Quarter-life Crisis: Signs and How To Cope

March 13, 2023

If you are currently in your 20s or 30s and have been asking yourself these questions:

What am I doing with my life?

Is this what the rest of my life is going to look like?

What’s the point of everything?

…then you might be having a quarter-life crisis. 

There are different ways to explain what a quarter-life crisis is. 

According to Rachel Needle, a licensed psychologist, a quarter-life crisis is a time in a young adult's life — usually between their mid-20s and the early 30s — where they often feel stressed and uncertain as they try to figure out who they are and what they want.

“Quarter-life crisis is a crisis involving anxiety over the direction and quality of one's life which is most commonly experienced in a period ranging from a person's early twenties up to their mid-thirties.”

14 Signs of a Quarter-Life Crisis

It's hard to tell whether someone is going through a quarter-life crisis because there are no fixed "symptoms" that apply to everyone. In fact, some people might be going through a quarter-life crisis without realizing it. 

But here are some things you might be experiencing if you think you’re having a quarter-life crisis:

  1. You feel like you're wasting your time.
  2. You no longer find joy in the things you used to love.
  3. You’re not sure what to do with your life.
  4. Your relationships are fluctuating more than usual.
  5. You have trouble making choices.
  6. You experience feelings of social isolation.
  7. You’re just going through the motions without being fully present.
  8. You're tired or more stressed than usual.
  9. You may have signs of anxiety or depression.
  10. You’re either itching for a change or afraid of change.
  11. You have a lower sense of self-esteem.
  12. You feel like you need to find a purpose.
  13. You feel more insecure.
  14. You’re comparing yourself to others (especially with social media).

10 Possible Causes of a Quarter-Life Crisis

Why does someone experience a quarter-life crisis? There isn't one straight answer or cause. Some of the potential answers may not be the main cause for it, but they can make the symptoms worse. 

Oftentimes, this particular crisis has to do with how we see ourselves. When something happens that makes us question who we are or changes who we are, it can be confusing and scary; this is what the word "crisis" means.

Here are 9 things that may be making you experience a quarter-life crisis:

  1. Graduating without having plans for what’s next.
  2. Losing your job (or experiencing job instability).
  3. Facing constant failures.
  4. Moving to a new place where you don’t know anyone.
  5. Living alone for the first time.
  6. Financial insecurity or instability.
  7. A breakup or the end of a meaningful relationship.
  8. Grief over losing a loved one, friend, or family member.
  9. Marriage or engagement.

Knowing this information, what can you do about it? 

1. Self-reflect.

Look at your life and figure out where you stand: How do you feel? What things worry and stress you out? What do you believe in? Do you act based on what you believe in? What do you want, dream, and hope for? Are you making progress toward your goals?

Allow yourself to think. This can be done by writing in a journal, meditating, and being mindful. But you have to be honest and open with yourself, which isn't always easy. Do you like the way your life is going right now? What can you do to change things?

2. Change your view of what it means to be successful.

Success isn't the same for everyone, no matter what people say. 

Some people think that a good job and a happy family are signs of success. But for others, success might mean seeing the world and learning about different ways of living. It could mean investing in important relationships and giving back to your community. Others still might think of success as being a good parent or caretaker.

What's important to you? What would have made you happy? How can you reach your full potential? What do you want to get out of life?

3. Create a plan — or better yet, a Lifebook.

With social media and other “noises” distracting us, you can be easily swept away by other people's plans, ideas, and goals if you don't have a clear idea of what you want out of life. 

When you have a clear vision for your life, you can rid yourself of everything getting in the way of that vision in order to stay focused on what's most important to you. One of the best ways to clarify your life vision is to create a Lifebook. 

The idea of a Lifebook is essentially to make a plan for your life. Everything you want to be, have, and do— as well as all your hopes and dreams — can be written down in one book. Lifebook measures these 12 dimensions of your life: 

  • Health and fitness
  • Intellectual
  • Emotional
  • Character
  • Spiritual 
  • Love relationship
  • Parenting
  • Social
  • Career
  • Financial
  • Quality of life
  • Life vision

Measuring these 12 dimensions will help you stay on track and motivated towards reaching your life goals. If you’re interested in finding out more about how you are currently doing in life, you can take a FREE LIFEBOOK ASSESSMENT here: LINK

As a Certified Lifebook Leader, I can help you develop your Life Vision: a hyper-specific, crystal-clear, and deeply empowering game plan for transforming your soul’s deepest desires… into your reality.

Get in touch with me today and let’s realize the life you envision for yourself!

https://practice.do/me/mr-pink/book/coaching-discovery-call

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