Here’s the ultimate guide to making adulting a tad easier

Put your finger down if all you wanted to be as a child was an adult, and now can’t seem to think of a good enough reason as to why such a bizzare thought would even occur to you. Adulting is the never-ending tussle between catching up on sleep, paying your bills on time, checking in on friends, remembering to eat, staying hydrated, treating yourself to some chocolate even though you promised you would cut down on sugar, trying to manage your finances, planning to be productive on the weekend but ending up sleeping in, catching a breather, and by the time you know it, it’s Monday again. I don’t know about you, but adulting seems like we got the unfair end of the deal. 

A few days ago, when I was trying to escape my endless task list of the day and scrolling through Instagram, I came across a line by Timothée Chalamet and it struck a chord with me. “You have to remember, life is coming from you, not at you,” he said. The truth is, life is going to keep happening—a brimming social calendar, a job, laundry, rent, et al. It can make you feel overwhelmed and helpless at times, but it can be made a tad easier—if you really want to—with these hacks. Read on. 

Disconnect often 

How often do you catch yourself doom-scrolling and giving in to the constant influx of content that shows up on your screen every time you refresh your page? How many times have you planned to clean your wardrobe on the weekend but ended up spending your time in bed, watching yet another reel of the same trending song? In fact, most of us spend so much time immersed in our phones that it often becomes ‘too late' to do anything we have thought of. We end up procrastinating important life chores for a quick dopamine hit. So, we’d recommend turning off your devices to do something for yourself—whether it is chores, reading a book or practicing some stretches. “Anxiety levels will drop a significant amount, when we remember the significance of truly quiet, reflective, in-the-moment time”, reads an article in Poosh. 

Create a budget and handle your finances 

Working a nine-to-five and selling your soul to the corporate world is only the first step towards financial independence. Managing your money can be scary, confusing, and stressful. So, we broke it down for you. You can start by dividing your monthly income into savings and expenses. Once you know how much you spend in a month, we’d recommend creating a budget so that you don’t stray away from it too much. For your savings, there are a host of options you can explore including opening a fixed deposit, investing in mutual funds, and more. This will make you feel secure and more in control of your future. 

Buy a cute water bottle 

We’re not kidding. Think of when you buy cute workout clothes and shoes that push you to go to the gym—won’t a cute water bottle be motivation enough to stay hydrated? Pick out your favourite pastel-toned bottle with a quote or a cute doodle and carry it everywhere you go. If you’re at work, place it on your desk and put a few reminders on your phone to drink water. You can even go the boujee way and add some lemon, fresh cucumber or chia seeds for glowing skin and extra hydration. 

Stay away from people who drain you, but keep your best ones super close 

With less time and constantly depleting physical and emotional energy, it’s important to be aware of the people you surround yourself with. Stay away from those who make you feel exhausted, irritated or less than. Spending time with them will only make you feel worse about yourself. “Distancing yourself from those who take away from your energy, instead of adding to it positively, will only slow down your sparkle,” says the article in Poosh. 

Reach out 

Being an adult doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do everything or handle every situation that life throws at you by yourself. Whether you’re going through a tough emotional phase in your personal life or having a troubling time at work, we’d urge you to reach out—grab a coffee with a friend, call up your parents, speak to your partner, and if that doesn’t work, reach out to a therapist and seek professional help. We promise, it help you lead to a mindful, happier and healthier life.