Adulting: The Struggle is Real

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Adulting is defined as the act or practice of attending to the ordinary tasks required of a responsible adult. Society expects everyone to complete school, get a job, and be responsible. The tasks of having a job, paying bills, etc. may not always bring joy but are necessary and expected.

But adulting can be hard and many people struggle with the tremendous responsibilities that come with being an adult, especially when jobs are hard to find, and the debts continue to grow. So many young adults (or not so young adults) end up living with parents, losing motivation to find a way out of their current situation. And then the parents are challenged and conflicted with “parenting” their child and also wanting them to do adult responsibilities. After all, when a person tries to find new opportunities but is rejected so many times, they are likely to feel defeated and deflated-zapping the motivation to improve their life. Adulting is no longer a new journey but a burdensome task that gets avoided. Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, become more common. And once a person turns 26, they

can no longer easily access medication and treatment since they are kicked off of their parents’ insurance…further adding to the burdensome challenge and hopelessness of adulting.

So how does a person break this downward spiral of procrastination and defeated adulting? Finding hope out of the darkness is key. It starts with setting a reachable goal, developing a realistic plan to reach the goal and finding accountability partners to keep you motivated to stay on track. One success at reaching a goal leads to feeling more energized to take on the next goal, and so on. Resources such as counseling to address any mental health issues and family conflicts can help. Executive Coaching can help tremendously with the goal setting and attainment process. Mentorship can help with discovering networking options.

So, if you or a family member are struggling with the Adulting process, reach out for support. Adulting will become easier once a path is defined.