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    36 Things To Help You Feel Like A Productive Adult

    Taking care of responsibilities just got a whole lot easier.

    1. Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown, which is basically an instruction manual for life. This book touches on everything from how to deal with toxic people to fixing appliances on your own.

    The cover of the book which shows a young woman and her cat sitting on a couch

    2. A folding board because it's time you stopped shoving your clothes straight out of the dryer and back into your laundry bag. Let's face it, you're not going to iron it and yes, everyone can see your super wrinkled top on Zoom. This board effortlessly folds any item of clothing in seconds flat so you'll always look sharp.

    3. A touchless vacuum that is basically a robot dustpan that will suck up whatever dirt and debris you place in front of it. It'll make sweeping so quick and fun, your floors will be permanently spotless.

    The touchless vacuum in black

    4. A two-tier shoe rack to keep your pumps, kicks, and loafers in order instead of having them sprawled across your floor or taking up closet space. It's compact so it'll fit in small entryways but still holds quite a lot.

    5. Waterproof notepads so you never forget all those shower thoughts you have that are actually pretty genius. Now your great ideas will never go down the drain because you couldn't remember it by the time your soak was over.

    A model writing on the notepad while in the shower

    6. Insect traps to nip all those plant pests and fruit flies in the bud. Your little bug problem won't get in the middle of your workday because these sticky sheets do all the work for you.

    Reviewer photo holding up a sticky paper filled with bugs

    7. A "Did you feed the dog" tracker so that you never overfeed or forget to feed your precious pup. The sign allows you to switch the tracker from gray to green once you've fed the dog instead of taking your best guess.

    Reviewer holding the tracker in hand

    8. Stainless-steel collapsible straws from BuzzFeed's Goodful line to save money and ditch plastic and soggy paper straws for good. They're made from quality material so there's no weird metal taste or rusting even after years of use — just pop them in the dishwasher or scrub with the included brush to continue using again and again and again.

    9. An Acorns account that lets you start investing with as little as $1 a month. You can choose to invest a set amount from each paycheck so it's super convenient, plus it's great for beginners or anyone looking to save for retirement.

    Graph showing the estimated value of my Acorns account in 40 years at $483,000

    10. Blackout curtains for when you want to sleep in *or* doze off early without the bright sunlight disrupting you. These are heavy duty enough to block the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter — aka it'll keep your utility bill low and you'll get your beauty rest.

    11. A five-pack of string fidget toys that are perfect for when stressful assignment deadlines are approaching and the only thing you've written is "What I learned in boating school is." Feel free to fiddle, flip, and squeeze these satisfying trinkets until you've reached the minimum word count on that essay.

    A model stretching the noodle like toy

    12. A Home Chef meal kit subscription so you can save major $$$ by cooking delicious and nutritious meals at home. You can completely customize your meal plan and you can cancel or pause at anytime.

    13. A five-pack of mesh laundry bags that will ensure your delicates, socks, and masks won't get snagged, stretched, or lost. Plus, these double as organizers for your suitcase when traveling.

    The laundry bags

    14. Batiste Dry Shampoo quickly removes excess oil from your roots. That's right! You can sport that ~va va volume~ in between salon appointments instead of risking more heat damage or breaking the bank with frequent visits — no one will notice that it's not a fresh blowout.

    15. An Amazon Echo Dot for turning on/off your TV, lights, changing the channel, adjusting the volume, locking your door, playing music, controlling your temperature, giving you the weather, annnnnd answering any other question you have without you having to lift a finger. TL;DR: This little gadget is like having Rosie from The Jetsons as your personal assistant.

    White echo dot on a side table

    16. Ryka walking shoes that are lined with lycra and have a built-in cushion. These kicks offer major support so you can enjoy long walks or breeze through an eight hour shift without your feet feeling sore.

    17. A 20-piece stainless-steel flatware set because nothing says ~adulting~ like upgrading from plastic silverware. Plus, switching from your dinner fork to your dessert fork kinda makes you feel like royalty even if you're just eating ramen and supermarket cake.

    a set of silverware with scalloped edges

    18. A stick-on wallet for your smartphone so you'll have your card, cash, transit pass, and ID handy. This will ensure you never forget it at home.

