The Three Parameters of Adulthood
Eighteen is the age of freedom, the age of escape. Suddenly the clock hits 12, and we can now do all sorts of things that we couldn’t do a second before (unless you are one of the kinds of people who did whatever they wanted and refused to follow the rules). For me, adulthood came much later than I was 18. My clock has struck at 23. And now I wonder how I grew into the person I am today. I’ve tried separating my life into segments as I reflect. Let’s see what I learned in these different parts of my life.
So there is the Early Years phase, that will run from when I was born until I joined school. And then, we can divide the school years into Early, Middle and High. After that we enter into the University phase. Once we are done with that, we are finally in the Practical phase, which is more or less the ‘job’ phase of my life. Out of all of these, the greatest difference I’ve felt in my life was when I transitioned into the Practical phase. And that’s when I became an adult (or was forced into one).
The Practical phase is like nothing else you’ve ever seen. Or maybe it was like nothing I’d ever seen. I’d seen others do it, of course. But I had never, myself, expected the gravity of the change. Let’s go over the changes I’ve felt as I approach the end of the third week of my first ever job. (Yes, I’ve yet to receive my first paycheck, I may be biased.)
Time
It’s gone. You only get two days of the week to complete all your ‘life tasks’ and relax at the same time. And like most people, you won’t get time to relax. Or maybe, like me, you won’t know how to relax. In all the years prior, you had lots of free time, and you didn’t know it (or you took it for granted).
In school, you’d be free by 2PM, and you could whatever after that. I was a relatively good student in school, so I never had to put in much time for my studies. This changed a little in university. The timings increased a little, but they also varied greatly. Sometimes you’d get free at 12 in the afternoon or, sometimes, it’ll be 7 in the evening.
But regardless of all that, it had significant breaks in between. But now, it’s straight sitting for 8 (or 9) hours. The idea of being stuck there is haunting. You can’t do anything other that your work. And if you don’t have any work due, you’ll find ways to pass (read: waste) the time. That wastage scares me. Maybe I need to manage my time better.
Energy
It’s gone. Unless you have an amazing stamina at not getting bored, drained and stressed at the same time. You will feel any one of these (or all of these) feelings while in the office. That’s when it turns ugly. You need to find ways to avoid boredom at work. Keep changing your daily routine and interact with new people.
The feeling of being drained is the worst. It usually stems from external causes and manifests itself in the mundane environment of the corporate world. You need to be well fed, well slept and well dressed. You also need to stay away from stress. Stay positive. Worrying about something that hasn’t happened isnt’ a very healthy way of living. And if something bad has happened, worrying about it won’t help in that case either.
It’s easy to say that but your mental energy is most crucial. Take regular breaks. Find ‘fun’ things to do. Merge in minor hobbies into your daily work life. Maybe you can draw something or write something. Do something different and recharge on the go.
Money
It finally arrives (unless you were earning before this). But the quantity is obviously greater here. Money brings freedom. But that too at a price. And that price is Time and Energy. What is the freedom that this Money will grant you? Let’s see.
You can now pay for your own fuel. So now you’re free to move around the city. You have achieved social mobility. You can now pay for mobile credit. That will give you the freedom to be connected to the internet and be in touch with anyone on the go. You can now pay for utilities. Turn up the air conditioner as much as you want!
Money will allow you to live a better life. But remember, it’s up to you to make it better. Money alone won’t do it. Money brings with it the power of change. Use it and change lives for the better. And don’t waste it. Save it wisely and grow it as much as you can. However, always remember that money isn’t everything.
Together, these three parameters can fit every part of life. When you were a kid, you had time and energy but you didn’t have money. And there will be a time when you’ll have money and time but you’ll be out of energy. Try and balance these parameters as much possible. This is the only life you’ll get. So learn to live life wisely.
