Ideas on navigating adulthood

Introductory words from ebelechukwu — I will edit this post with new adulting hacks each week. It’s something I wish younger me had to guide her. I hope someone finds it helpful. Some week’s posts are developed into standalone blogs, which are hyperlinked to ease each reader’s experience. Enjoy, anon!

Week 32: Why you’re the right person to start was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 31: When in doubt, do the little things.

Week 30: Take today to really think of who you are as a person. When everyone else leaves, who are you?

Week 29: When something makes you worry/fear, just know that one of two things will happen.

1. It ends up not happening.

2. It happens, but you get through it (no matter how much or how many times it breaks you)

Either way, it passes. Things get better; time works its magic.

Live.

Week 28: Always remember, ezi afa ka ego.

Week 27: How often do you check on yourself? was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 26: Now’s the time to roll up your sleeves was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 25: Of course, I had to write about the Afrobeats series on Netflix was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 24: Here’s an easy guide to introspection was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Weeks 22 & 23: Adiwe eji akpasha etufu eme ọgaranya was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 21: Let me introduce you to my friend, patience was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Weeks 19 & 20: Good things take time was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 18: 5 Tips for Dealing with anxiety

• Turn off your mark as read on WhatsApp. There’s something relaxing about not having those blue ticks and wondering why someone left you on read. Don’t put yourself through that.
• Turn off notifications on social media apps. The only social app that pushes notifications on my phone is WhatsApp. That’s because only close friends, family, and immediate team members have this. So if a text is coming from there, it might be urgent. IG, Twitter, and Tik Tik notifications are some of the easiest ways to get distracted (and anxious).
• Pace yourself. Little drops of water make an ocean and baby steps are steps too. Have a report due? Spread it out.
• Listen to music. At first, the voices in your head might scream louder than the lyrics. Patience. 1 song, then 2, then 3, then the gbedu go enter body.
• Practice breathing exercises. Wait, don’t roll your eyes if you haven’t tried it yet. Every time I find myself running through a million thoughts simultaneously and unable to think one at a time, I force myself to STOP. Then I breathe. Deeep sloooooow breaths. Until my heart beats less and the migraine begins to feel more bearable.

Week 17: Choose your battles wisely, or you’ll wear out easily.

Week 16: Here’s why I try new things was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 15: This weekend, I want to remind you people n’onye nwuru anwu anaghi agba dorime. Lmao. Remember to enjoy the little things.

Week 14: Do you, but most importantly, let people do them.

Week 13: All the adulting tips you need for this week are in Onowu Ugonabu’s ‘Nkpakana ga ama ozo.’ The song also comes with great instrumentals. 10/10. (Link:https://highlifeng.com/onowu-ugonabo-nkpakana-ga-ama-ozo/) What’s your favorite?

Week 12: Having a routine/system will save you time. E.g., I used to waste so much time looking for my house keys. Then I started hanging them on a particular spot and keeping them in a particular space in my bag. At first, it was hard to keep up with this, but then it became a habit. Come home, fling the key on the hook, and keep it moving (sometimes without even thinking about it). These routines apply to several aspects of life.

Week 11: People will tease you for being intentional, seeking serenity, and meditating. They will talk trash about your journaling and say that you’re ‘doing too much’ or ‘taking life too seriously.’ Always remind yourself that an unexamined life isn’t worth living.

Week 10: Stop craving social media attention. So many people who egg you on will turn against you over the slightest non-alignment of values. The examples you might need are everywhere.

Week 9: If you start life trying to impress everyone, you’ll spend most of your younger adulting years trying to pacify everyone. You’d either burn out or be extremely unhappy in the long run. So do you, as long as it doesn’t affect anyone else. Also, normalize minding your business.

Week 8: Let's talk about perseverance, was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 7: Today’s financial habits will pay you a visit in the future. Whether you’re ready for them or not.

Week 6: There’s no big announcement, was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 5: Adaptation, was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 4: Some feedback will pierce like a sword. Take the message, ignore the tone.

Week 3: To experience true growth, you must be willing and ready to own the consequences of your decisions and choices.

Week 2: There’s good, and there’s bad. Focus on the good, was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.

Week 1: It’s ok not to know everything, was developed into a stand-alone post. Please read here.