Teach Me How To Adult

The highest level of adulting might just be creating a space that feels welcoming and reflects your personal style. But let’s be honest, that’s easier said than done, especially with the limitations of budgets and rental units. Our homes should be a source of comfort and inspiration — after all, our spaces have a real impact on our wellbeing. We’re on a mission to create our own personal oasis without breaking the bank, so we called in our friend, and the budget-friendly decor guru herself, Alexandra Gater. Alexandra is a stylist and home decor expert who specializes in accessible home decor advice for renters and anyone working with a smaller budget. She started her design career as the home editor for Chatelaine Magazine, where she launched the popular YouTube series, The Home Primp. She’s since hosted the HGTV series Buy or DIY, and her work has appeared in brands like Apartment Therapy, Domino Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Rachel Ray Show, and the Global Morning Show. She just launched her STUNNING book Own Your Space, which offers room-by-room decorating tips for renters and homeowners. Join us as we chat about:Alexandra’s journey to becoming a design legendThe easiest, most budget-friendly ways to make a big impactHow to figure out your personal design aestheticAlexandra’s go-to products to spruce up a spaceAdvice for renters on making big changes and navigating landlordsEasy and temporary DIYs to tryChoosing unique and affordable artDealing with differing design styles with your partnerWe hope this episode inspires you to make your home your own, because you deserve the space of your dreams!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Alexandra:youtube.com/@AlexandraGater@alexandragaterBuy Alexandra's book: Own Your SpaceMentioned in this episode:Ikea Couch CoversPeel &  Stick Floor TilePeel & Stick Backsplash Subway TilePeel & Stick Backsplash Hexagon Tile Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. Summer is in full swing, friends! And while we love ourselves a cottage moment like the next girlie, we recognize that these warmer months can also be a very triggering time for many of us when it comes to body image and insecurities. So this week we're throwing it back to our inspiring chat with Roxy Earle where she shares the ultimate mindset shift to banish negative self-talk and start positively developing the single most important relationship we’ll ever have — the relationship with ourselves. Because at the end of the day, the only person holding you back from being your true confident self is you!Roxy is a former marketing professional turned model, entrepreneur, body positivity activist and a star on Real Housewives of Toronto. She started the #MySizeRox movement, which advocates that confidence comes in all shapes and sizes. She’s worked with brands like Knix, H&M, Le Chateau and Joe Fresh to bring more inclusive sizing and styles to their stores. Roxy is also the co-founder of the Ana App, a tool that helps to build happiness, health and confidence by balancing your mental wellness with the unique cycles of your body.Listen to our full episode with Roxy here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Roxy:@luxuriousroxyGet the Ana App: https://www.anahealth.com/ Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

