The 25 Worst Things About Being an Adult, In GIFs

The struggle of being grown.

February 19, 2013

Not Available Lead — Image via Complex Original

Growing up is a painful process. The illusion of what adulthood might entail (a sprawling apartment in a luxe high rise, financial independence, emotional stability) is often trumped by its jarring reality (a cramped studio, bills stacked to the sky, crying into your bag of Cheetos). What's a twenty-something to do?

We could cry about the unfairness of it all, but we'd rather sit on our grown-up furniture drinking cheap red wine and laughing about it.

Here's to the struggles of growing up: The 25 Worst Things About Being an Adult, In GIFs.

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We could cry about the unfairness of it all, but we'd rather sit on our grown-up furniture drinking cheap red wine and laughing about it.

Here's to the struggles of growing up: The 25 Worst Things About Being an Adult, In GIFs.

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You get mad when you miss out on social events, but are mostly too sleepy to care.

When you realize fifteen minutes at the gym will no longer cut it.

Eight hours of your day are devoted to working, not day drinking.

Realizing a futon is no longer acceptable apartment decor.

When your parents kick you off their family plan, forcing you to pay your own cell phone bill.

Your parents kick you off their family plan, forcing you to pay your own cell phone bill.

Sometimes you're too tired to have sex.

If you eat your weight in Cheetos one night, you will actually gain your weight in Cheetos.

When your friends think you know how to cook, and you actually can't.

You have to actually listen to your voicemails.

You have to pay rent.

When you get way, way too excited about gaining an extra hour of sleep from Daylight Savings Time.

Getting way, way too excited about gaining an extra hour of sleep from Daylight Savings Time.

If you go out drinking, you're unable to move or form full sentences until 5 p.m. the next day.

Your metabolism is too slow to eat fast food. You do it anyway, and self-pity immediately sets in.

You're forced to quit your job and find an actual career.

You realize drinking doesn't actually count as a hobby, and people expect you to be, you know, cultured.

You have to pay back the massive sum that is your student loans.

You start going to bed at 10 p.m., because you have to be up at 6 a.m. for work, and yes, because you're fucking tired.

You're required to eat all sorts of gross things for the sake of your health. (FOH, wheatgrass shots and quinoa.)

Your looks start rapidly declining. You'll never be more attractive, or have less grey hair than you do right this very moment.

Your Facebook news feed becomes a shrine to engagement rings and babies.

You're discouraged from punching other people in the face, regardless of how much they deserve it.

You're discouraged from punching other people in the face, even if they deserve it.

Your mailbox is full of bills, not money-filled cards from relatives.

Your mailbox is now full of bills, not money-filled cards from relatives.

Your body starts to work against you, rather than for you.

Your body starts to conspire against you.

You never see your friends because they're too busy shopping at the farmer's market with their significant other.

When you realize your best years are already behind you.

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The 25 Worst Things About Being an Adult, In GIFs

The struggle of being grown.

You get mad when you miss out on social events, but are mostly too sleepy to care.

You get mad when you miss out on social events, but are mostly too sleepy to care.

When you realize fifteen minutes at the gym will no longer cut it.

When you realize fifteen minutes at the gym will no longer cut it.

Eight hours of your day are devoted to working, not day drinking.

Eight hours of your day are devoted to working, not day drinking.

Realizing a futon is no longer acceptable apartment decor.

Realizing a futon is no longer acceptable apartment decor.

When your parents kick you off their family plan, forcing you to pay your own cell phone bill.

Your parents kick you off their family plan, forcing you to pay your own cell phone bill.

Sometimes you're too tired to have sex.

Sometimes you're too tired to have sex.

If you eat your weight in Cheetos one night, you will actually gain your weight in Cheetos.

If you eat your weight in Cheetos one night, you will actually gain your weight in Cheetos.

When your friends think you know how to cook, and you actually can't.

When your friends think you know how to cook, and you actually can't.

You have to actually listen to your voicemails.

You have to actually listen to your voicemails.

You have to pay rent.

You have to pay rent.

When you get way, way too excited about gaining an extra hour of sleep from Daylight Savings Time.

Getting way, way too excited about gaining an extra hour of sleep from Daylight Savings Time.

If you go out drinking, you're unable to move or form full sentences until 5 p.m. the next day.

If you go out drinking, you're unable to move or form full sentences until 5 p.m. the next day.

Your metabolism is too slow to eat fast food. You do it anyway, and self-pity immediately sets in.

Your metabolism is too slow to eat fast food. You do it anyway, and self-pity immediately sets in.

You're forced to quit your job and find an actual career.

You're forced to quit your job and find an actual career.

You realize drinking doesn't actually count as a hobby, and people expect you to be, you know, cultured.

You realize drinking doesn't actually count as a hobby, and people expect you to be, you know, cultured.

You have to pay back the massive sum that is your student loans.

You have to pay back the massive sum that is your student loans.

You start going to bed at 10 p.m., because you have to be up at 6 a.m. for work, and yes, because you're fucking tired.

You start going to bed at 10 p.m., because you have to be up at 6 a.m. for work, and yes, because you're fucking tired.

You're required to eat all sorts of gross things for the sake of your health. (FOH, wheatgrass shots and quinoa.)

You're required to eat all sorts of gross things for the sake of your health. (FOH, wheatgrass shots and quinoa.)

Your looks start rapidly declining. You'll never be more attractive, or have less grey hair than you do right this very moment.

Your looks start rapidly declining. You'll never be more attractive, or have less grey hair than you do right this very moment.

Your Facebook news feed becomes a shrine to engagement rings and babies.

Your Facebook news feed becomes a shrine to engagement rings and babies.

You're discouraged from punching other people in the face, regardless of how much they deserve it.

You're discouraged from punching other people in the face, even if they deserve it.

Your mailbox is full of bills, not money-filled cards from relatives.

Your mailbox is now full of bills, not money-filled cards from relatives.

Your body starts to work against you, rather than for you.

Your body starts to conspire against you.

You never see your friends because they're too busy shopping at the farmer's market with their significant other.

You never see your friends because they're too busy shopping at the farmer's market with their significant other.

When you realize your best years are already behind you.

When you realize your best years are already behind you.

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