Over the last decade, there has been a growing global interest in the phenomenon of “adulting.” It’s an amusing term, but it’s not just a trend—it’s a cultural shift that has been quietly taking shape.
In recent years, people have been increasingly seeking to cultivate a “adult lifestyle.” They’re looking for ways to be more independent, self-sufficient, and responsible. This is particularly true for those in their 20s and 30s, who are now more likely to be living on their own and managing their finances.
As a result, there’s been a surge of interest in topics like personal finance, budgeting, and lifestyle design. But despite this increased focus, many of the tips and tricks that are out there simply don’t work. They’re either outdated, irrelevant, or worse, just plain wrong.
So, in this blog post, we’ll be debunking some of the most common myths and misconceptions of “adulting” and providing practical advice for anyone keen on achieving a more independent and responsible lifestyle. Let’s get started!
1. Myth: “You Have to Live with Your Parents for a While”
When it comes to “adulting,” one of the most common misconceptions is that it requires you to live with your parents. This is simply not true.
The idea of “adulting” has been around for several decades, and it’s been a long time since being an adult was defined by living independently from parents. Nowadays, many people move out of their parents’ home by their early 20s, and if you’re living on your own, there’s no reason to expect that you’re not “adulting.”
In fact, a recent survey of 2,000 adults in the U.K. found that nearly 50% of people in their 20s and 30s were living independently. This is a significant shift from the past, where, even in the 1980s, only 27% of adults in the U.K. lived on their own.
The idea that there’s an age where you should move out of your parents’ home and “adult” on your own is a modern one, and that’s a myth. If you’re living independently, you’re already an adult—you’re just not yet a parent.
So, if you’re an adult who’s living independently, then you’re already “adulting” — it’s just a different term.
2. Myth: “You Should Have a Full-Time Job”
There’s been a lot of discussion in recent years about the “ideal” career path for adults. What kind of career do you want to have? What are your personal and professional goals? How do you want to get there?
Many people choose to go to college, and then build their careers on a foundation of experience and knowledge. But this is no longer the only way to succeed in life.
In fact, there are several factors that are driving the rise of “adulting.” These include the soaring cost of living, the uncertainty of the future, and the need to take more responsibility for your own financial security.
With this in mind, it’s no longer necessary to have a full-time job. In fact, in many cases, it’s simply not the best way to achieve your goals.
For example, if you’re a writer, you might choose to spend time writing articles and books instead of working in a traditional office setting. This approach not only gives you more flexibility, but it also enables you to work on your own terms.
Or, if you’re an entrepreneur, you might choose to launch your own business instead of working for someone else. This gives you the freedom to work on your own terms, and it also means you don’t have to worry about the financial side of things.
In short, there are a lot of different paths you can take to achieve your goals, and you can “adult” in many different ways. You don’t have to be stuck in a full-time job for a decade or more to be responsible for your own life.
3. Myth: “You Need a Full-Time Income to Live in the Modern World”
With the rise of the modern workplace, many of us have come to rely heavily on our full-time jobs. We’ve been taught that in order to achieve our goals, we need to work hard and “put in the hours.”
But this is simply not true. While there’s nothing wrong with working hard to achieve your goals, the modern world is