The future comes faster than you realize. Asking uncomfortable questions now can save you some pain later. (But don’t stress too much about it! Relax!)

Photo illustration by Will Lanzoni/CNN. Illustrations by Kelly Flynn and Taylor Su

Over the last six weeks, we’ve covered the basics of adulthood. And frankly, if you master all of that, you are more than set. But one thing we often forget when we’re starting out or starting over is to look past the present moment to the challenges — and amazing possibilities — that lie ahead. 

Think of this edition as an Adulthood 201 course. Maybe right now, you’re not worried about a financial adviser or haven’t had to shake off that first frigid blow of aging. Marriage? Children? A mortgage?! Those are problems for Future You. 

Well, let’s give Future You an edge. There are all kinds of questions you may not reeeallly need to answer now, but if you at least give them the quickest thought — and then file them away for later — Future You will be far more prepared.

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What do you want to do? Among life’s most thrilling (and terrifying) moments are those times when you realize the responsibility for what happens next — in career, relationships, living situations — rests squarely on your shoulders. The biggest choices you make can impact your world for years to come. No pressure, though!

When weighing your options, take a deep breath and try to distinguish the uniqueness of your situation from that of those around you or the narratives you were once fed by Disney movies. Financial activist Dasha Kennedy said she wished she and her ex had talked more about the realities of their relationship and compatibility before tying the knot.

“I was going off of what I had been taught on the surface — that it's a two-income household with two people who are working,” Kennedy said. “But we were not on the same page financially.”

Listen, you’re never going to bat a thousand. You’re going to screw up, and that is completely fine. But when you have a big decision looming, there are ways — including automating everyday choices and avoiding taking major steps during times of stress — to prime your mind to make the best possible move.

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Many of the biggest decisions you make will hinge somewhat on finances. We’ve talked about setting clear goals with your money. (Do you want to buy a house or find a better apartment? Be debt-free? Plan for a family? Make it to the end of the month with something left?) Once you know what you want, getting some financial advice may be a good next step. 

Financial advisers aren’t just for the super-wealthy, but it is important to ask the right questions (typical clientele? approach? fees?) to make sure the professional you choose is right for your needs. Chances are, whoever you end up with may advise against investing in something like crypto, a financial adventure experts say is best left to the ultra-experienced. But it never hurts to learn more about the options and stay actively involved in your financial future.

Those first few job transitions can be the most difficult, because it’s hard to know whether you’re doing the right thing. But life is toxic enough without a bunch of work drama stealing your joy. Career coach J.T. O’Donnell, founder and CEO of online career growth club Work It Daily, says all jobs are temporary, so it’s important to recognize when it’s time to start looking around.

“I think the moment you start waking up and that intrinsic motivation isn't really driving you anymore, you need to sit down and ask yourself, what are you unhappy with?” O’Donnell said. “The mistake I see people make is they bury it. … It impacts your work, and next thing you know, you're unhappy.”

She suggests talking to your boss if you think there’s a way to improve your situation. But if not, finding a new gig can pay off in a number of ways — often with a literal bump in pay.

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As for your health, you can’t control everything about it, but you can do your best. And the sooner you start, the better. (Now. Literally, right now.) Learning to navigate the benefits available to you and following up on anything (a new or lingering ache or pain, etc.) that doesn’t feel quite right is essential, particularly as you get older. But even if you begin working on just one or two of the not-at-all daunting habits generally linked to a longer life — maybe scheduling preventive screenings, getting more sleep or reaching out to an old friend — Future You will have a leg up on what’s to come.

Make a list of your future goals, from the mundane to the fantastical. Start each entry with something like, “I want to [achieve this goal].” Then, when you’re done, write them all again. This time, start each entry as if it is a reality: “I have [achieved this goal]”. How does that make you feel?

Ask yourself: What does your best (realistic) life look like? What habits do you currently have that support that vision? What changes can you anticipate making in order to keep yourself on track?

Questions? Feedback? Songs of praise? Message the Life, But Better team at adulting@cnn.com. Most of us are adults, after all.