Kiran Athar
It’s natural as we get older to strive towards being an adult who has their life together (in other words, is mature and responsible).
But with life’s ups and downs, it can be hard to know whether you’re hitting that goal, or missing it completely!
So, let’s clear up those doubts.
Here are 12 signs you’re a mature, responsible adult, even if you don’t feel like you are!
1. You’re independent
One of the biggest transitions into real adulthood is being self-reliant and independent.
If you’re able to:
- Look after yourself
- Take care of your responsibilities
- Have confidence in your decisions
You’re off to a good start, and this is definitely a sign you’re a mature, responsible adult!
Even if you don’t feel like you are, by taking action and not relying on others to get things done, you’re proving that you can face life’s challenges by drawing upon your own experiences and using common sense.
2. You take accountability for your actions
But being a mature, responsible adult isn’t just about looking after yourself, it’s about taking accountability and ownership for your actions.
Here’s an example:
Two people at work both make the same mistake. One of them tries to downplay it, avoid talking about it, and gets defensive when it’s brought up.
The other holds their hands up, apologizes to the team, and works quickly to find a solution.
It’s pretty clear who the responsible, mature adult is in this situation.
So, if you can recognize your faults and work hard to rectify them, it doesn’t matter how many times you fail – you’re still more mature than you realize!
3. You’re sensible with your money
Another sign you’re a mature, responsible adult is that you’re on top of your finances.
And by this, I mean:
- Knowing how to budget
- Setting aside money each month for savings
- Keeping on top of your outgoings and expenses
Put simply – you’re not running out of money mid-month and having to ask parents for help!
Being financially responsible is one thing that sets mature adults apart from the rest.
So, even if you don’t always feel like you’re “adulting” right, if you’ve got your finances in order, you’re doing a good job.
4. You keep an open mind
As we get older and mature, we (should) realize that we don’t know everything and that learning never stops.
In other words – it’s important to keep an open mind!
So, when was the last time you tried something new?
Are you open to hearing different viewpoints, even if they contradict your own?
Mature, responsible adults know the importance of getting out of their comfort zone and sharing ideas with people, especially for self-development and growth!
5. You prioritize your health
Another sign you’re a mature, responsible adult is if you look after your health.
Prioritizing things such as:
- Getting enough sleep at night
- Eating well and staying hydrated
- Looking after your mental health
- Exercising and stretching regularly
You see, it’s easy to neglect our health when we’re young, but once we reach adulthood, it should be our number one focus!
So, if you naturally do the above, even if you don’t feel like you’re a mature adult, you’re still showing you’ve got your priorities straight.
6. You’re empathetic
But it’s not just our bodies that need our attention and kindness – as we get older, we start to realize how important our connections with others are.
And one way we can strengthen those bonds is by showing empathy.
Empathy is putting yourself in the shoes of someone else, to help you understand what they’re going through.
And if you do that for your family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers on the street, this is a very good sign that you’re a mature, responsible adult, even if you don’t feel like you are!
7. You handle conflicts maturely
No one likes conflict – especially mature adults.
But that doesn’t mean we’re immune to them! The difference is responsible adults don’t engage in toxic conflict.
They know how to approach an issue with a calm head and clear communication skills.
Even if the person they’re dealing with is being hot-headed or unreasonable, a mature person won’t stoop down to their level…or get pulled into the drama.
So, if you’re able to handle conflicts in a way that minimizes the damage and focuses on solutions rather than playing the blame game, well done!
This is a big sign of maturity, even if you don’t feel like you are, handling conflict comes with having a sensible approach and a good grip on your own emotions.
8. You’re adaptable
Now, we’ve already mentioned being open-minded, and this very much ties in with that point.
When you’re adaptable, you’re able to go with the flow and change plans without getting stressed or annoyed.
You recognize that life doesn’t always go the way we want it to!
And this is another sign of being mature. Let’s say you’ve been looking forward to going to a concert with a friend for months, but on that day, they have to cancel due to an emergency.
Instead of getting bummed out and ruining the evening, you accept that the original plan isn’t going to work, so you find someone else to go with you.
Or better yet…you go alone!
This shows you’re responsible enough to handle change when it’s thrown at you and mature enough to deal with disappointment when plans don’t go the way you’d hoped.
9. You have good time management skills
Are you the type who rushes out of the door, unprepared, stressed, and anxious?
Or are you the type of person who leaves five minutes early, has their bags packed the night before and arrives to work cool, calm, and collected?
If it’s the second option, it’s another sign you’re a mature, responsible adult!
Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but time management skills show that you’re dedicated to your commitments. It also shows that you’re organized and are good at planning ahead!
If that doesn’t scream sensible adult, I don’t know what does!
10. You’ve left bad habits in the past
Bad habits can range anywhere from smoking to toxic behaviors, and if you’ve left them in the past, you’re nailing being a mature, responsible adult.
But with that being said, of course, some mature adults still smoke, or who still eat too much junk food.
We all have bad habits – the difference between being mature and being immature is that the former tries to work on changing these habits. The latter doesn’t.
So, even if you haven’t completely quit all your bad habits, don’t worry. If you’re aware of them and are taking steps to work on yourself, you’re off to a good start!
11. You think about others
Another sign you’re a mature, responsible adult is if you don’t just think about yourself – you also think about those around you.
Whether that’s
- Making sure your family is well cared for
- Thinking of their needs
- Being conscious of the consequences your actions have on others
It’s an important sign of maturity.
Even if you don’t have kids, if you’re looking out for friends, neighbors, or even people in the wider community, it shows you’re responsible and you care for other people!
12. You have strong boundaries
Strong boundaries are essential for everyone to have, but it’s usually when we mature and reach adulthood that we start to really enforce these limits.
A good example of this is being able to set boundaries at work.
Let’s say your boss keeps asking you to take on extra tasks, but you’re already swamped with work and feeling tired and stressed out.
Rather than dig yourself into a deeper hole, you’ll explain to your boss that you’re working at maximum capacity and to keep working productively, you can’t take on any more tasks.
You see when you put this boundary in place, it shows you’re a) responsible and committed to doing a good job, and b) mature enough to know when to say no before you suffer from burnout!
Hopefully, you’ve got a better idea now of what type of adult you are. If you found most of these points relatable, it’s a great sign that you’ve developed into a mature and responsible adult, so be proud!
And if not?
It’s never too late to start making small changes. Keep a note of the points above and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to adulting like a pro!
