As we get older, it gets harder and harder to juggle all the responsibilities that come with being an adult. We go from being young kids who value friendships, hobbies, and having fun to adults who are constantly rushing to meet deadlines, pay bills, and take care of our families.
At the age of 32, this is something that I’ve been having a hard time with. As I reflect on the last couple of years, I realize there are things that I could have done differently to help me better achieve my goals.
With that being said, here are 11 things that I believe every adult should do to achieve their goals.
Before I get started consider signing up to my newsletter self development snack!
Have Friends That Are OK with Distance
As adults, we can no longer keep friends who hold us accountable to see us so frequently. With all the responsibilities that we have, it’s important to have friends who understand and respect our schedules.
I’m sure you’ve had friendships where no matter how much time goes by, you can pick up right where you left off. These are the types of friendships we should strive for as adults.
We need people who are there for us when we need them and vice versa, but don’t guilt trip us for not being able to hang out every weekend.
Reconsider Habits You’ve Formed As a Teenager
If you have bad habits that started when you were a teenager that are still part of your life, it’s time to reconsider them.
For example. Maybe you started drinking at the age of 15 because it was a cool experience at the time.
Ask yourself, “If these habits were introduced to me right now, would I pick them up?”. If the answer is no, it’s time to make a change.
We can’t expect to grow and reach our goals if we still hold on to habits that no longer serve us.
I recently was reading Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday and he said something that resonated with me. He said something along the lines of that we wouldn’t choose to be a slave, so why do we choose to be a slave to our bad habits?
Reconsider Subconscious Negativity We’ve Learned
Growing up, we often pick up some habits and beliefs from our surroundings that may not serve us as adults.
One common example for me would be the statement, “I’m tired”.
Growing up, I heard this phrase all the time and it became ingrained in my subconscious. As an adult, I catch myself saying it even when I’m not actually tired.
It’s important to recognize and challenge these negative thoughts and beliefs that we may have picked up without even realizing it. Replacing them with more positive and empowering thoughts can make a big difference in our lives.
Wake Up Early
As adults, we have kids, job responsibilities, errands, and a million other things to do. Because of this, you should prioritize waking up super early.
This is the only time we can truly get to ourselves without any distractions. It’s a time when we can reflect, plan our day, or even get some deep-focused work done.
Let’s say you started waking up at 4 a.m. If everyone else in your household wakes up at 7, that’s three hours per day with time to yourself. If you do this every day it’s 21 hours per week, just for yourself. Imagine what you could accomplish with that extra time.
Not only does it help you accomplish more, but it also allows you to focus on the stuff you need to do throughout the day and focus on it 100% without feeling the need to have more time to yourself. It’s a win-win situation.
Let Weekends Propel Your Week Instead Of Setting It Back
When we were younger, it was more common to use the weekend to get away from reality and have fun. As adults, we should use weekends to propel our week forward.
Use weekends as a time to relax, recharge, and prepare for the upcoming week. This can include getting ahead on tasks or simply taking some time for self-care and reflection.
Adulthood is all about momentum. If we have a weekend full of drinking and partying, the momentum of the next week will be affected. However, if we use the weekends to take care of ourselves and prepare for the week ahead, we can start off on a positive note.
Get Rid Of Clutter In Your Life In All Aspects
Being ok with clutter on your desk means being ok with clutter in your work, relationships, and mind.
We need to make sure we declutter our phones, homes, desks, and minds.
When was the last time you deleted old contacts, emails, or apps that you no longer use?
Clutter results in missing opportunities. Whether it’s that forgotten email from a potential client or a missed invite from a friend, clutter can hold us back from reaching our full potential.
We Are A Culmination Of Everything We Surround Ourselves With
If you’re not happy with where you are in your life at the moment, you need to realize that it’s a reflection of the people and things you surround yourself with.
Take a look at your inner circle, are they pushing you to be better or holding you back?
What about your daily habits, are they helping you reach your goals or hindering your progress?
Being aware of our surroundings and making necessary changes can greatly impact our personal growth and success.
Write Things Down
Things could get out of hand fast as adults. There are so many things we’re juggling at once, it’s hard to keep track of everything mentally.
This is why we need to write things down.
If we don’t write things down, things will slip through the cracks constantly. Over time, those things that slip through the cracks will add up and become overwhelming, and we’ll lose momentum in certain aspects of our lives.
Get a journal and write down your thoughts daily.
Have Some Type Of Exercise Routine
This is a non-negotiable aspect of adult life that should be taken seriously.
Our bodies are not as resilient as they were when we were teenagers, and it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Not only is it good for our health, but it’s also good for our mental well-being. Exercise can help decrease stress, anxiety, and depression.
Find an exercise routine that works for you, whether it’s going to the gym, taking a yoga class, or simply going for a walk every day.
I went on a hiatus from exercise for a while, until one day I picked up running. My mental clarity and overall well-being improved greatly since then.
Learn From Failures Instead Of Dwelling On Them
Mistakes and failures are inevitable in life, but it’s how we respond to them that truly makes a difference.
Dwelling on failures could lead us to depression and being down on ourselves, which doesn’t help us move forward & is extremely detrimental to our mental health.
Instead, we should take the failure as a learning opportunity for personal growth. Analyze what went wrong and how to improve for the future.
Stop Carrying Goals From Other People
A lot of adults end up realizing what they truly want because they carry other people’s expectations for them on their shoulders.
Whether it’s our parents, friends, or society’s expectations influencing our decisions, we need to learn how to live for ourselves and make choices that align with our desires and values.
For example, if your mom wanted you to go to college, and you went just for her, you may end up feeling unfulfilled and regretful in the long run. It may also make you halfheartedly work on your degree and not reach your full potential.
