3 Signs You're in a Quarter Life Crisis + What To Do About It
Quarter life crisis. It’s a term you keep hearing and you can’t help but wonder, “Is this about me?” You’re only 26, but God… life feels so hard right now. Everyone expects you to be happy…..You want to be happy. You’re in a career you worked hard for. You have a great circle of friends. You feel supported by your family. Yet, even with all this you feel trapped, under pressure, and definitely not fulfilled. So WTF do you do about it?
Good news! Don’t freak out. What you’re experiencing is pretty common.
We’re going to talk about 3 signs you might be experiencing a quarter life crisis and what to do about it.
1. You feel trapped.
I mentioned this before, but it’s the best way to explain it. It’s like putting on a jacket from 3 seasons ago. You think it’s gonna fit, but you put it on and damn…you can barely hug yourself without ripping the seam. That feeling ..the one that forces you to rip the jacket off is the same feeling you have about life right now. It just doesn’t fit. You want it to fit, everyone has you believing it should, but no matter what you try it still doesn’t fit.
2. You’re under pressure to marry or have kids
Society has us believing that just because you turn a certain age you should be married or married with kids and if you’re not there must be something wrong with you. Let me stop this line of thinking right now. You are an amazing human being. If you want a single life (sometimes I wish I was) then enjoy it! Don’t want kids…..I totally get it…so don’t have kids. Regardless of how you really feel deep down about this issue, society has all kinds of ideas for you. After I got married my mother-in-law persistently asked when she was going to have grand babies. In fact, one year for Christmas she bought me an anatomically correct baby doll with a diaper to get her point across. I was pissed. We waited almost 10 years to have kids. I get it. This kind of pressure can easily put a burden on you that triggers a quarter life crisis.
3. You want a complete career change
Not too long ago you graduated from college. Maybe even grad school. You’re carrying a shit ton of student loan debt and you feel stuck in a career you don’t want anymore. Telling your folks is the last thing you want to do. How do you even begin to put it into words? Your career isn't fulfilling. Maybe you need a side gig or something else that brings you joy. You don’t even know anymore.
What the hell to do about a Quarter Life Crisis?
If you connect with any of these 3 signs I want you to know it’s not the end of the world. In fact it’s actually pretty common to feel the way you do. So what the hell do you do about it?
You talk to someone who can help you get clear on what’s really important in your life. You want someone who will believe in you and support you in exploring your sense of self and if necessary, help you redesign the life you want. Someone who will help you build a life based on YOUR values YOUR terms not someone else’s. (What’s the difference between a life coach and therapist? Guarantee you’ll know after watching this video)
Who do you contact? You can talk to a mental health professional or even a Life Coach. Bottom line - there are trained individuals that know how to help you find fulfillment again. You just have to reach out.
If you’re curious, check out Life Design: From Clutter to Clarity a coaching program designed for those stuck in a Quarter Life Crisis.
