Food

Whether you are student living on campus or living on your own you will most likely need to buy yourself food. Some students have food plans but still like to buy their own food. And depending how much you work you may not have a lot of time to make yourself food. Either way, you have to keep many things in mind when you go shopping for your food.

1. Expiry Date: It doesn't matter if you are at school or work there may not be time to keep your eye on the food. It may seem easy to go out and buy all the food you had at your parents house and all of the food you were never allowed to have. The problem is that that food was easy to forget the date it expires. You may find that the milk you bought to have with your cereal has quickly gone bad because you are only having a cup here and there. Before buying anything it is important that you know whether or not you can eat all of it before it goes bad.

2. Food Plan: It is easy to buy everything that looks good while at the grocery store. If you try this way you may find that you eat all the food you thought you liked right away and don't have the food you need for dinners. The best way to get around this is food planning. Write down everything you plan on eating that week and in that way you will also save money by planning affordable meals. Now I know this is not realistic all the time, I myself can't always stick to my plans, but if you do stick with it you can easily get the food you need at a reasonable price.

3. Healthy: Most people say that they are going to eat healthy once they move away from home. This is a fact that is rarely kept to. By keeping to number 2 on this list you will be able to keep to healthy schedule. There is no problem with fitting in a bit of unhealthy food into your schedule as well but only in smaller amounts. I am of course a hypocrite when I say this but it doesn't mean that it isn't true.

In the end I hope you will do what you want, but keep these things in mind next time you head out shopping. 

Bed

Believe it or not sleep is the best way to get ahead in life. Without a proper nights rest you aren't able to function at your best. What some people don't know is that, even though they are sleeping a reasonable amount of time, they still aren't getting the right ratio of sleep to make it effective.

Each age group needs a set amount of sleep every night. When you move out of home you are in the age group looking to get around 9-10 hours if you are still in your teens, or 7-8 hours if you are classified as 'an adult'. This might seem like a lot to those of you who like to stay up late and get up early but in the long run you are benefiting.

If you miss getting the recommended amount of sleep every night your body needs to catch up. So if you are only sleeping four hours during the week when you are busy you will need to sleep for up to 12 hours on the weekend to catch up properly. But if you leave this too long then your body will lose what it needs to catch up on and you will not be able to catch up on those hours you lost.

Getting the right amount of sleep isn't going to help you, though, if you don't get it at the right time. If you are going to sleep at different times every night (within a large variable of time) then you are throwing off you 'sleep cycle'. To ensure that your body understands when to start going into sleep mode you must go to bed at around the same time every night. Of course, being a few hours off doesn't matter every now and then.

Sleeping in a proper environment works as well. Before going to sleep it is important not to hinder your sleep with anything. Eating food or drinking water right before going to bed will keep you up longer and will make it harder to stay asleep. Being too hot or too cold will also make sleeping that much harder making your resting time not as valuable.

I'm sure by now a lot of your are shaking your heads thinking, "sleeping sounds a lot harder than it should be". It actually isn't so hard if you have a planned list and are able to get into habit easily. Here is what I recommend:
1. With class or work try to plan a schedule around what time is best to go to sleep to get the most amount of rest.
2. If you can't afford to sleep the recommended time then plan small breaks in your day to lie down and close your eyes.
3. If you miss sleep set time aside to pick it up. Taking a nap in the middle of the day (keeping it about an hour and a half) can help you catch up if you do it properly.
4. Make sure you eat something about an hour before you plan to go to bed. Drinking water around this time may also help and it gives your body sufficient time to flush itself so you don't have to get up through the night.
5. Keep the environment you are sleeping in a constant, reasonable temperature for your sleep. If it is the middle of a hot summer point a silent fan at yourself to keep cool. In the winter have a warm blanket and a decent amount of heat.

With all of that being said I must now inform you that I am by no means a sleep expert. For that you must go online to do research, speak with your doctor, or talk to someone who truly knows what they are doing. You must know and understand that sleep is important to helping you function and reduce stress in your everyday life.

Stay healthy and sleep well my friends. 

Parties

If you are new to the moving out of home thing there is a good chance you are looking to explore new (or maybe not all that new) ways of having friends with your friends. When you start collage or university you will start hearing about parties that will be all over the place. While it is not realistic to expect people to avoid parties all together there are things that need to be kept in mind while starting into your adult years.

At school you are essentially there to pass your classes and get your degree/experience needed to get a good job in the real world. Depending on where you live school might be quite expensive or it might be paid for by parents/government/taxpayers/ect. Either way, you are there to learn not just to party.
That being said, just because you are there to learn doesn't mean you can't have fun. Parties are a good way to meet people, relax, have fun, and get away from all of the studying. Drinking in regulated amounts can be good to relax yourself while in the company of good friends.
But it is when alcohol is consumed in large amounts with little water in the system that accidents happen. Hangovers may prevent you from going to classes, paying attention properly, and sometimes over use of alcohol can lead to hospital stays whether it be from poisoning or injuries.
If you plan on attending parties within the school setting it is important to think before you decide to go. What time do you have to get up in the morning? Who is going to the party? What is my limit?
These are things you must keep in mind. It is important to know that your education is more important than your social life. In the future when you look back on your school days you may wish that instead of partying all the time that you have done just a little bit better in school. You may not, but why take the chance?

