We’re so glad to have you here!
Welcome to The Mind Manual - your guide to all things exciting, empowering, and sometimes a little overwhelming—just like life.
But here’s the thing: We get it. We’re women, just like you—navigating the ups and downs, celebrating the wins, and figuring out life one step at a time. These words come straight from the heart, written by a woman (aka. our therapist) who truly understands what you’re going through.
In this, we shall talk about ‘Adulting’!
Transitioning into adulthood often feels like entering a phase that you feel unprepared for. As an adult, you’re often on your own and are responsible for your own life. This realization can be overwhelming for a lot of us who find it difficult to navigate the ups and downs of adulthood.
Let’s examine why this change can be overwhelming, and what we can do to make this journey easier.
1. Entry into adulthood often comes with a lot of responsibilities
You realize that a lot of things that were once a distant observation as a child, are now your reality. Bills to sort out, cooking, cleaning, filing taxes; responsibilities and chores that we are often unprepared for. The sheer number of added tasks with the struggles of little time while also managing work and personal life can take a toll on a lot of us.
More so, as women, we are expected to balance work, family, friendships, and personal life. Women also largely play the role of the caregiver of the family, and these additional responsibilities can often leave us with little to no time for ourself.
Tips to navigate this: Gather information and equip yourself with knowledge to handle new responsibilities. Use a flexible schedule to manage responsibilities effectively and ensure time for each task. Additionally, ask for help whenever needed.
2. Dealing with uncertainty
During most of childhood, life has followed a certain routine and structure. Things that mattered were friendships, play, family, and school. However, stepping into adulthood often leaves us facing the harsh reality of uncertainty that is present in various aspects in life. You’re faced with countless choices, from career paths to personal goals, without knowing what the ‘right’ answer is. We’re constantly navigating challenges through trial and error, which can be unnerving at times. However, this process of trial and error is also where growth and learning happens, even if it doesn’t always feel that way in the moment.
Tips to deal with this: Remind yourself that uncertainty is a natural part of life, but it doesn’t have to be frightening. With some resourcefulness and adequate support, it can be opportunity for growth and resilience.
3. Changes in perspectives
As children, most of us grew up seeing the world as fair and just. However, as adults, we soon are faced with the harsh reality that things aren’t always fair. There may be times when we face unfair challenges, injustice, and sometimes even see not-so-good sides of people - including our loved ones. The realization that people and the world may not be ‘all good’ at all times can be difficult to accept.
Tips to navigate this: Acknowledge that most of life exists in ‘grey’ and not black-and-white. People and situations may not be all-good or all-bad. Focus on building compassion for yourself and others, while also setting healthy boundaries.
4. Relationships become a lot more complex
As adults, the relationships we have with people often become more layered and complex. Unlike childhood friendships, friendships and other relationships in adulthood take effort to maintain, and we sometimes struggle to keep up with them while juggling other responsibilities. The added layers of balancing between maintaining close relationships, finding a partner, and dealing with stressors and conflicts can make it all the more overwhelming at times.
Tips to navigate this: Make time for important relationships. Invest effort in building communication, addressing conflicts, and strengthening relationships.
5. Decisions feel heavier to make
The decisions we make now tend to have a greater impact on our day to day lives. From deciding where to work, the place to stay, the people we spend time with, all these have a significant influence on the quality of our life. This can often make one feel the added pressure of making the ‘right’ decision since the consequences feel greater.
Tips to navigate this: Remind yourself that there may be no ‘right or perfect decision’. Equip yourself with enough knowledge and support to make choices that align with your values and feel healthy for you.
Closing thoughts
Being an adult isn’t always easy. There can be days in which we feel lost and confused about what to do. But the good news is, you are not alone in this. We all feel this way at some point, and it does get better along the way. As you navigate through the journey of adulthood, remember to be kind to yourself, take things one step at a time, and reach out for support whenever you need it.
Need help?
Therapists at Proactive For Her are non-judgmental, trauma-informed and culturally responsive. If you are anyone you know needs help with their mental health, book a discovery call with one of our experienced therapists, book now @299 !
With health,
Team Proactive For Her