Maybe you’re in your early to mid-twenties, and you feel like your life isn’t going as planned. You might have imagined yourself having a more prestigious job title by now. Perhaps you haven’t even been able to break into your preferred field, and you’re still trying to get your foot in the door for a job you really like.
Alternatively, you might have a stable job. Yet you’re barely getting by financially. You may be wondering if your romantic relationship will last, or if you’ll find a partner one day who shares your values.
Overall, you’re just not where you want to be yet. Worse, looking at other people who have what you want has sent you spiraling into a quarter-life crisis. Here are a few signs that you’re stuck in a quarter-life crisis, as well as a few steps you can take to get out of it.
Key Signs of a Quarter-Life Crisis
Anxiety Over Your Past, Present, and Future
Right now, you might be questioning whether or not you’ve made the right decisions in life up to this point. You may be beating yourself up for studying a major that wasn’t lucrative, taking out student loan debt, or not taking on enough internships in college. On the other hand, you might have postponed college. Now, you’re trying to figure out if you should go.
As you ruminate on your past choices, you’re fretting about your present circumstances. You’re not entirely happy, even if people tell you that you should be proud of your progress so far. You constantly wonder whether you’re on the right path to the future you want.
Comparing Yourself to Others
When you’re so deep in anxiety over your own circumstances, you can’t help but look to other people who seem more successful on paper and ask what they have that you don’t. It’s important to remember that often, we only see other people’s highlight reels. Someone who seems professionally and financially successful might be struggling deep down, yet you would never know it.
Getting Through a Quarter-Life Crisis
Practice Letting Go of Judgment
To get through a quarter-life crisis, you need to let go of judgment towards yourself. Chances are, you genuinely have accomplished more than you realize. Even if you haven’t accomplished certain goals yet, you’re young. You have plenty of time to build the life you’ve always dreamed about. Everyone makes mistakes, and now, it’s time to forgive yourself for any missteps and commit to moving forward.
Create a Realistic Action Plan
Take a step back and assess where you stand in terms of your education, career, personal finances, relationships, and overall health and happiness. Next, write down where you want to be next year, five years from now, or ten.
Start mapping out the steps you’ll need to take to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Break down your plan into reasonable small steps to create a roadmap for your next few years, and commit to meeting these goals on your planned timeline.
Consider Talking to a Therapist
If you’re dealing with a quarter-life crisis, you might feel like you’re stuck in a rut. Committing to lifestyle changes can feel like a tall order when you’re bogged down by depression and anxiety. Working with a therapist can help you pull yourself out of this rut.
They can provide the guidance you need to change your life for the better – and they can also help you celebrate everything you’ve already achieved.
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Are you struggling to navigate a quarter-life crisis? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.