How to Prepare for Life As an Adult: 17 Great Tips

Co-authored by Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: November 9, 2022 References

If you're a teenager, the concept of "adulting" probably seems pretty intimidating. Being concerned and wanting to prepare is a good thing, but it's certainly not something you need to stress yourself out over. Your teenage years are the best time to start forming good habits that will make adulthood easier. Don't worry if you can't get everything at once. You have plenty of time and making mistakes is part of the process. Read on to discover the best things you can do to make sure that you're ready to start life as an adult and avoid many of the common pitfalls that tend to trip a lot of people up.

1

Cultivate a "growth mindset."

Use mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow. As you transition into adulthood, you're going to make mistakes—and that's okay! It's just a part of growing up and making your way in the world. Analyze your mistakes so you can figure out how to avoid the same situation in the future.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
Greater Good Magazine
Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living
Go to source}
- Eliminating negative self-talk is a big part of having a growth mindset. For example, instead of saying, "I'll never be able to do this," you might say, "I messed up that time, but I know I'll figure it out eventually."
- Whenever you mess up, own up to it! You miss out on the opportunity to grow and learn if you make excuses or blame it on something or somebody else.

2

Hone your time-management skills.

Use a calendar to schedule events, tasks, and activities. When you were a kid, you probably relied on your parents to manage your time for you and tell you what you needed to do and when. To prepare for adulthood, start scheduling your classes, deadlines, work, events, and other activities on a calendar. Use the calendar app on your phone if that's easier for you.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- With a calendar app, you can also set reminders for yourself so you don't forget anything, even if you're not the best at checking your calendar.
- Don't forget to "schedule" free time as well! Even if you have school, work, and other activities, you still need time to yourself to recharge and do your own thing.

3

Start thinking in terms of your career.

Use early jobs to get a handle on what you enjoy doing. At this stage, the most important thing you can do, career-wise, is identify your strengths and interests. Then, start looking at how those strengths and interests translate into marketable skills. Find out what kind of education and experience you need to do what you want to do and go from there.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Harvard Business Review
Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices
Go to source}
- For example, suppose you have a part-time job at a café and you really enjoy making the signs that are displayed out front with daily specials. That could translate into a career in graphic design, marketing, or social media.
- Whatever you decide now isn't set in stone—plenty of adults pivot to different careers after years (or even decades!) in the workforce. But it's still a good idea to narrow down your options early on.

4

Budget your money.

Set up a budget to help you develop good spending habits now. If you go on a shopping spree the second your paycheck hits your bank account, this one's for you. Even if you aren't responsible for a lot of bills right now, creating a budget and saving money (instead of spending it all) is a big part of adulting.^{[4]
X
Research source} Set up a basic spreadsheet with these categories to get started:
- Income: Enter the lowest amount. For example, if you make between $150 and $200 a week from your part-time job, you would budget $150 a week.
- Necessary expenses: Bills you have to pay each month. For example, if you pay $50 for your mobile phone, that would be a necessary expense.
- Savings: Budget 20-30% of your income. For example, if you earn $150 a week ($600 a month), you would budget $120-180 a month to put into your savings.
- Discretionary expenses: These are expenses that you have regularly but aren't necessary—stuff like going to concerts or movies or ordering takeout. Experts recommend budgeting 20-30% of your total income for this category.

5

Save for your future.

Start an investment fund for retirement as soon as you can. If your employer offers a 401(k), take them up on it! With this retirement investment account, your employer takes money out of your paycheck before you even see it and invests it towards your retirement. Most employers also match your contributions (up to a specific total amount), which is basically free money—and you should never pass up free money.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
Financial Industry Regulatory Agency
Non-governmental organization responsible for regulating brokerage firms and exchange markets
Go to source}
- If a 401(k) isn't an option, open a Roth IRA. If you're not 18 yet, talk to your parents about opening up a custodial IRA for you—once you turn 18, you'll have complete control over it.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
- In addition to retirement, keep a savings account with about 3 months' worth of expenses for emergencies.^{[7]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  U.S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector
  Go to source}

6

Establish good credit.

