Roughly seven in ten Americans think young adults today have a harder time than their parents did when it comes to things like saving for the future (72%), paying for college (71%), and buying a home (70%), according to a survey by the Pew Research Center.
To get a better understanding of the possible struggles, Reddit user Raeraegoawayy asked everyone on the platform to share the "sad realities" of being a grown-up that they believe people entering adulthood should be aware of.
From comments about the daily grind to confessions about their relationships, continue scrolling to check out the replies, and don't miss the conversation we had with mental health thought leader and behavioral economics expert, Joyce Marter — you'll find it in between the entries.
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#21
First, it goes by way faster than you think it will.
Old age doesn't come on gradually. One day you'll just be like, "Dude, I'm old. How the eff did that happen?"
Second, young people are awesome.
Forget all the stereotypes about self-centered, heartless, entitled youth. Young people have an innate ability to say to themselves, "Well, that didn't work out. Oh well, let's do something else."
For young people, screwing up and trying something else, or doing something and realizing it isn't for them, is a part of being young. At some point, we lose that when we get older.
Older people tend to wallow in their mistakes and feel like it's too late to change. They feel trapped in their decisions and obligations.
Working with college students in my 50s, young people have taught me three very important lessons:
1. It's OK to need help.
That's what friends do. My experience has been that young people can be the most loyal and true friends of all.
2. Quit taking life so damn seriously.
There's something funny about pretty much everything, so pull back, take a deep breath, and laugh.
3. It's OK to change and do something else.
You make a mistake? You're not dead! Do something else.
So my advice to young people is: respect youth, learn from them, and they'll respect you back and teach you plenty.
And never lose the qualities I named above.
Old age doesn't come on gradually. One day you'll just be like, "Dude, I'm old. How the eff did that happen?"
Second, young people are awesome.
Forget all the stereotypes about self-centered, heartless, entitled youth. Young people have an innate ability to say to themselves, "Well, that didn't work out. Oh well, let's do something else."
For young people, screwing up and trying something else, or doing something and realizing it isn't for them, is a part of being young. At some point, we lose that when we get older.
Older people tend to wallow in their mistakes and feel like it's too late to change. They feel trapped in their decisions and obligations.
Working with college students in my 50s, young people have taught me three very important lessons:
1. It's OK to need help.
That's what friends do. My experience has been that young people can be the most loyal and true friends of all.
2. Quit taking life so damn seriously.
There's something funny about pretty much everything, so pull back, take a deep breath, and laugh.
3. It's OK to change and do something else.
You make a mistake? You're not dead! Do something else.
So my advice to young people is: respect youth, learn from them, and they'll respect you back and teach you plenty.
And never lose the qualities I named above.
35points
#22
50 years I'm on this planet and I'm sitting here pondering what I can tell you that is a sad reality of being an adult. Nothing really springs to mind other than the daily grind of going to work. Do better in school and you can increase your prospects of having a job that you actually enjoy.
33points
#23
You have to stop eating processed foods.
32points
#24
How lonely it feels. I’m 20, so i’m still in the transitioning period of becoming an adult, and sometimes it’s so lonely because this is where everyone’s life starts to go at different paces & in different directions. You start growing as a person & sometimes that means growing apart from friends you thought you’d be with forever.
31points
#25
Your career can be ruined by other people through little fault of your own.
31points
#26
You can do pretty much anything you want, which is great, but you have to deal with the consequences, which isn't great.
You can stay in bed all day and not work, but you will probably be broke. You can have a big party with your friends, but you have to pay for all the stuff and you have to clean up afterwards.
Basically, you have huge possibilities and opportunities, but it is all down to you.
You can stay in bed all day and not work, but you will probably be broke. You can have a big party with your friends, but you have to pay for all the stuff and you have to clean up afterwards.
Basically, you have huge possibilities and opportunities, but it is all down to you.
29points
#27
People will dislike you and sabotage you for reasons that have nothing to do with you. Oftentimes you have only three choices - tolerate it, leave, or go to war.
Leaving is usually the best option.
Leaving is usually the best option.
29points
#28
None of us have a clue what we're doing or what's going to happen or what we should actually do.
21points
#29
Nothing happens unless you make it happen! A blessing and a curse.
21points
#30
Remember when you were a kid and summer loomed large on the horizon? It took a while to get there but once you did, it was three months of glorious freedom, adventure, and comfortable boredom. When you’re an adult. You don’t get that anymore. You can look forward to your one or two five day vacations a year, or even just a measly three-day weekend, knowing that you’re going to pay the price when you get back to your job and have to catch up on everything that you missed. It’s an endless, plodding existence in cubicle-land. But maybe your office will have a decent vending machine or something.
21points