    19. An undated weekly to-do list with a magnetic bottom side, which means you'll never forget your important tasks. Every time you open your fridge you'll be reminded of the things that may have slipped your mind.

    Model writing on weekly to do pad hanging on refrigerator

    20. Kiss Instawave Automatic Curling Iron takes a page out of the Jetsons' book by allowing you to curl your hair in an instant without doing any work. Place a section of your hair in front or behind the rotating barrel, press the button, and it'll be curled to perfection in just a few seconds.

    21. A rapid egg cooker which makes egg-based breakfast quicker (and dare I say better) than your fav fast food chain. Can you imagine consistently perfect hard-boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs anytime you'd like? Well, now it can be your reality. Just add eggs and water (depending on the type of eggs you're making) and your meal will be done in minutes.

    The egg cooker

    22. A phone sanitizer because we know our devices collect bacteria constantly but remembering to clean them manually is hard. This germ-zapping gadget easily does the work for you.

    23. Cable clips so you can keep all the wires for your electronic devices organized and untangled. These small clips have an adhesive back so they can stick to any surface so they'll stay put.

    Wire placed nearly in a cable clip

    24. A drill brush attachment to remove deep stains from hard surfaces. Use this scrubber on your stove, bathtub, and sink to easily take off rust, grime, and dirt.

    25. An automatic pan stirrer with a timer so you can prep the rest of your meal or binge a show uninterrupted. Keep your arms well rested and at your sides while this utensil does all the work.

    Automatic pan stirrer in pot on stove

    26. A grout pen because the outline of your floor tiles are not supposed to be that color — that's gunk, grime, and dirt, and it can easily be removed. Your floors will look showroom new after cleaning them with this product.

    27. An Always pan that's a must-have item for any apartment! This splurgeworthy purchase actually saves you money in the long run because it can braise, sear, steam, strain, fry, boil, serve, and store your meals. Basically, you wont't have to buy and cram a bunch of one-trick-pony appliances onto your kitchen countertop because this does it all.

    the pink pan

    28. A Magic 8-Ball, which is surprisingly super useful for adults — especially if, like moi, you're indecisive and overwhelmed. Just ask a yes or no question, shake this tiny tool, and the answer to most of your problems will be revealed.

    29. A satin cowl-neck dress because everyone needs a special occasion ensemble. This chic number will make sure you're prepared for any special event — even when you're pressed for time.

    Reviewer wearing blue dress

    30. A 15-pack of three-compartment meal prep containers that will save you time and money. These sturdy boxes store your meals for the week and allow you to separate your veggies, grains, and protein in one container. Stick them in the fridge, pop in the microwave, and toss them in the dishwasher afterward.

    31. An über-classy mobile bar cart because empty bottles of cheap vodka lining the top of your cabinets does not count as decor. This has 360-degree swivel wheels and enough space to fit liquor, glasses, food, and anything else.

    gold bar cart  in living room

    32. A two-in-one water bottle and pill organizer that'll ensure you stay hydrated all day and never miss a dose. This colorful pitcher has seven slots so you can fill it up with a week's worth of vitamins and medication.

    33. An easy-to-use gardening kit so you can fake your way to a green thumb. This set allows you to become a plant mom of five with basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, and thyme seeds.

    34. An Atlas Coffee Club subscription to make sure you never have to deal with being fresh out of joe (and energy) two minutes before your first Zoom meeting of the day. The company lets you choose a half bag, single bag, or double bag of coffee beans or grinds to be delivered biweekly or monthly. You can even choose the roast type.

    Patterned coffee packages on a surface

    35. A peddle exerciser that fits perfectly under your desk. Get your blood flowing with a quick workout while on the clock or lounging on the couch! There is absolutely no assembly required so you'll only break a sweat when it's in use — it even comes with a built-in digital monitor that displays calories burned and exercise time.

    Reviewer using exerciser while sitting

    36. A Quip electric toothbrush starter kit to give your teeth a deep clean with vibrations gentle enough to use on sensitive gums. It has a two-minute timer, can help with prevention of cavities, and comes with a multiuse case, mint paste, and refillable floss string.

    a model holding a rose hold tooth brush

    Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

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