Adulting: “the practice of behaving in a way characteristic of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks.”

The word “adulting,” once just a novelty concept (like “friending” on FB) is officially part of the English language. If you don’t know the term then maybe you’ve been living under a rock the last few years because even UC Berkeley has a class called “Adulting 101.”  The idea of adulting is now a part of our modern society and there are several ways you know for sure you are doing these adult type things.

Here are five ways you know you are adulting.

1.You get a pet

Getting a pet as a young adult ether single or as a couple is like the gateway drug to adulting. Once you get a pet (in my case a dog) you are undoubtedly adulting and it may even lead to more serious ways of adulting! Having a pet to care for shifts your day to day responsibilities immediately and you can never go back to the carefree non pet life. (I can only imagine what having a child would be like: which is of course is next level adulting. More on when to know if you’re ready to get a pet in another post!

2.Home Decor

You’re excited about home decor and invest in area rugs, a king size mattress (and a bed frame: if you don’t have a frame, you are not adulting, IMO), and fancy garbage cans.

I recently bought a rose gold Simple Human garbage can and it was literally the highlight of my week. 

3.Staying in on a Friday night

After a long work week, all you dream of doing is staying in on a Friday enjoying a new show to binge on (BH90210?!) with your dog, a glass of wine and a Postmates order. (My current Friday night consist of: watching The Affair, drinking red wine, with Thai food.)

4.A full tank of gas, picked up dry cleaning, paid bills and a stocked fridge

Getting all your errands done, bills paid, having a full tank of gas (because getting stuck somewhere without gas is the opposite of adulting) and having a stocked fridge is major. These days I always have sparkling water, wine, ice coffee and Diet Coke in my fridge — OMG who am I?

5.A clean house

Blocking off time for the house cleaner to come over and help her/him clean and organize is very adult. The smell and beauty of a clean house is unparalleled.

So there it is: adulting. It’s a thing.

Start shopping like an adult: