Written by Jeffry Carillo

Adulthood came like an overnight trip; from crayons and coloring books to IDs and budgeting techniques. It is indeed true that adulting is just right around the corner, and transitioning from being a teen to a young adult is quite overwhelming. Worry not because I am here to share the list of MUST-HAVE things and skills of adulting life. 

1. Government IDs

Institutions, agencies, and establishments need to know who you are, and to do so, IDs are used. Aside from school identification cards, you must also have government-issued IDs. You can begin with the easiest-to-get ID such as the Postal ID. All you need are two copies of PID application forms, one Proof of Identity—National Statistics Office (NSO), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), or Local Civil Registry-issued birth certificate, SSS UMID Card, a valid passport, or driver’s license—and a Proof of Address like Barangay Certificate of Residency issued within three months, School Billing statement, Credit Card statement, or Utility bill. 

One of the most commonly used is the Philippine Passport. To apply, you need to confirm an online appointment, personal appearance, an accomplished application form, an original and a photocopy of birth certificate authenticated by the PSA, and any of the listed valid IDs here and its one photocopy. 

2. Financial Literacy

Budgeting is one, if not the most, important skill of adulting. A common mistake young adults commit is overspending on their wants as they got used to doing so during their teens. To effectively maximize your budget, you must distinguish, first, the thin line between “needs” and “wants.” It is important to practice the rule of 50/20/30 popularized by Elizabeth Warren—50% of your budget must be allocated to your needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings. 

Learning this technique will not only matter in the present but also in the future.

3. Basic Domestic Skills

Cooking, cleaning, laundering—these are the basic domestic skills most of us fail to recognize as adulting essentials. The majority of people tend to associate these skills with gender roles, but, in reality, no one is going to do it for you except yourself. Sure, fast-food restaurants and service providers exist to present you with a more convenient way, but have you considered their costs? 

Both young adults and adults must know a couple of culinary dishes as they come with a variety of benefits. Aside from a happy tummy, cooking provides healthier food consumption, improves social relationships, and increases creativity. These skills can help you save money too! 

4. Healthy Mindset

Adulthood requires growth and growth demands a healthy mindset. The world does not revolve around you as it was back in Christmas of 2009 so is speaking what’s on your mind regardless of what others would feel. 

Empathy, sympathy, and self-understanding play a vital role in entering adulthood. Yet, these are the aspects being challenged especially during the pandemic. But as we adapt to the new normal, try improving these by putting your feet on someone else’s shoe to see situations from their perspective as hasty judgment is still the prime pitfall of most adults. 

Impulsive responses and immediate reactions will never do good nor improve the circumstance. 

5. Rest

Most adults believe that the key to success is hard work—this is, in fact, right and wrong. It is right in a sense that working hard often comes with a myriad of good things that the majority of people choose to do, so much so that working hard leads to toxic living habits and unhealthy daily routines. This is where it goes wrong. 

Excessive adult hustlers forget to take a rest that oftentimes resting becomes a negative activity. In most cases, rest has been associated with laziness.

Rest is more than just a four-letter word as it comes with helpful benefits for our health. Forbes stated that resting helps our body to heal, reduce stress, and increase our productivity. Summa Health added a few benefits such as sharper brain response, mood improvement, and a healthier heart. 

Working hard is good, and so is resting. As you invest your time in ensuring your future, may you never forget about your health because, as the saying goes, “the greatest wealth is health.”

Here are our top 5 things and skills adults must-have. More than the material things, adults must add to their long list of must-haves to focus on intangible self-improvement skills as well because adulting is not merely measured by countless valid IDs you have in your pocket but also in the way of thinking and the kind of mentality you practice.

Sources:

Goldman, R. (2017, October 12). 7 ways home cooking beats ordering takeout. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/home-cooking-versus-takeout

Heyl, J. C. (2022, April 29). Mental health benefits of cooking your own meals. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-benefits-of-cooking-your-own-food-5248624#toc-cooking-increases-social-connection

Summa Health. (2020, February 17). 7 health benefits to getting a good night’s rest. https://www.summahealth.org/flourish/entries/2020/02/7-health-benefits-to-getting-a-good-nights-rest

Wolfson, J. A., & Bleich, S. N. (2014). Is cooking at home associated with better diet quality or weight-loss intention? Public Health Nutrition, 18(8), 1397–1406. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980014001943

WomensMedia. (2021, January 15). The benefits of resting and how to unplug in a busy world. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2021/01/15/the-benefits-of-resting-and-how-to-unplug-in-a-busy-world/?sh=4e2eba221338