There’s a new epidemic in town: Loneliness. And while making friends is intimidating at any age, it feels especially daunting as adults. As we hit our 30s, our groups of friends are getting smaller and smaller (fun fact: We replace half our friend group every seven years as adults!). Life gets busy, people move away, and milestones come at different times. Even though this seems to be universal, it can still feel like something is wrong with us. If we’ve learned anything along our adulting journey, it’s that friendships are crucial to our mental and physical wellbeing. So this week, we’re learning how to prioritize the most underrated of our relationships, how to make new ones, and  why it’s so damn hard to maintain friends as an adult. We’re not the experts, so we called in Dr. Miriam Kirmayer. Having spent over a decade researching the science of friendship and helping people live more connected lives, Dr. Miriam is a clinical psychologist, writer, speaker, and leading expert on friendship and social connection. She’s appeared on some of our favourite media outlets, from Call Her Daddy to Vogue and The New York Times.She sits on the Mental Health Advisory Committee for Wondermind, a media company co-founded by Selena Gomez, and is a member of The GenWell Project, a human connection movement. She also has a private practice and is one of the first and only licensed clinical psychologists to specialize in friendship therapy!Join us as we chat about:Why our friendships dwindle as we ageDr. Miriam’s best tips for making new friendsOvercoming the fear of rejection How many hours it actually takes to establish a true friendshipHow our attachment styles affect our friendshipsAdapting to new life stages and navigating changing relationshipsWhy one friend can’t check every boxHow to prioritize friendships (and why it’s good for your health!)Advice on letting go of friendships that have run their courseWe hope this episode helps you feel less alone and inspires you to get back into the friendship market. Remember, you’ve always got a friend in us!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Dr. Miriam:miriamkirmayer.com@miriamkirmayer Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. If you, like us, have been feeling tired AF lately then this one’s for you! Get ready to wake up and shake up your snooze routine, because we’re throwing it back to our chat with sleep expert Alanna McGinn who shares some science-backed ways to craft the perfect nap, how a nappuccino could help curb your mid-day slump, and the first thing we should (and shouldn’t) be doing when we wake up.  Alanna is the founder and lead sleep expert at Good Night Sleep Site, host of the ‘This Girl Loves Sleep’ podcast and author of ‘This Baby Loves Sleep’. Alanna and her team of sleep consultants are certified through The Family Sleep Institute and have helped thousands of families around the world overcome their sleep challenges and establish healthy nighttime habits. Alanna is the resident sleep expert for publications like Forbes, Maclean’s and Today’s Parent, and the media sleep expert on Cityline, Breakfast Television, CBC Radio, and more. Listen to our full episode with Alanna here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia instagram.com/yunggillianaire/instagram.com/cailynmichaan/Follow Alanna:goodnightsleepsite.com@gnsleepsite@alanna.mcginn Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

To quote our generation’s thought leader, Britney Spears: “You wanna live fancy? Party in France? You better work.” But also, you better ask for fair compensation. Just thinking about asking for a raise makes us cringe, but no one else is going to do it for us, so tits up: It’s time to start advocating for ourselves. The good news is, most managers and companies want to keep their employees happy, so this week we’re spilling the tea on everything you need to set yourself up for success. From shifting our mindset, tracking performance, and the scripts to use for your conversation, this is the official guide to getting a raise!Join us as we chat about:Unlearning imposter syndromeHow to tell if you’re being compensated fairlyTracking your wins and collecting your performance receipts When to broach the conversation with your bossLeveraging competitive opportunities Perfecting your pitchMaking the most of development opportunitiesWhat you can negotiate in addition to your salaryWe hope this helps you find the courage to confidently ask for what you deserve!For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia instagram.com/yunggillianaire/instagram.com/cailynmichaan/ Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. This week, we're throwing it back to a juicyyyy conversation with Portia Brown, a sex coach and educator. Tune in as we discuss how to take self-care to the next level by creating a pleasure practice, AKA a ritual that allows you to tune into your mind and body.  This inspiring conversation will motivate you to start prioritizing pleasure in your daily routine because you deserve it!Portia is the founder of Portia Brown Coaching, a website, social media platform and coaching practice that helps women find their power through pleasure. Her expansive sex coaching methods help women tap into mindfulness and ritual to help them reconnect with themselves. She’s been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine, Glamour UK,  and podcasts such as “Doing It” with Hannah Witton, and “Am I Making You Uncomfortable” from Huffington Post.Listen to our full episode with Portia here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia instagram.com/yunggillianaire/instagram.com/cailynmichaan/Follow Portia:portiabrowncoaching.com/@portiabrowncoaching Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

