Why Choose a Transitional Living Program?
In the twenty-first century, being a young adult is more difficult than ever. Even over 50% of baby boomers – a segment of the population oft-ridiculed for believing newer generations to be entitled — agree that young adults today have it harder than any other generations previously. Coming in towards the end of a financial crisis, the current generation is from certain to know their direction in life; even a college degree does not guarantee employment.
For the first time in over 130 years, more 25 to 29-year-olds live with their parents than alone or with a partner (with just under a third of the population – 32.1% — living with their parents). While numerous factors have contributed to the trend including a rise in the average age of marriage and the recession, the psychological fallout remains: millennials often find themselves in a situation that can only be described as “failure to launch”.
Widespread in current society, failure to launch can cause a young adult to have difficulty finding or maintaining employment, falter academically, or not leave the parents’ house – among many other potential issues. With the rise of mental health awareness, more young adults than ever are diagnosed with mental illness that only compounds the problem. Fortunately, a transitional living program can help.
What is a Transitional Living Program?
Simply put, a transitional living program is a program that gradually adjusts young adults to the pressures of the outside world, instead of throwing them into it headfirst. By providing struggling young adults with a structured environment and healthy patterns, they are gently guided into adopting techniques that will help them on their journey toward success.
Every person is different. Some may aspire to earn a doctorate and teach at a university, while others may prefer to travel the world. At a transitional living program, all these goals can become reality. A transitional living features state-of-the-art facilities and a wide variety of activities, so that there’s never a dull moment.
Mental health professionals are available around the clock to help young adults make positive choices that will benefit their well-being.
With the help of personal coaching, young adults can learn to lead a healthy lifestyle and cope with any pressures that the outside world may hold – all the while being in a safe environment. In many ways, a transitional living program is the perfect middle ground between being thrust into the bustle of the world and a place to discover oneself.
Whatever the issue that caused the failure to launch, a transitional living program can help. For some, it could be substance use; for others it could be mental illness. Yet others could need time to gather their thoughts.
At a transitional living program, no issue is too small to be addressed. Individualized mentors promote plentiful exercise and good nutrition Research shows that a healthy routine not only aids in mitigating the effects of mental illness, but helps release chemicals in the brain that are responsible for happiness and calming.
A picturesque environment only furthers the calming effect present at a transitional living program. The ability to participate in fun activities – such as taking a mountain bike through the wilderness or relaxing while taking in the sun – allows a young adult to reconnect with nature. Forming these introspective connections help a young adult discover their own strengths and passions.
A transitional living program isn’t all about introspection, however; experienced instructors assist young adults in learning valuable life skills including time management, financial planning, interview skills, and communication, among many others.
A transitional living program focuses on a young adult building links between healing and the outside world. A smooth, organic shift into adulthood guarantees that a failure to launch does not occur.
Finding a Transitional Living Program
While transitional living programs commonly share the same core values, the individual details of each program may vary. Choosing the right transitional living program can secure the best experience. Depending on the individual program, there may be differences in student profile or age. Having a group of like-minded young adults helps build friendships that last a lifetime.
Similarly, many transitional living programs have ties to outside communities and organizations, such as local colleges. By allowing young adults to pursue various passions and interests in the real world, a transitional living program helps them discover what they truly want to do with the rest of their lives.
Transitional living programs such as Red Mountain Sedona, Foundations Asheville, Journey Home, Journey Home East, BlueFire Pulsar, and Trails Momentum are established pillars in their local communities and help young adults truly belong.
Contemporary Articles
Failure to launch and millennials are frequently featured in various media spotlights. One article, for example, partly blames failure to launch on, “the high stakes college admission game and the investment of time, energy, money and ego that goes in to this on both the students’ and parent’ part”. In some cases, this can cause a breakdown of sorts. At a transitional living program, young adults are guided past similar situations and, once again, returned to a healthy path with the preparation to avoid similar complications in the future.
Yet other articles cite the boom in technology and electronics as a reason for so many young adults staying at home. Instant gratification has caused many to not plan into the future. With the assistance of a transitional living program, young adults can, once again, learn self-reliance and the extent of their own abilities.
Research
There is much research on the subject as well – adult children at home are taking a toll on the American economy. One such statistics shows that, “parents with adult children living at home spend at least eight hours a week caring for them, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics’ time-use data. These men’s lost earnings portend lower lifetime income and savings. The lost manpower reduces America’s potential output”. Through a transitional living program, a young adult can gain the confidence necessary to stand on their own two feet.
Sources
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/07/20/millennials-opinion-poll_n_11086402.html