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Low Entropy Volunteer Writer Sujana Jeganthas drops some knowledge on how to adult, and it has nothing to do with pensions or utilities bills.

 

Whether you are already well into your adulthood or just beginning it, one thing we all have in common is not knowing what being an adult actually means. As teenagers, most of us are told what adults are supposed to be, whether it means having a family by a certain age or having a high-paying job. The one thing adults never tell you is that not everything you know about being an adult is necessarily true. 

 

Looking back at my teenage years, there are things I wish I’d known before adulthood. So, for the teenagers thinking, “I can’t wait to grow up and have a big house,” here are five things I wish I knew when I was your age:

 

1. Money is not everything

 

For a long time, I was always told that having a job at the age of 16 is important, to save for a car and pay off future school debts. This can feel overwhelming, especially since you are still being told when you can and can’t use the bathroom. After being in-between jobs for so long and finally finding one later on, I realized that money should not be my top priority. Discovering hobbies, making social connections and focusing on your well-being, as well as school, should always come before money. After all, even if money pays your bills and lets you buy things, it isn’t going to satisfy the desire to maintain a healthy mind, body and soul.

 

1. You don’t need to have children to feel fulfilled in life

 

This was a hard one for me to swallow, especially since I was always taught that having a family is a blessing and an end-goal. Even now, when I tell people I don’t want children, I’m always told that “I will eventually change my mind.” Truthfully, I don’t know if I will change my mind, but what I do know is that, regardless of my decision, it’s a choice that I can only make.

 

If you feel pressured into having children but aren’t sure if you want any, this is a sign telling you it’s okay to not know. There’s more to life than just having a family.

 

1. Life is not a race, nor a competition.

 

I feel like a lot of people tend to compare their lives to those around them, whether it is on social media or even just wondering if they are working at a slow pace and need to speed up. What most people don’t know is that there are probably lots of people out there who have been married for 15 years but got divorced and others who had a one-night stand and are still together after 30 years of marriage.

 

The point is that life is not about doing specific things by a certain age. It’s about enjoying what life has to offer and allowing good things to come your way, not trying to force it.

 

1. Life does not end when you become an adult

 

A lot of people hit a certain age where they no longer feel like celebrating their birthday because they are getting “old.” The saying “age is just a number” is especially true when you feel like you’re not young enough to do certain things anymore. In reality, you still have a lot of things to experience before that back pain worsens.

 

1. It’s okay if you have no idea what you want to do

 

In all honesty, a lot of adults, even those who have been adults for a long time, still have absolutely no clue what they want to do. Indecision is a common affliction when it comes to decisions in adulthood, and a lot of us still feel overwhelmed at the fact that we are just thrown into life and told to figure out how to pay for taxes and debts. 

 

Even if you have no idea what you want to do, pursuing new opportunities and things that interest you will always be the right step forward in figuring that out. Don’t worry about having to find your ideal career within a month of graduating school. Not everything will come as easily as you think. After all, failing to succeed in any pursuit doesn’t mean you’re not good at it – it might simply be a stepping stone that will lead you to your milestone!

 

Do you not have any idea what you want to do? How little of an idea do you have? Take a shot at describing this in the comments section, or try to explain it in front of people (supportive people!) at a Low Entropy meet-up.