It’s OOO season, friends! Between bachelorette weekends, road trips, summer vacay plans, and everyone decidedly going to Italy this month, travel is top of mind this time of year. And as the saying goes, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”...But what happens if your phone is stolen, you lose your wallet, and your identity is compromised while abroad!? #truestoryIn this week’s Asking For A Friend, our resident travel expert, Gill, is in the hot seat to drop some hard-earned lessons on how to stay safe while traveling (especially as a solo traveler), and to share her first-hand experience with what to do if you get robbed abroad.Tune in as we chat about:Prioritizing safe areas to sayWhy you should *always* turn on Find My iPhone and share your location with family/friendsKeeping important itinerary details with you at all timesSafe transportation tips while travelingWhat happened when Gill got mugged abroad, and everything she learned from itThe stuff you should actually pack to keep you safeHow to avoid losing your belongingsProtecting your personal data & banking info while travelingThe power of trusting your gutAt the end of the day, fear should never hold you back from traveling and experiencing this beautiful planet. With proper preparation and staying smart and aware, the world is truly your oyster.If you have any other burning questions for us and want to get us in the hot seat DM us or send us an email at contact@teachmehowtoadult.ca and we’ll dive into it in an upcoming Asking For A Friend! Big thank you to Telus Online Security for sponsoring this episode. You can learn more and check out their plans at Telus.com/online-security.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmedia instagram.com/yunggillianaire/instagram.com/cailynmichaan/ Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. The course of true love never did run smooth (preach, Shakespeare!), so today we’re sharing some major tips from our episode with couples and family therapist, Liz Earnshaw, on navigating power struggles in your relationship (spoiler: it's okay to go to bed angry!) and moving forward after a major betrayal.Liz is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of A Better Life Therapy in Philadelphia. She helps her clients and hundreds of thousands of social media followers develop healthier relationships every day, navigating issues like betrayal, grief, loss, and trauma, while teaching the art of communication. You also might’ve seen her on Instagram where she shares incredibly valuable relationship advice and therapy strategies on her account @lizlistens. Listen to both episodes with Liz here and here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:instagram.com/teachmehowtoadultmediainstagram.com/yunggillianaire/instagram.com/cailynmichaan/Follow Liz:@lizlistens@abetterlifetherapyAbetterlifetherapy.com Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Breakups are generally unavoidable in life, but that doesn’t mean we’re any good at them. The stressful conversation, the guilt, the division of friendships, navigating all the emotions and aftermath… it’s not a fun time. So this week, we’re taking inspiration from our girl TSwift, the breakup queen herself, and diving deep on how to call things off, in the kindest way possible. The key to a healthy breakup (or a conscious uncoupling, a la Gwenyth) is honesty and accountability. No two relationships or breakups are the same, but the modern era of dating has seen a rise in general assholery when it comes to ghosting and ending relationships. So whether you’re trying to end a casual situationship, a long term relationship, or something in between, tune in for tips on how to lead with compassion and break up with grace.Join us as we chat about:The era of ghosting and dating douchebaggery What to consider before broaching the conversationHow to be honest, without being cruelConstructive criticism and “I” statementsGetting real with yourself about the actual reason for the breakup, and the role you playedAvoiding a prolonged breakupCo-creating your conscious uncoupling, and setting expectations Breakup sex?!?!Answering the age-old debate: Can you stay friends? For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultpodcast @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaan Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube

Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from one of our guests that you might have missed. From discussing salaries and the cost of homes, to splitting the bill and vacation-planning, it’s NEVER easy to talk about money, whether you’re married or on a second date. But there are some super helpful questions and conversation-starters you can use to get on the same financial page as your partner (and parents) without all the stress. We’re throwing it back to some key advice from Alyssa Davies, the mastermind behind award-winning Canadian personal finance website and YouTube channel, Mixed Up Money, where she dishes out financial content for women who care about their money. Alyssa published Her first book, The 100 Day Financial Goal Journal, in 2020, and launched a personal finance podcast with her husband, Learn From Us, where they make talking about money feel less awkward and more relatable by sharing their own tough lessons.Listen to our full episode with Alyssa here.Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.For show notes and more adulting tips, visit: teachmehowtoadult.caSign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia @yunggillianaire@cailynmichaanFollow Alyssa:mixedupmoney.cominstagram.com/mixedupmoneyBudgeting Downloadables: mixedupmoney.com/shop Subscribe to my Substack:teachmehowtoadult.substack.comFollow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube