When life gets tough, some exercise, some drink, others practice gratitude. Me, I choose to write a mildly melodramatic review of adult life as if it’s a product I’m subscribed to.

 Disclaimer: This is a personal review of the product, based on an individual’s lived experience. Your own experience may greatly differ.

Product: ‘Real World’ Adulthood – base level subscription.
Rating ⭐️: 2.5/5
Summary: Arduous, to say the least. But it holds some future promise.

I have been using this version of Adulthood for about 15 months now and I have a few thoughts.

For context, I was previously on the ‘Student’ Adulthood Plan, but that expired upon the completion of my degree. Consequently, I was forced to upgrade to the ‘Real World’ Plan. While the two subscriptions have some overlaps, there is a lot that differs.

Firstly, this plan comes with no set expiry date, it just goes on for an undisclosed amount of time. There are no external structures that set out curriculums and goals for you, everything is in your own hands. Unless working in education, there are no set term times or holiday periods to help demarcate the year – you just have to figure it out.

Speaking of holidays, especially if you are upgrading from ‘Student’ to ‘Real World’, please prepare yourself for severe whiplash. The transition from 4-5 months of holiday a year to 4-5 weeks is unpleasant, to say the least. On top of that, kiss goodbye to the sporadic and mood-flexible working patterns of student life; many employers expect you to work 9-5, day in day out, as a bare minimum. It’s time consuming and utterly exhausting.

I am baffled by those on the family level subscription of Adulthood. I barely have enough energy to handle issues pertaining to me, myself, and I. How people have the strength to raise children in addition to this is beyond me.

This leads me on nicely to the world of quarter-life crises. You may have already experienced one or two, but be prepared for more to spring up.

Unlike its elder brother, the mid-life crisis, quarter-life crises are less costly financially but are just as existential. Feelings of uncertainty and anxiousness arise and life has you questioning everything from your job, to relationships, to your purpose.

At least, that was the case for me. Having deep desires to change, but not knowing how. Feeling isolated and directionless. Querying what the point of existence even is. It’s great.

Another thing to be aware of is the creeping pressure coming from the expectations of others. I have been fortunate enough to experience this in the mildest of forms, but I am not deaf to the whispers. Now I’ve got my MSc, people’s focus has shifted to me getting a Mrs title. But like I said above, I am far from ready to upgrade to the family level subscription, and I will let no one rush me.

Now, I am aware that I have painted a slightly dire picture of this product, it is not all terrible. There is a lot of good and future potential in the ‘Real World’ plan; I’d be remiss to not highlight some of it.

For starters, the freedom is great. Though bound by the constraints of employment hours, all the time outside of the workday is your own. Plus, with the salary work provides, you actually have the freedom to do things, see new places and meet some incredible people. (Case and point, I am currently editing this while sitting in a café in Verona.)

Another upside is seeing yourself continue to grow into a more competent fully formed human being. Through every challenge faced, further self-insight is gained and growth takes place.

In all honesty, a year is too short a period to give a comprehensive review of ‘Real World’ Adulthood. In the grand scheme of things, it’s still early days. The product holds a lot of future promise, but time, patience and persistence are required to unlock it.

I know I am in a privileged position, having started my ‘Real World’ membership on good footing. I am hopeful for the future.

That being said, I still stand firmly by my previously outlined woes. My first impressions of the product left a lot to be desired. At times it even had me questioning whether the entire Adulthood product was a scam.

2.5 stars.