I don’t know if being an adult ever seemed like a chore to most grown-ups, but this current generation of adults has acknowledged that we all could use a break from it from time to time.
The word, adulting has become a noun that is used to describe the ordinary, mundane things of being a responsible person, someone who’s typically 18 years of age and older, but most often is someone who is living independent of their parents, employed or at least employable, and taking care of adult life things without the primary support of their family. I know, that was a mouthful which is probably why millennials created this term—to imply how challenging it is to be an adult.
Never before had I heard of a word that was used in a way to reflect the feelings of so many people at once; adults who also without having to explain the definition tend to understand what is meant by “adulting.”
When I began thinking about using it for my new book, “Adulting As A Millennial: A Guide to Everything Your Parents Didn’t Teach You” I imagined there would be a lot of Gen Yers who could relate to some of the highs and lows of taking care of their physical, mental and financial health, while also trying to adjust to life outside of school, and then, maybe, if they felt inclined to learn how to take care of their relationships, that too.
As we continue to live and work and go to school in the same space we do each of these activities separately, I think most people are feeling the feels of what it’s like to have to carry the burdens of doing everything close together, or at once and being overwhelmed by it. The idea behind adulting is not the standard things of adulthood. Well, that’s one part of it. The implication is that it’s tedious being an adult and sometimes it requires breaks from everyone’s reality every once in a while. There was a time when I thought the word was ridiculous in its use. I now find it comforting and appropriate to describe how most people feel these days.
So, to all of my daring, interesting and creative millennials, thanks for coining a term that we all can presently relate to.
*This blog is about becoming free. It’s a reflection of introspective thoughts and experiences that have crossed miles of self-discovery. I created this blog to inspire others to live life with less self-criticism, judgment and openness to new experiences. May you find that you learn how to live a life by design and on your own terms!*