Sign up with a free credit score app as soon as you turn 18. Use the app to explore and learn about your credit score. Get a single credit card with a low limit to start building your credit. Charge things on your card that you normally pay every month, such as your mobile phone. Then pay the card off in full each month.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
U.S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector
Go to source}
- Apps such as NerdWallet, WalletHub, and CreditKarma offer pretty much the same services—it's really just a question of which one you like.
- If your parents have good credit, talk to them about adding you as an authorized user on one of their credit cards. They don't even have to give you a card or access to the account! When they make their payments every month, that payment history will go on your credit report to help boost your score.
- Focus on developing good habits with credit now to save yourself a lot of money in the future—especially when you go to finance those big-ticket purchases, such as a car or a house.

7

Improve your communication skills.

Practice communicating in different contexts and social settings. Different people and different social settings often require you to change up how you talk. Put yourself in a lot of different settings now so you're ready when you get older. Talking to older people, especially, will help you become more effective at communication.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Getting involved in your community is a great way to work on your communication in different contexts. For example, you might volunteer on a local political campaign—that's a great way to practice talking to a lot of different people!

8

Cook your own meals occasionally.

Learn 2 or 3 basic healthy meals that you can easily prepare. Eating out all the time is going to put a huge strain on your budget. Come up with a couple of meals that you love and are almost always in the mood for. Once you get those down, you can expand if you want.^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Start by making spaghetti! It's a good basic meal that's hard to mess up. All you really need is pasta and sauce. Add sausage, ground beef, or any other meat for protein. You could also add vegetables, such as onions, green peppers, or spinach, to the sauce for flavor and variety.
- Eggs are also cheap and easy to cook in many different styles—and there's nothing wrong with having breakfast for dinner!
- Make a stir-fry with rice and veggies for another easy option. You can change it up pretty easily just by adding different veggies, meat, or sauce. Whatever you put in it, you still cook it basically the same way.

9

Pick up after yourself at home.

Get in the habit of spending just 10 minutes a day tidying up. Keeping things clean and organized doesn't have to be a chore if you do it a little at a time rather than letting it pile up. If it's ingrained in you to pick up after yourself and put things away, things will be less likely to get out of control when you move out on your own.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Start your day by making your bed. A made bed makes any room instantly look a little neater, and you've already accomplished your first task of the day in just a few minutes.
- Before you go to bed at night, spend 5-10 minutes picking up and cleaning. You can even set a timer—when it goes off, just stop. Even if you have a lot of clutter, 5-10 minutes away will gradually eat away at it.
- Organize things you use regularly in a way that's convenient and makes sense to you. For example, if you always drop your jacket on the floor when you come in your room, you might find a hook for it that you can put right next to the door.

10

Clean up your online presence.

Remove anything online you wouldn't want a potential boss to see. There's no doubt that employers check out your social media accounts, but college admissions boards do too. Search your name and see what comes up—then start the task of untagging yourself and adjusting your privacy settings on your social media accounts. Delete posts that you think would give people a negative impression of you.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
Consumer Reports
Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing
Go to source}
- For example, if you have any photos on social media of you at parties where there was underage drinking, you definitely want to get rid of those.
- Open a LinkedIn account and use that as your "professional" face. Google pushes it to the top of search results, so if someone searches your name, it's the first thing they'll see.
- Now's also a good time to set up an "adult" email account if you don't already have one. A couple of years from now, you don't want to be looking for jobs with an email handle like "kawaicutie7." Good adult email addresses are typically some combination of your name and initials, such as "jthoward" for Jenna T. Howard.

11

Find hobbies that ignite your passion.

Hobbies boost your self-esteem and give you a sense of belonging. As you enter adulthood, it's going to become harder to connect with people who share your interests. Getting involved with a hobby is a great way to ensure you'll always have a community. Even if you move to a different area, it's usually not too hard to find a group to join.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- For example, if you like the outdoors, you might get into gardening. Many areas have community gardens where you can volunteer some time (and get free produce for your effort).
- If you love acting, get involved with a local improv group or your local community theater. They need people to work backstage, too, so you can find a spot there if you like fashion, makeup, or even carpentry.

