Priorities change as life changes. The things that are considered important at one phase in life may no longer matter as one gets older. Things that are priority to a child may no longer be seen as necessary to a teenager. Undoubtedly, what is important to a teenager varies greatly from that of an adult.

Children hardly consider the word priority. To them, they live in the moment with the expectation that their needs will be met. Priority to them is getting the latest toy or gadget and their favorite food or snack. They think only of getting it now regardless of its availability or whether their parents can afford it. To children, whatever they consider necessary or essential at the moment, then that is priority.

As children grow into teenagers that attitude shifts. Status becomes their priority. Whatever they need or absolutely must have is somehow based on what others will think of them. They give priority to friends, popularity, fashion and the latest electronic gadgets. Also, they give priority to what their friends consider important. In fact, parents are usually the ones doing the prioritizing for them. Teenagers think mostly of themselves and their priority is usually ‘all about me’.

However, when adulthood sets in these things changes since the adult’s view of the world and what is important is different. The adult usually has to juggle home, career and family and all the activities that surround these. Even those who are single still have issues which must be prioritized. At this stage, the adult has to weigh what is most important and give priority in order to achieve balance.

In addition, finances and budgeting comes into play when one reaches adulthood. There is the need to budget wisely and to focus on needs in order of necessity. The adult can no longer think only of fashion and fitting in with the crowd. Decisions such as property, mortgage, education, vehicle, insurance, and many others are areas that must be considered when thinking of priorities. Adulthood tends to take the focus away from self since there are so many factors and so many other people to consider.

So life changes and priorities change with it. As people grow older, their priorities expand from being just about themselves to include others. The things that were considered so important as a child becomes forgotten as teenage years set in. The onset of adulthood changes one’s focus as the adult now faces different challenges.