The Quarter-Life Crisis

Feeling lost in your 20s? This article is for you.

2 min read

You've probably heard about the midlife crisis and how difficult it is for people in their late thirties to mid-fifties, but what about the quarter-life crisis?

The quarter-life crisis is an existential crisis that is experienced by individuals in their early adulthood. The transition from childhood to adulthood can be very challenging and overwhelming. I know because I'm going through it right now!

We feel lost and start questioning our life purpose and career choices, comparing ourselves to our peers, and struggling to break out of our comfort zone. We feel the pressure to make drastic, life-changing decisions, but we don't know where to start. We want to make our parents proud, be financially stable, and just simply figure out our lives.

 Biggest signs you're going through a quarter-life crisis:

  1. Feeling like you're failing to meet your expectations or those of others.
  2. Feeling uncertain about your career path or feeling stuck in a job that doesn't fulfill you.
  3. Feeling generally dissatisfied with your life and experiencing anxiety or depression.
  4. Wanting to take action but struggling with making decisions.
  5. Constantly comparing yourself to others and feeling like everyone is doing better than you.
  6. Feeling like you're running out of time or wasting the best years of your life.
  7. Doubting your relationships or feeling like you don't fit in with your peers.
  8. Feeling lost or directionless.

The thing is, we often tend to forget that the 20s are a time of learning, maturing, growth, experimentation, and change. Each one of us has a different journey and a unique path to success; there is no one "right" path for everyone. Seek support from your close ones and seek opportunities for development and growth, whether from school, internships, or voluntary work. These encounters can teach you new skills and perspectives, and they can even inspire new career goals. Take your time, take small steps, and trust your process. And always remember that someone else's success is not your failure. Your time will come!