In the workplace many times employers discourage showing up to work hungover. But depending on your job you may need to unwind at night with a little bit of a drink. So when your friends invite you for a night out with a few more people invited, who are you to say no?
But sometimes instead of going out to drink to feel better it might be best to have a small drink at home, eat a good meal, and get a good sleep. Believe it or not this will make you feel better over time than drinking. It is better for your liver and better for your work ethic.
This isn't to say that you can't go to the bar with your friends every now and then or even go to a party on a campus or in a domestic setting. But it isn't something that should be done ever night. At the time it might feel better for yourself but in the long run it is wearing your body down and making you feel even worse during the day.
It is up to you as an adult to make decisions based on how much you care about your job. There will come a time in your life when you will have to stop going to crazy parties and focus on your future. Whether you choose to do that now or later is completely up to you.

When you live with another person going to parties becomes a whole different thing all together. If you go to a party there is a good chance you will be with your partner. If you don't go with your partner then you will have to be careful not to have too much fun or it will put your relationship on the edge.
Parties can be fun if you go together with a partner but keep in mind that the same things apply to those who are working full time. You have to focus on keeping the job you have, keeping good relations, and making sure you remain healthy. If you believe you can continue with your life in a healthy condition and still attend parties on a regular basis then by all means do so. It is up to you as a responsible adult to decide what is best for your future and wellbeing.

With all of this being said it is time to assure yourself that you are young and have a long time before big choices have to be made. But even though you are young you need to look towards your future as soon as possible. Parties with friends might be fun but it is also important to know that when all of your partying days are over you are not left with regret.
Keep all of this in mind when you are choosing what you do tonight. You might find that having a quiet night at home will be more beneficial in the long run than drinking yourself into a coma (not that I assume most people do this).

