HELP - Anyone experience a quarter-life crisis????

Question

I'm a 26 year old male and I've been experiencing what's being called a quarter life crisis. Supposedly a lot of people in their 20's are going through this phenomenon. Basically I feel like I can't get my life on track. After graduating from college, I've worked in jobs I hate and have been in a few failed relationships. I've been single for the last 7 months and there are no prospects in sight. I've considered different career paths but I keep changing my mind. I wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing or has experienced this and if so, how do you overcome it?

Answer 1

YES! I thought I was the only one... I'm still in school, though, but everyday I go to work or class I am like WHAT AM I DOING!?! I have no idea why I am in the major I am in, I hate my job (sitting at a desk all day... I can't do that all my life), all my relationships have failed, it seems like nothing is on track... It is a scary feeling. I don't know if this is normal or how to overcome it either... but you're not alone. However, I am not sure how to overcome this... maybe this is normal 20s stuff? Idk....

Good luck to you with this!

Answer 2

Yes, my lover is 24, never went to college, and the company he works for is going under. He feels trapped under the weight of his decisions, where he's going, should he go back to school, everything. It seems common since all kids, about your age, coming out of college, feel like this. Especially the med students.  

Answer 3

That's not 1/4 life crisis, that's just life.

Jobs and relationships can go up and down your whole life.   The trick to stability is to discover what you are really looking for and set about to find that and have it in your life.

It's not necessarily going to be what you thought was your path when you were in your early 20's or younger.   Even prioritizing the qualities of  mates you've been choosing will change.   You mature and realize what's essential in a life long mate.

Try not to make any big choices or changes until you've spent some major time re-evaluating what is absolutely mandatory for you to find happiness, whether it be in a mate or a job.

It's not so much as a revelation as a process, so don't rush it.   Take 6 months or a year and try to discover who YOU really are, rather than who you thought you should be.  The two you's are often very different.

Answer 4

Yup.  I'm 25 and I know exactly how you feel.  I feel the same way right now.  Its just finding yourself in the world.  I'm sure I'll find my place, and you will too.  Just DON'T give up, k?  Keep pushing and doing the best you can.  

♪

Answer 5

My whole lifes a freaking crisis

Answer 6

im soryy im nowhere near your age and your scaring me now... :(

Answer 7

I hear you. I'm 27 and it seems like every year I have expectations that in a year or two my life will be more on track but it never seems to go the way I expect.

And you're right, it is common with people our age. Have you heard? They've named us the "boomerang" generation, for heading out into the world and then coming back home, and back out in the world, and back home... and so on.

My father is a very wise man and he tells me to keep taking opportunity after opportunity, because life is like a Ouija board: You don't know what is in store, but one thing certainly leads to another and you're going "somewhere".

I guess we never know when life will end for each of us, so try to enjoy the ride while you're on it instead of wondering where you'll be when it stops. And if you don't like your job, make sure that you're doing something else on the side that you ARE enjoying... golf, theater, sailing... whatever gives your life enjoyment and meaning.

Answer 8

I went through the same thing many years ago. The best advise I can give you is: don't make any snap decisions at this time.

The fact that you keep changing your mind shows that you are not in a place you want to be, but are as of yet unsure where you want to be. Anytime something pops up that may be a path you want to follow, research it completely and make an educated decision.

You don't want to wake up at 42 and go through all this again. It's worse when your 1/4 life crisis becomes a mid-life crises.  

Answer 9

I'm about your age and i've experienced some of what your going through. I think when we're young and just starting out in life, everything is new. Every job/person is interesting to us. Our minds are open just trying to suck it all in. So you go down a million roads realizing not one really interested in you. When your young you don't know what will make you supremely happy.

I think you need to do some deep soul searching. Who are you? Where do you fit in this life? Figure yourself out first then the job and the relationship will follow. You need to know what you want? That's the hard part, isn't it?

Try writing a journal, don't hold anything back. Make a list of your likes and dislikes. Read self-help books/websites on finding yourself (i know this sounds cheesy) you'll be surprised at what you may learn. Turn to spirituality for guidance, if you'd like. Remember always follow your heart!!! Oh listen to the song "Simple Man" I forget who sang the original but I know the Deftones do a cover...God Bless

Answer 10

Yep, I'm probably going thru the same thing.  I'm 5 yrs older than you...I'm close to graduating college.  I transfered too much...Long story.  Could you talk to a Life Coach or Social Worker / Therapist? -- They can help you get "back on track".  I'd do it but I can't afford at the moment.  Anywho, good luck to you friend.

Answer 11

take a job in your career path or degree. It will settle you on your decision on your next part of your career. Sitting and wondering never solve anything, make a choice a start is always the best decision. People switch jobs a lot before thay finally settle into there career path. What is happening to you is normal, embrace it.

Answer 12

yea same shoes here, don't know how to overcome it, just kept going for new jobs and kept doing so until i realized what i really wanted to do and started to persue it. Eventually i managed to get into a flying school and now i am working wit BA. Now i life is still in a big mess, by i try to ignore the negatives and focus on the positives since i seem to be flying away from my problems every day.

Answer 13

I'm going through the same thing but I'm only 21, but you have to think if I'm not happy then i need to do something to change it. you already have your life now it wont be hard to get it back try something new or you will never know and when you think like that it makes everything more clearer  

Answer 14

This is very normal at your age. You are allowing yourself to learn from mistakes as well as wise things you are doing.

You will gain lots of wisdom from your mistakes more so than your good choices.

Did you ever hear this??

There was a guy walking down the road, there was a big hole, he fell in, crawled out and said,(it was not my fault) Walked down the same road , another hole, fell in and climbed out said:(Maybe it was partly my fault) Walked down the same road again there was a hole, he stopped looked at the hole and proceeded to walk around it, and said, I will turn around and walk down another road.

I even told my kids this when they couldn't even read I would draw stick pictures of the little man and illustrate it in steps.

You will be just fine, hold your head up and go , go , go, I am very proud of YOU, FOR YOU ARE UNIQUELY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.

Believe this and don't listen to nothin else. I have faith in you and so does your creator.  

Answer 15

I did,  you'll get over it