Everyone has heard of a mid-life crisis. It typically can happen to anyone from age 40 to 60 and affects both men and women equally. When someone hits a huge milestone birthday, it can cause them to pause and reflect on their life. What they have accomplished, everything they haven’t done yet, and their contentment with life.

There is something wonderful about every decade of your life. New milestones, goals, and achievements can help you continue to feel motivated for everything yet to come. The decade of your 20’s is no different. Many people may not realize, however, that this decade isn’t full of the bliss that some people seem to think it is.

Because being in your 20s, in this modern age, comes with its own set of unique challenges. There is a lot of worrying, questioning, and reflecting that also comes with this age range. The truth is people can also experience a quarter-life crisis.

What contributes to a quarter-life crisis?

Are you young? Absolutely. Are you healthy? Relatively speaking, you probably are. But our happiness and contentment with life go beyond that. In our mid-20s, we are worrying about the direction of our life. Am I actually happy with the career I chose? Is it too late to go be something else? What if I never meet the right person? Will I make enough money to support myself or a future family? I am barely scraping by in an entry-level job—how on earth can I save for retirement? Should I start now?

These are all resounding questions that cycle through most “20-somethings” minds. If you recognize any of these questions in your mind and feel like you are experiencing a quarter-life crisis, know that you aren’t alone. But knowing how to deal with it is something else entirely. Here are some tips to help you during this period of time.

Helpful Tips To Deal With A Quarter-Life Crisis

There’s Still Time

No matter our age, we tend to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. So does society. There is pressure to make money, get married, or have kids by a certain age. This pressure typically begins to kick in around your mid-20s. It’s even worse when the people you graduated high school, or college achieve any of these things—making you feel you are behind and not measuring up.

There is still time. You are young enough that all of these things can still come to you if you want them. You are also old enough now to be picky about your choices in life. The decisions you make in your 20s are yours and yours alone. You don’t need to conform to someone else’s viewpoint of how your life should be going right now.

You Don’t Need To Have It Figured All Out

With all the questions you are getting about your life, kids, marriage, careers, etc…it can feel like you should know it all by now. But honestly, no one does. In fact, at any age, it’s more surprising and rare to find someone who does. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do with your life, where you want to live, or if kids and marriage are in your future. We’re human. We don’t have all the answers. And anyone who acts like they do is likely just bluffing.

Dealing with the anxiety that comes with getting older is natural. You may feel like you are going crazy or that this quarter-life crisis will never end. This, too, shall pass. But, still, if you are excessively worrying, anxiety counseling can help. Let’s connect soon so I can help you see the promise in the future again, no matter what it holds.