Ten Signs You’re Getting Your Shit Together

We’re all just trying to figure out life. Young adults tend to take adulthood one step at a time, and thinking of the future feels overwhelming. This is normal, and television will depict this stage of life as a rite of passage. Everyday tasks feel like a struggle until you establish a routine. This is when growth occurs.

Nobody becomes fully independent overnight, and it can take years to understand all the complexities of adulthood. This means we will slowly acquire skills and build strength as time progresses. So, it may not feel like you’re getting your shit together, but these little steps eventually culminate into progress.

No matter how much progress you make, it can be easy to discredit growth. There are always people who appear to be doing better or have more defined goals. Usually, we’re just focusing on one aspect of a complex life. Everyone is a work in progress, and there are many signifiers indicating you’re getting your shit together. Any progress in this area is good progress, and nobody fully has their shit together.

You Prioritize Security Over Spending

We all have expenses and financial obligations. After a few years of working, you should have some idea of your monthly commitments and what you need to survive. You should also be aware that you need to have savings in case your income decreases. Often, people use their money to have fun and indulge in luxuries. You’re certainly entitled to have some fun, but money can disappear a lot faster than it can reappear. Having a security blanket can provide more comfort than most other things.

You Question Whether to Rent or Own

Renting an apartment does not mean you’re wasting money, and homeownership isn’t perfect for every situation. Merely weighing the pros and cons means you’re able to establish priorities. Renting allows you to leave an area with relative ease, and the tenant has less responsibility for maintaining the property. Owning allows you to plant roots and the property becomes an asset. Even if you can’t afford a downpayment right now, you can plan for the future and come up with a strategy. Wherever your priorities lie, you’re making the best decision based on personal goals.

You Pay More than the Minimum

If you’re like the majority of young adults, you have some type of debt. The most common culprits are student loans and credit cards, but all loans have one thing in common: they accrue interest. While you’ll never be penalized for paying the minimum, you also allow the maximum interest to accrue. Whenever possible, pay more than the minimum. Work to become debt-free, and you’ll have more freedom than ever before.

You Say No

The more you get your shit together, you start settling for less BS. Sometimes you will see opportunities that have some value, but the cons outweigh the pros. When you’re inexperienced, you’re encouraged to grit your teeth and tolerate these hardships. As you become more established, you learn that you can say no to negative experiences. This doesn’t mean you’ll never need to deal with bullshit again, but it does give you permission to remove some of it from your life.

You Don’t Feel the Need to Agree

Sometimes it’s easier to just agree with others. This might make it easier to get a job done, but it doesn’t improve relationships or advance the process in the future. When you learn to speak up, you’re able to contribute to progress and challenge existing beliefs. While most people value input, some people will view disagreements as a personal attack. When you have the maturity to speak up and the willingness to understand the perspectives of others, you’re in a position where you can work with almost anyone. If someone has an issue with that, it doesn’t need to bother you.

You Don’t Cling Onto Old Relationships

Most people make friends while in school or while working a job. Then, they graduate from those experiences. While some friendships are bound to last, a lot of them are based on convenience. When the distance between you and your old friend widens, it becomes significantly harder to sustain the relationship. If you stop trying to be best friends, you’re not a bad person. People only have the capacity to deal with so many other people. It’s ok to reduce your efforts so you can maintain your personal wellbeing.

You Get Nagged Less

Nobody likes constant reminders to get things done. As you establish your position in society, you can fall into one of two camps. The first camp needs constant reminders and they tend to procrastinate small tasks. The other camp has become reliable. They do what they say and become more dependable. When people don’t need to remind you to get things done, this means you’ve built a trustworthy reputation. You do what you say, and nobody is worried that you’ll flake out.

You’re Prepared For an Emergency

Nobody can predict when a misfortune will occur, but there are ways to deal with them when they pop up. If you have health insurance, AAA, or an emergency fund then you’re in a good position to deal with the unexpected. Of course, we always hope for the best, but this is no substitute for preparation. Preparing for the worst isn’t going to attract bad events, but it will allow you to put them in your past when they do occur.

You Know When to Cut Losses

If you’ve ever been to the movies, there’s a chance you’ve seen a few duds. About 20 minutes into the film you realize you won’t like the movie, but you want to get your money’s worth. At the end, you’ve lost 90 minutes and the cost of the ticket. Very few people will leave twenty minutes into the movie, but the people who leave early have demonstrated a good sense of self-knowledge. They know when to leave a losing situation, and they’re OK accepting some loss when it prevents a greater loss.

You Say You’re “Getting Old”

In my mid-twenties, I would jokingly say “I’m getting old now” when choosing to do something responsible. Maybe it was because I wanted to get to bed early or avoid spicy foods that upset my stomach. Regardless, my “getting old” statements were an indication that I was avoiding reckless behaviors. Being able to prioritize responsibilities over short-term pleasures is an indication you’re thinking about your future. You might not always sound cool, but you’re also not sabotaging your success.

Keeping Your Shit Together

Any sign of progress is a good sign. Sometimes it can be a challenge to maintain the progress, but anyone who is able to establish a basis for independence has some of their shit together. Then, the challenge is to keep your shit together and build upon it. Eventually you will have a better understanding of your personal needs and have a level of stability in your life.

Ultimately, this isn’t a competition. People develop at different rates and they display their results differently. Some people feel the need to boast about their successes on social media, and we begin comparing ourselves to these people. While they might have success in certain areas, they also have shortcomings they’re not sharing.

Frustrations happen, and sometimes we don’t accomplish as much as we’d like. This doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Everytime you plan for your future and think about the longterm game, you’re getting your shit together. There’s no need to think about the past when you can prepare for a stronger future.