How to be independent even if you still live with your parents

In the United States of ‘Murica, when you turn 18, chances are you’re going to have to live on your own. It’s a crash course on going Han Solo, from making your own dinner to figuring out how you’re going to pay rent this month.Here in the Philippines, most of us leave home only when we get married. Some even continue to stay at home even when they do.So for all of us who still live under Mom and Dad’s roof, here are some ways you can pretend you’re a totally independent person even if you still have a 2 a.m. curfew.

Lie to your parents

First of all, if you do lie, don’t get caught. Second of all, if you do get caught, don’t tell your parents “But Jiggy and Jonty told me to lie.” Probably the best way to feel like you are your own person even when you aren’t is when you tell your parents something and do exactly the opposite. The simple lie of telling them you finished your homework already when in reality you spent three hours just watching the video of Blurred Lines is a minor act of independence. So congratulations, you got to do what you wanted to do! A bit of a warning, though: this is the kind of victory only reserved for 13-year-old children and under. If you are 22 years old, stop reading this and go do your homework!

Travel abroad alone

Traveling abroad is the best way to discover who you are because nobody abroad will care who you are. In that strange and foreign land, you’re left to your own devices and will have to fend for yourself. It’s the best way to find out if you really can survive on your own. Think of it as one big spirit walk of independence with you choosing everything from where to stay, what to eat, and how to get to where you want to go. The farther away you are from home the better. Take this opportunity to do things you normally wouldn’t do back home. If you’re used to having a driver, take the local train or walk around the city. If you’re used to fancy hotels when traveling with your parents, stay in a place you’re parents wouldn’t be caught dead in. Nothing says you’re independent like doing things your parents wouldn’t do. Go out into the world and travel away, unless you’re Jeane Napoles. If so, then being independent is the last thing you should be worrying about right now.

Stay away from the internet

Whoever said that technology bringing us closer together was a good thing? If you want to try being independent with the least amount of hassle possible, then try going offline for at least a week. That means no Twitter, no Instagram, no Facebook, and no LinkedIn (what the hell is LinkedIn anyway?) Cutting your personal Internet connection allows you to experience life outside of all those likes and retweets. If your parents also have Instagram and/or Facebook then we can’t stress this one enough. Seriously, why would you add them in the first place? Stop surfing the Internet for a change and actually do things like read Essays In Love by Alain de Botton, go see who’s playing tonight over at Route 196, or, you know, maybe actually try and surf? You might not get to see Ellen Adarna’s latest gym photos on Instagram but you’ll get so much more in return: a life.

There are more than just these three ways to try and be independent. In fact, some of the most independent and strong-willed people we know still live with their parents. In the end it’s really not about where you live but how you live. Being independent is basically taking responsibility for yourself and your actions and not relying on your parents for help because they happen to be Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so. Discover and do things on your own; just don’t refer to yourself as “indie” when you do.