12

Get involved in your community.

Working to improve your community is a great way to feel connected. A lot of schools require some form of community service for graduation, but don't let that be the only reason you get involved! Find an issue you feel strongly about and join a local group that promotes a positive change in that area.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- If you're really passionate about the environment, you might join a local group that picks up litter. You'll meet other people who share your passion and make a positive difference in your neighborhood.
- If you love animals, volunteer at your local animal shelter. They often recruit young people to walk dogs, for example.
- Nursing and retirement homes love young people who volunteer to come and hang out with residents.

13

Practice stress management techniques.

Positive coping strategies help you avoid harmful outlets. When stress takes its toll, many people turn to alcohol and drugs to escape. If you learn to manage your stress now, it'll be easier to stay away from those things. Ultimately, this is all about finding things that work for you—there's no one-size-fits-all. Here are some things you can try:^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing and improving psychiatric care for children and adolescents.
Go to source}
- Go to bed earlier. Getting enough sleep will help you feel more relaxed and focused.
- Write in a journal for a few minutes each day. Journaling helps you stay in touch with your own thoughts and feelings and learn more about yourself.
- Try deep-breathing exercises when you feel anxious. Just a minute or two of deep, focused breathing can help slow your heart rate and calm your mind.
- Take a walk in nature. Research shows that spending at least 20-30 minutes immersed in nature reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body.^{[16]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Harvard Medical School
  Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
  Go to source}

14

Maintain an active lifestyle.

Engage in physical activity for at least an hour a day. If you're active for at least an hour a day, you'll maintain good health and fitness and avoid gaining weight as you enter adulthood. That hour doesn't have to be all at once, either! In fact, it's probably better if you space out your activity throughout the day.^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
Go to source} Look for little ways to increase your physical activity, such as:
- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
- Walking or biking rather than driving or taking public transportation
- Dancing to your favorite music in your room
- Doing jumping jacks or squats during commercial breaks
- Going outside and walking around while listening to a podcast

15

Treat everyone with kindness and respect.

Strive to spread kindness and generosity to everyone you meet. Being kind to a complete stranger can take some effort—but it's worth it. People always remember when a random person goes out of their way to be kind. That kindness boosts your happiness and self-esteem and makes you feel better about yourself as well, so it's really a win-win.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- You never know who someone might turn out to be or how they might impact your life. When you treat everyone with kindness and respect, you acknowledge their importance as a human.
- Also remember that you don't know what someone else is going through. That stranger who snapped at you rudely or cut you off in traffic might have just lost their job or have a deathly ill loved one at home. Do what you can to be the highlight of someone's day rather than the low point.

16

Nurture long-term friendships.

Friends boost your happiness and provide emotional support. Try to stay in touch with your closest friends after you graduate from high school or college. This can be tough since you might move far away from each other and develop different interests, but getting together even once or twice a year can be really beneficial.^{[19]
X
Research source}
- It's often pretty easy to make friends when you're a kid, but it gets harder as an adult. Community sports leagues and hobby groups can help.
- If you're religious, join a church or faith-based organization near you. It's a great way to meet people who share your values.
- Keep in mind that a large social media network doesn't necessarily translate to having a lot of friends offline. In addition to online friends, you also need local people who can support you and do things with you in person.

17

Educate yourself about sex and human bodies.

If you plan to be sexually active, take it upon yourself to learn about it. You've probably already realized that most schools don't offer much in the way of sexual education. This is potentially a really important part of your life, and you're basically on your own.^{[20]
X
Research source} Fortunately, there are a lot of great resources online. You can start with these:
- Ask Roo is a service provided by Planned Parenthood where you can ask any questions you might have about sexual health, human bodies, relationships, and more. All of Roo's answers are created by professional sex educators, and the app is always 100% free to use.
- Amaze offers brief, animated videos on topics related to puberty, healthy relationships, STIs and HIV, personal safety, pregnancy and reproduction, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The videos and resources on the site are always free and available throughout the world.
- Go Ask Alice! is a team of Columbia University healthcare providers, academics, and researchers that answers questions and shares resources on a variety of health-related topics, including sexual health information.