Signs & Symptoms You’re Having a Quarterlife Crisis

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When you graduated from college, moved out of your parents’ house, or took that other next big step into adulthood, you likely heard the following from someone in your life:

“This is the most exciting time in your life! Make the most of it. Live every day to the fullest. I wish I could go back and do it all over again.”

And yet, maybe it didn’t feel as exciting as it should have. In fact, your 20s and 30s, despite being the rumored “most exciting time of your life” can often be the most disorienting. It involves so many big decisions and new experiences that you’ll find yourself wondering, “What am I doing with my life?” or “Am I doing this right?” more often than you’d probably like.

As you go through these transitions, you may experience a quarterlife crisis. This phenomenon is incredibly common for quarterlifers. Keep reading to learn the signs and symptoms below. 

What is a quarterlife crisis?

A quarterlife crisis is a period when someone in their 20s or 30s experiences overwhelming stress and anxiety regarding the transition into adulthood. Often, the person worries they won’t make the “right” choices and faces this anxiety as they transition from school to a full-time career, begin graduate school, move to a new city, end a relationship, get engaged, or budget their finances.

What are signs you’re experiencing a quarterlife crisis?

Here are some signs that you’re experiencing a quarterlife crisis:

1. You’re having difficulty making decisions and feel paralyzed about the next steps, even when you’re presented with choices
2. You’re lacking the motivation to move forward and you’re feeling constantly fatigued
3. You’re feeling lost with what you want to do with your life and you’re trying to figure out what you’re missing
4. You’re feeling tension between choosing a young person’s life (adventure, YOLO, etc.) and an adult’s life (settling down, making “grown-up” choices, etc.)
5. You’re comparing yourself to your peers who seem to have it all figured out and you’re worrying that you’re getting left behind

How did you get here?

If a lot of the above signs resonate with you, you may wonder how you got here. What brought on this quarterlife crisis? While these are incredibly common issues for most people in their 20s and 30s, some common stressors can lead to this uncertainty. Here are some events that may have you feeling this way: 

• Excessive job searching, interviews, or career planning
• Struggling with living alone for the first time
• Navigating new and serious relationships
• Fear of major life changes or lack thereof
• The COVID-19 pandemic and all the change its brought in personal and professional relationships

What can help a quarterlife crisis?

As noted above, a quarterlife crisis is far from abnormal for 20 and 30-somethings. If you’re experiencing the signs and symptoms above, you’re not alone! Here at the Quarterlife Center, we encourage you to face your quarterlife crisis and confront these important issues sooner rather than later. If ignored, they can bring about risky behavior and mental health issues.

Reach out for more help at s at 1-844-QLC-TALK (1-844-752-8255) or email us at talk@quarterlifecenter.com.