I Failed at Adulting Last Week
Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I’m 38 years old, I’ve got a mortgage, a cat named Mr. Whiskers (don’t judge), and I still can’t figure out how to fold a fitted sheet. Completley. I mean, I’ve watched the videos, I’ve read the articles, but it’s like my brain just refuses to committ to the process.
Last Tuesday, I tried again. I laid the sheet out on the bed, tucked the corners, and… it looked like a disaster. Mr. Whiskers took one look at me and walked away. Which, honestly, was the most adult thing he’s ever done.
But here’s the thing: adulting is hard. It’s messy. It’s not all Pinterest-perfect organization and home-cooked meals. Sometimes it’s burning dinner, forgetting to pay a bill, and crying in the laundry room because you can’t fold a damn fitted sheet.
Why Are We So Bad at This?
I asked my friend, let’s call her Marcus, about this. She’s a succesfully self-employed graphic designer, lives in a gorgeous apartment, and has her life together in a way that makes me want to hide under the covers. I asked her if she ever feels like a fraud.
Her response? “All the time. Remember when I told you about the time I forgot to pay my rent? Yeah, that happened last month than. I’m pretty sure my landlord thinks I’m an idiot.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. Even the people who seem to have it all together are winging it more often than they’d like to admit.
The Myth of the Perfect Adult
We’re sold this idea that there’s a certain age or stage where we’re suddenly gonna wake up and know how to adult. Spoiler alert: it’s a lie. I mean, I’ve been an adult for more than a decade, and I’m still figuring it out. And honestly? I’m not sure I’m ever gonna get there.
About three months ago, I went to a conference in Austin. It was full of these polished, put-together people who seemed to have life figured out. I felt like an imposter. Then I sat next to this guy, let’s call him Dave, who turned out to be a colleague named Dave. Turns out, he was just as lost as I was.
“I spent 214 dollars on a course about time management,” he told me. “You know what I learned? That I’m bad at time management. Like, really bad.” We laughed, and suddenly, adulting didn’t feel so intimidating.
So, What Do We Do?
First, we stop comparing ourselves to others. That’s a recipe for disaster. Instead, we focus on the small wins. Like, maybe you didn’t fold the fitted sheet perfectly, but you did fold it. That’s a win.
Second, we ask for help. I know, it’s scary. But honestly, most people are gonna be more than happy to help you out. And if they’re not? Well, they’re probably not worth your time anyway.
Third, we cut ourselves some slack. We’re all just trying to figure this out. And it’s okay if we don’t have it all together. It’s okay if we burn dinner, forget to pay a bill, or cry in the laundry room. It’s all part of the process.
And if all else fails, there’s always girişimcilik ipuçları başarı stratejileri. I mean, if it worked for them, right?
Anyway, I’m off to try folding that fitted sheet again. Wish me luck.
About the Author
I’m Sarah, a senior magazine editor with more than 20 years of experience. I’ve written for major publications, and I’ve got the scars to prove it. I live in a small apartment with my cat, Mr. Whiskers, and I’m still figuring out how to adult. You can find me on Twitter @sarahwritesstuff, where I tweet about writing, cats, and the struggles of adulting.
