Why a Quarter-Life Crisis Is a Time to Take Control
How to avoid the trap of doing nothing
What is a quarter-life crisis?
We’re all familiar with the idea of a midlife crisis. Someone who, upon reaching a certain age, suddenly falls into despair at the realization that their life is almost halfway to game over. There’s another term for a similar sensation that happens to people in their twenties and early thirties: a quarter-life crisis. And more and more of us are experiencing this.
The difference between the two is that where one is older and more likely has more money to entertain their new frustrations, the other is probably more frustrated at their lack of financial resources. This angst amongst others (rising property prices, relationship status, career trajectory, Instagram envy) paves the way nicely to low self-esteem, constant questioning and many sleepless nights.
According to the dictionary, a quarter-life crisis is a “crisis that may be experienced in one’s twenties, involving anxiety over the direction and quality of one’s life”.¹
That’s a good a definition as any to describe the mounting fear and panic that I experienced upon entering my twenties.
