some point. And while going back to school isn’t quite so simple once you’re working full-time and juggling other responsibilities, online colleges allow you to work toward a degree from home and complete schoolwork on your own schedule. 

These schools offer online business degree programs in accounting, marketing, health information management, and information technology — as well as other degrees in teaching, healthcare, and data analytics. When you’re juggling other responsibilities such as work, therapy, and parenting, online degrees make ongoing education much more attainable.

Budgeting

Good budgeting techniques allow you to save money for the future, live comfortably in adulthood, and reach your top financial goals in less time — such as buying a house, starting an emergency savings fund, or paying off debt. And though budgeting doesn’t come easily to most people, money-management skills can be learned — and online tools and apps make it easier than ever. Several great options for young adults include You Need a Budget (YNAB), Mint, Empower, and PocketGuard. 

Independent Living

Many of us dream of living independently as adults, but find that getting there is a whole lot tougher than our parents, guidance counselors, and teachers said it would be. This is especially true if we’ve battled substance abuse and other physical, mental, or emotional challenges in our teens, 20s, or 30s. 

And while early adulthood brings new challenges, LifeTutors can help to support young adults as they overcome these obstacles, work toward a college degree, search for employment opportunities, and become more independent in life. Mentoring and collegiate support programs, neurofeedback, parent coaching, and psychological assessments are all offered to those who can benefit from these services. 

With adulthood comes many joys and opportunities for growth, but also lots of challenges. While adulting can be downright scary at times, it’s important to remember that we’re not alone in all this. Many of us struggle at one time or another, and support services are available to help us make it through as we transition into adulthood. 

Could you or your adult child benefit from the services of LifeTutors? Contact them today to learn about the coaching support services they offer to young adults and their parents. 828-417-7122 

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