Learning to Adult Does Not Have to Be Hard

The “Grown Up U” podcasts are designed to help young adults have more successes than failures.

By Alison Crane
How do you know when you are an adult? Often, it is gradually taking on the responsibilities and things adults do on a regular basis and then one day it hits you that you are an adult.

A few years ago, millennials changed the noun, “adult” to a verb. To quote my own young adult children, “I don’t want to adult today.” According to the Oxford Languages website, “Adulting is the practice of behaving in a way characteristic of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks.”

Basically, adulting requires life skills for one to live sufficiently as an independent adult, able to make choices on everything from paying bills to shopping for the best value for foods and other household items.

To help young people gain reliable information for all those adulting tasks they are taking on, the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service developed a podcast show called, “Grown Up U: Facts for Success.” Family and Consumer Sciences Agents across the state work together to create podcast episodes relevant to young people to give them free sound advice as they are taking steps to become independent adults.

The “Grown Up U” podcasts are designed to help young adults have more successes than failures by sharing research-based advice for topics such as how to buy a car, paying taxes, getting along with coworkers and roommates, and more. The goal is that listening to these short, informative podcasts will help remove some of the stress of “adulting.” The podcast team has also created free resources for educators and parents to be able to use the podcasts in their classrooms or for family discussion.

“Grown Up U: Facts for Success” can be listened to on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Pandora. The podcast and resources can also be accessed through our Extension website www.uaex.uada.edu/grown-up/. For more information about adulting or “Grown Up U,” contact Alison Crane at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu.

Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Share:

On Key

Related Posts

Bitty Martin’s New Novel Will Be Released in March 

(L to R) Johnette Connelly Taylor, niece of “Killer Wife” first victim, Joe Connelly; Evaline Rowland Connelly (no relation to Johnette), sister of the third victim, Don Rowland; and Bitty Martin, author.  Bitty Martin has completed her second Hot Springs true crime, Killer Wife: The True Story of Bonnie Connelly and the Men

SIGNS: MARCH 2026 – Eclipse & Equinox: The Turning Point of March 2026 

By Chana Prince Greetings Fellow Travelers,   March 2026 carries powerful turning-point energy. The Total Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse in Virgo on March 3 brings emotional insight and practical clarity. Virgo asks for refinement—health, habits, work, and daily devotion come into focus. What feels messy now is ready to be organized with

Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Show 

Thousands of plants will be for sale at the Garden Show.  Save the date – Garland County Master Gardeners will be holding their annual Plant Sale and Garden Show one day only on Saturday, April 25, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Garland County Fairgrounds. Entry is free

Master Gardeners: Springtime is just around the Corner… 

by Susan Koenig  Springs around the corner.Our excitement builds. Our need to dig in the dirt will soon be fulfilled. We’re planning our gardens and shopping seed catalogs. We’re preparing our pots and watching video blogs. We’re dreaming of the garden and buying seeds and plants, And figuring how to get rid of the squash bugs and ants! The sun’s rays