Let’s face it – being an adult is way, way harder than anyone expected it to be.
Chances are, if you’re a Millennial, you’ve had at least one moment recently where you realized you didn’t understand how to handle adulthood as well as you thought you did.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone; plenty of people struggle with adulting, and there’s no shame in admitting that it’s hard. Here are a few tips that you might not have been taught that will help you tackle adulthood like a pro.
1. Fonts Save Lives Ink
If you have to print out documents when you’re at work or school, be careful what font you choose; some fonts can actually help you save ink. Times New Roman takes 27% less ink than Arial, according to Consumer Reports. You’ll spend less on ink cartridges for your own printer, and your boss will appreciate the efficiency.
2. Maybe it’s Best to Mess Up
Asking for help is important when you don’t know something, but don’t be afraid to take the initiative and try something out on your own. Doing things yourself can show others at work that you’re serious about giving it all you’ve got at your job. If you’re worried about doing something wrong, try to remember that people mess up all the time, and you can use this as a learning opportunity if it does go wrong.
3. You Should Know How to File Your Own Taxes (It’s Easy)
It can be intimidating, but it’s an essential part of being your own adult: learn how to file your taxes. Taking care of your own finances can be empowering, even if it might seem a bit boring. There are plenty of online programs nowadays that make filing your taxes easier, which should help reduce the stress around getting this larger task tackled.
4. Home Repairs and Upgrades Can Save You Money
If you own a home of your own, make sure you pay attention to large repairs around your house sooner rather than later. Replacing outdated fixtures or structural parts of your home might seem like a large, expensive undertaking, but it can help you save money by cutting down on your energy spending. Newer, energy-efficient types of windows can save an average 15% on your energy bill, meaning eventually they’ll pay for themselves.
5. Get Creative With Healthcare
Scheduling doctor’s appointments can be intimidating, but it’s important to stay on top of your health. If medical payments are a concern, look for free or reduced-cost clinics near you to take care of important medical screenings on a regular basis. Many community clinics offer sliding-scale programs to make care affordable if you don’t have good insurance.
6. Make Exercise Fun
Getting regular exercise doesn’t have to be a boring chore that involves paying for a gym membership. In fact, less than 5% of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day, and only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week, reports the US. Department of Health and Human Services.
Find an activity you love or enjoyed as a kid and keep doing it as an adult. It doesn’t have to be a stereotypical workout plan; about 11 million people self-report that they enjoy skateboarding on a regular basis. As long as it gets you moving, it’s helping your overall health, and doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
Final Words
Being an adult isn’t easy, but there are plenty of tips like these that can help you through. Remember, most of adulthood is Googling the things you don’t know how to do yet, and there’s no shame in asking for help on things you don’t know or getting things wrong the first time you try them.