If someone tells you about their high school sports record, you know they’re living in the past. If someone brags about their beer pong skills, you know they haven’t quite grown up yet.

Welcome to the world of embarrassing “accomplishments” that adults should really stop boasting about.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We all have our unique quirks and past triumphs we’re proud of. It’s just that some things are better left unsaid, especially when they don’t exactly bring value to the present.

So buckle up folks, because we’re about to delve into 8 accomplishments grown adults really need to stop showing off. Trust me, it’s going to be equal parts cringey and enlightening.

1) High school glory days

Remember the star quarterback from high school or the head cheerleader? Sure, they were big deals back then, but we’re adults now.

Yet, some people just can’t seem to let go of their high school glory days. They’ll bring up their old sports records, prom king or queen titles, or even that time they aced their chemistry exam during casual conversations.

Here’s the thing. It’s great to have fond memories of your past, but when you’re constantly bragging about high school victories as a grown adult, it kind of makes people wonder if you’ve achieved anything noteworthy since then.

So let’s leave high school where it belongs – in the past. It’s time to make new memories and accomplishments that reflect the person you are now, not the teenager you once were.

Trust me, it’s less embarrassing that way.

2) Ability to drink… a lot

Now, this one hits close to home. I have a friend who, even in his late thirties, still boasts about his ability to knock back more beers than anyone else at the party.

Don’t get me wrong, back in our college days, it was a fun party trick. But now, as grown adults with responsibilities and actual jobs, it’s not exactly something to be proud of.

Just last week we were at a gathering, and there he was, bragging about how he outdrank everyone at a recent party and woke up without a hangover. But as I looked around, instead of the impressed faces he was expecting, all I saw were raised eyebrows and forced smiles.

As adults, our accomplishments should reflect maturity and growth. So let’s leave the drinking games in our college years where they belong. Bragging about how much you can drink isn’t impressive anymore – it’s just embarrassing.

3) Multitasking master

In the world of grown-ups, bragging about being an excellent multitasker is quite common. You might hear someone boast about how they can handle multiple tasks at once – answering emails while on a call, eating lunch while drafting a report, and so on.

But here’s the kicker. A study from Stanford University reveals that multitasking actually decreases productivity rather than increasing it. Those who often juggle multiple tasks at once have difficulty organizing their thoughts and filtering out irrelevant information.

So, next time you feel the urge to brag about your multitasking prowess, remember that it’s not as impressive or beneficial as you might think.

In fact, focusing on one thing at a time is more effective and far less embarrassing to brag about!

4) Social media following

In this digital age, it’s not unusual to hear someone brag about how many followers they have on Instagram or how many likes they get on their Facebook posts.

But let’s face it, unless you’re a celebrity or your job revolves around social media, boasting about your online popularity can come across as shallow and self-absorbed.

Having a large social media following doesn’t necessarily mean you’re successful or important in real life. And let’s be honest, most people don’t really care about those numbers as much as you think they do.

Instead of bragging about your online presence, how about focusing on making genuine connections in the real world? Trust me, it’s much more fulfilling and a lot less embarrassing.

5) Being a workaholic

I’ve encountered many adults who take pride in working non-stop. They brag about the late nights, the skipped meals, and the vacations they’ve forgone for work. To them, being a workaholic seems to be a badge of honor.

But from my personal experience, this isn’t something to brag about. I used to be one of them, working endless hours and letting my job consume my life. But all it led to was burnout and exhaustion.

The truth is, life is more than just work. It’s about finding balance, enjoying the little moments, and taking care of one’s mental and physical health.

It’s time to stop boasting about overworking ourselves. Instead, let’s take pride in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It’s less embarrassing and way more beneficial in the long run.

6) Never reading a book

Believe it or not, some people take pride in claiming they’ve never read a book since leaving school. They wear it like a badge of honor, thinking it shows they’re too busy and important for such trivial pursuits.

But here’s the twist. Failing to engage with literature doesn’t make you look busy or important. It just shows disregard for one of the most enriching and accessible ways to gain knowledge and perspective.

Sure, we all have different interests and hobbies. But boasting about not reading is like bragging that you don’t bother to learn or expand your horizons.

So let’s put away such misplaced pride. It’s far more impressive to discuss the latest book you’ve read than to boast about never picking one up.

7) Not needing much sleep

It’s not uncommon to hear someone brag about how they can function on just a few hours of sleep. They wear their sleep deprivation like a medal, as if it’s a testament to their dedication and productivity.

However, consistent lack of sleep isn’t something to be proud of. It’s actually harmful to your health, leading to issues like impaired cognitive function, mood swings, and even chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Being able to function on minimal sleep doesn’t make you a superhero. It makes you human – a tired one at that.

So instead of boasting about how little sleep you’re getting, let’s start valuing our health and well-being more. It’s not embarrassing to need a good night’s sleep – it’s essential.

8) Never taking a break

The last embarrassing “accomplishment” that needs to be put to rest is the notion of never taking a break. It’s not rare to hear people proudly declare that they haven’t taken a vacation in years or that they work seven days a week without fail.

But here’s the most important thing you should know – incessant work isn’t an accomplishment. It’s a fast track to burnout, stress, and a reduced quality of life.

We all need time to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside of work. It’s what makes us well-rounded individuals and keeps us mentally and physically healthy.

So instead of bragging about never taking a break, let’s start celebrating the importance of rest and relaxation. After all, life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Closing thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, I hope you’ve gathered that there’s a certain grace in growing up and out of certain “accomplishments”.

These bragging points, while they may have held some merit in our younger years, often lose their luster as we age. They become less about showcasing our abilities and more about clinging to a past version of ourselves.

Remember, there’s no race in life. Our victories and accomplishments should reflect who we are now – mature, thoughtful adults who value real-world achievements over superficial bragging rights.

So next time you find yourself about to boast about that high school football trophy or your ability to pull an all-nighter, pause for a moment. Ask yourself – does this truly reflect the person I am today?

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what we’ve done, but who we’ve become. And that’s something worth bragging about.