Moving Out

Alright so you have come to the decision that it is time to leave the nest. You may be going to University, College, getting married, starting work on your own, or any other career choice you choose to take. The fact remains that you are in fact leaving the house and are looking for a place to stay.
It is unlikely that you will be moving directly into a house of your own unless you have been saving up. The most likely place for people first leaving home after high school is an apartment or dorm room.
When choosing a place to stay, depending on your situation, there are a few different things you need to keep in mind:
1. Location
~ If you are going to continue your education at a College or University there is a chance you might be staying on campus or with friends. If you are on campus then you will have already got a place. But if you are staying off campus for school you need to make sure that you are within a reasonable walking, driving, or riding distance from the school. Depending on weather walking may not be an issue. But when living in places with harsh winters (Canada for me) it is good to know a location with a bus route to the school or near to someone you know can carpool with you. If you have a car it is easier for you to get to school and therefore you are able to live further away, although you will have to keep in mind the price of gas.
~ If you are going right into the workforce you will need to keep in mind location to your possible place of work. Of course you should already have a job in line before you move so that there is no problem with location or money situation. If you work downtown the housing will be more expensive so it might be more efficient to live a bit away to save money and take transportation in.
~ Maybe you are now starting a family and are unsure what you want to do with your life. If you don't already have a job but your spouse or significant other does have a job it might be best to move close to their job and look for jobs in the area. Keep in mind when choosing a place if you have not completed or decided on continuing education that there are plenty of schools all over the place. It might be worth while to pick a place close to one of these schools in case you change your mind and decide to go to school again.
2. Price
~ When moving into a place when you are starting or continuing your schooling there is a chance that money is now becoming more important than ever. While living on campus may seem to be a little more expensive than living off you need to keep in mind that if you are moving to a place you don't know much about it may be hard to know where is the right place to live.
Living on campus is, in most cases, more expensive. The plus side to spending your first year on campus is that it gives you an entire year to decide whether or not you like the city, what the city is like, and where the best places to living would be depending on the weather. It would also give you the opportunity to meet new people and decide if you and your friends could live together in the years to come.
If you choose to live off campus it will be worthwhile to go up to the city you are moving to and take a look around the town to see what you will have around you. Also look for roommates or other people looking for someone to live with them who go to the same school. They will be able to help you get used to going to and from school when the need comes and living with other people will reduce the cost of living in a home.
~ If you already have a job or are going to get a job finding a place to live for a reasonable price is essential. It might be necessary to get a roommate for a couple of years until you have enough income to live on your own. There is also the need to factor in costs such as utilities like water, heat, internet, and not to mention food costs. Living outside of a town sometimes costs less than living in a big city so weigh distance to cost when choosing a place to live.
~ When starting a family it may be easier to find a place to live. With more than one income going to the same place finding a reasonably priced home/apartment near the workplace shouldn't be hard if the two of you spend a good amount of time looking. Just make sure it is something you like because moving into a place could mean having to stay there for a few years before being able to move again.
3. Roommates
~ When living on campus or in a house you will need to chose between sharing a room with roommates or having a single room.
If you are staying on your own you need to understand that having a single room will cost you more money. If you are a person who likes to be alone this might be the ideal setting for you. It will be quieter and you don't have to worry about when to go to bed so not to annoy your roommate. But if you like to be alone this can hinder your attempt to make friends because there is no one to prompt you to go out and no one else to talk to all the time.
If you are looking to save a little money you can opt to share a room with 1 to 3 roommates depending what options are available to you. This can be good for friendships and learning how to live properly with other people. Don't believe all of the rumours that all roommates hate each other. I had a very good relationship with my roommate and many institutions now work to fit people who are alike in many ways together. This advice also counts for those who chose to live off campus.
~ If you are going into the workforce and can't afford to purchase a house (which is the most likely option) getting a roommate will allow you to save up some of your earnings to buying a house in the future. It also gives you time to figure out where you want to be and if you really want to live in the city you are in.
~ If you are in a relationship and you are moving into a place there is an unlikely chance you will need to have roommates. You and your significant other should be able to handle it on your own when you decide to move, but if you find it necessary make sure that your roommates understand the relationship you are in. There is nothing worse than moving in with two people only to realize they are in a stable relationship. Honesty is the only way to get a good roommate and have a good relationship.
4. Transportation
~ After figuring out the right place for a dorm off campus you will need to know how to get to school. In a larger city it isn't hard to find a bus to get to school. In some towns it is even possible to walk to school depending on how the winters in the area are. If you are going to be having late classes it is unlikely you will want to walk home alone in the dark.
To have a car on campus is expensive to pay for parking unless the cost is included in tuition, but that being said it often makes the price of tuition go up. If walking isn't possible for you weigh your options between a bus or paying for parking on or near campus. Carpooling with friends is also an option or taking a taxi when it is necessary. Depending on your physical state you could also buy a bike and ride to school (there is nothing wrong with a little exercise if you are able)
~ When working depending on location you ill need to choose between some of the same options as with living off campus. Although with a stable income you might find it easier to drive into work everyday and live further away rather than walk, bike, or take the bus. A taxi is always a last minute option if you are out in a storm, but if parking is available for free near your work place then you will be able to drive and, therefore, live further away from workplace.
~ If you are in a stable relationship you will be able to hitch rides or give rides to your significant other. You may never need to go out if you are working from home or are trying to get your life together. But keep in mind what you might want to do in the future and plan to have transportation to get around if you are unable to drive for whatever reason. Knowing the bus routes in your area (if you have them) is important. Being able to ride your bike long distances is a valuable thing to have when you don't know how you are going to get where you need to go.

These are all important things that need to be kept in mind when you have decided to move out of the house. Location is probably the most important thing you need to keep in mind. When choosing a location the things to keep in mind are price, roommates (which sort of factors into the price), and transportation. Without factoring all of this into your equation to find the ideal place to stay in for however long you choose to stay there you may find that you are unprepared for all that you need to face to create a good future for yourself.
That being said, just because you don't take this into consideration doesn't mean you are going to have a bad time in your location you choose. You may find this information to be useless to you in the end. That's just fine.
This information isn't here to tell what you NEED to do to find a good place but to give you advice in case you are unsure to start when looking. All of this is just help to guide you along your path to 'adulthood' depending on how you would define it. 

Introduction

Good day my friends. If you are reading this post there is a good chance you have already, or are planning to, move away from home. Whether you are joining the workforce or going off to post-secondary school you are going to be leaving the comforts of home eventually and plan to make the most of being an 'adult'.
This blog is going to be a place where I can post advice to you, as someone who has survived (so far) my first year moving away from home successfully. I have a lot of advice for those of you who are want to make the most of their time away and either get a good education or make it through the workforce without losing your minds.
Obviously my experiences will be a lot different than most of yours and the situations you find yourself in may be very different than what I faced. You may be in a totally different part of the world from me and leaving home may have a different meaning to you.
I will try to give you advice based on what I have learned and hopefully you will find it helpful in some way and use it to better your life. Of course if you already have things figured out and just want to read the blog for the heck of it I have nothing against that. I am also always open to advice from those of you who are also surviving 'adulthood'.
Each post I write here will be about something different whether it be creating a good income for your future or keeping a healthy sleeping habit to make sure you are constantly in good condition.
This first post is just my introduction to you all to let you know what to expect in the future. On the day I am writing this I am getting ready to make my move into my very first apartment with my boyfriend. So when I am giving you advice it is also some new things that I am learning on the way.
This isn't the first time I am leaving home. And I am currently in University so I still have a lot to learn as well. Let's hope that as I learn how to handle my own situation that I will be able to help you with yours.
Stay strong people and I hope you are all staying well.