Things You Can Do When You're 18

• Turning 18 is a significant and important milestone in one’s life, and should not be taken for granted.
• There are 5 important lessons and things you need to know about turning 18. Read on to find out what they are.
• This article also gives you a comprehensive list of everything you can do when you turn 18 including fun things for 18 year olds to do and 18 years old legal rights.

18 is a pretty significant milestone age, and we tell you all about its significance in this article on What Is Special About The 18th Birthday. It’s the age where you are legally an adult, although there are still some limitations on what you can do and we will tell you all about them.

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably 18 or about to turn 18 and are maybe wondering what kind of things you need to know when you turn 18, and what type of things (legal or otherwise), you can do when you turn 18. You are in the right place. In this article, we give you a comprehensive list of everything you can do when you turn 18, from the legal to the fun stuff. 

Disclaimer: We’ve spent a lot of time researching and writing this article. We update it when we find mistakes, please and enjoy this article for entertainment purposes only and speak to a lawyer if you have additional questions. 

Check out our other 18th birthday articles for great ideas about your 18th birthday.

• 18th Birthday Adventure Ideas
• What To Do On Your 18th Birthday Alone
• What To Do For 18th Birthday In Winter
• What Should A Girl Do For Her 18th Birthday?

What Changes When You Turn 18? Things To Know When You Turn 18.

When you turn 18, the major change of significance is that you are now regarded as an adult. Never mind that you still have a lot of things to learn about adulthood and being one, everyone now thinks of you as an adult.

Well, maybe not exactly everyone. Mum and dad will most likely still see you as their little girl/boy, and you can even exploit this latter point to your advantage and ask them to give you a fitting and exciting 18th birthday to mark the (bitter)sweet entrance into adulthood. And if you wanted some mummy and daddy friendly 18th birthday ideas to share with them to get them on board at least, you will love our articles on How to celebrate 18th birthday for your son and How to celebrate 18th birthday for your daughter, so definitely check them out.

Turning 18 and becoming an adult, however, means that things change and certain expectations will now be had of you. While you may have been able to get away with some things before 18 under the guise of youthful exuberance, once you turn 18 you will be expected to exhibit traits and characters of adults and adulthood. Here are 5 lessons and things to know when you turn 18.

1. You Are Responsible For Your Actions.

You will be expected to take responsibility for every decision you take here on out, whether for good or for bad. This is not to put you under any pressure at all, but to emphasize the fact that if you were used to simply acting without thinking, that is an area you will need to make some major improvements on. Since you are considered an adult, no one would make any excuses for you or give you room for excuses either.

2. Your Actions Have Consequences, Especially Legal Consequences.

This is another important fact you should be aware of. In the next section we will list some 18-year-old rights and responsibilities, and what this means is that you can find yourself on the wrong side of the law if your actions do not match up the expectations of the law. Here are two very important legal consequences to have at the back of your mind:

You can be sentenced and serve jail time in a real prison and not a juvenile prison.

Given that you are no longer considered young or a juvenile, you will not enjoy the benefit of going to a juvenile prison. If for any unfortunate reason you are sentenced to serve a prison sentence, you will serve it in a real prison and prison is no fun place for anyone and most especially not for a new 18-year old adult.

Legal documents such as contracts are binding on you.

And this means that if you do not read between the fine prints and sign on the dotted lines, you will be held to the terms of the contract, whether or not they turn out to be favorable to you. And what this means, is that you should not take legal documents lightly or for granted. Ensure that you read everything before signing on the dotted line, and whatever you don’t understand, seek clarity first before signing.

3. You Have No Limitations, Except Legal Ones.

This is a beautiful reality of being an adult. The only limitations placed on you are legal limitations like no drinking of alcohol and a few others that will be discussed in the next section. Once you become an adult, the world becomes your oyster.

But remember the first two points about actions, consequences, and being responsible for them. While you may have no limits, it is still important to exercise discretion and wisdom in the decisions you make and the actions that you take.

4. You Have More Opportunities Available For You To Exploit.

Once you turn 18, the absence of limitations also means many more opportunities available for you to take. You can travel the world. You can get an actual job and be paid a salary or at least minimum wage. You can even be as bold and daring as buying a house or a car. You can do almost anything and everything you want. With the world of opportunities available for you out there, why not seize up as many as you can on your new journey to adulthood.

5. You Can Decide The Type Of Person You Want To Become.

This is arguably the most important thing to remember, and it sums up all the other 4. Once you become an adult, you and you alone can determine the course your life takes from that point. You are no longer shackled by restraints and parental expectations. You can choose to take a different path and follow your passion. You can choose to be anything and anyone you want to be.

And this point is what makes turning 18 so important. The person you choose to become at this point will define the rest of your adulthood. It will define the decisions you ultimately take, and the impact and long-term effect they will have on you. It will determine the opportunities you take and those you decide to let go of.

And so, as you turn 18, think long, hard, and carefully about the person you want to be as an adult. Define yourself, set your visions, realign your goals, and reorganize your priorities because this point will to a great extent, define and determine the direction of the rest of your adult life.

You will also like our articles on 17 Things You Can Do When You Turn 20 and What Can You Do When You Turn 21.

What Can I Legally Do At 18? 18 Years Old Legal Rights.

Here are important 18 year old legal rights and responsibilities that tells you what you can legally do (and not do) at 18:

1. You Can Vote.

Voting is an important aspect of democratic life in any country. It is your chance to make your voice heard in the affairs of your country and those who are entrusted with running it. One important right the law confers on you when you turn 18 is a chance to have your voice heard in deciding how our great country is run. Sadly, from the survey carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau in a 2018 report accessed via Statista, the statistics on voter participation by 18 – 24 year olds are not very encouraging.