6 signs you’re experiencing a quarter life crisis
Before I delve into discussing the quarter life crisis, let me share a little about why I am interested in writing about it. So, at that time, I was torn between continuing my studies or working, because when I was studying, I was thinking about how I would work later, while previously I entered a college major that I didn’t actually have an interest in, but there was pressure from my parents and at that time I was accepted to study at one of the state Islamic universities in Indonesia.
To cut the story short, when I experienced that, and at that time my friend posted a story with the caption “Quarter Life Crisis” and I asked and read on one of the question sites, and it was answered on Quora. So there I found some questions with answers to what I was looking for. Based on what I read and my personal experience, here are some summaries of the characteristics of people experiencing a quarter life crisis:
- Feeling not good enough and feeling that others will always be better than oneself
At that time, I was visiting the boarding house of one of my former campus friends, because this friend invited me to visit after not meeting for a long time. At the same time, it turned out that there was a campus friend of mine who had been active in politics since the beginning and even now in his work. But he told me how his working experience did not match the benefits he received, where whenever there was a problem with a client at any time, he had to come to the office and handle it immediately. He told me that he saw his former campus friends posting a story, working and looking quite enjoyable, or seeing other friends going on vacation or even getting married and having children.
2. Likes to compare oneself with peers
Well, this is also related to the first characteristic, and this was also mentioned in the previous article titled “Don’t get caught up in the dogma of quarter-life crisis.” Usually, people with this characteristic like to compare themselves with others, which makes us look bad, lack confidence, and even envy other people’s achievements.
3. Likes to question the decisions that have been made
This point is what I felt at that time when I was in college, it can be said that choosing the wrong major, which I didn’t even have an interest in, but because it was a state university and my parents strongly agreed, I ended up going there. Well, even though you know how it feels to do something that you actually don’t want to do. Then various questions arise about this feeling, whether this decision is right or not?
“Is it really okay to enter a field and major that I’m not interested in?”
“Where will I work in the future?”
“Is it really right for me to enter this university?”
“Is it really true that working will become X?”
4. Anxious about the future. Feeling trapped and frustrated with difficult or unchangeable situations.
Once again, when experiencing this, usually there will be questions about the situation, usually about family, work, and even relationships.
“Is he/she really a good partner for me?”
“Am I developing in my current job?”
“How can I help my family’s finances, my parents?”
5. Confused about the purpose of life
“What is life actually for, to find money, happiness, satisfaction?”
Questions like this usually arise and make people experiencing a quarter life crisis feel lost. Moreover, we live in an era of advanced technology because of the internet, which gives us many choices and too many choices make us confused.
6. Vulnerable and tend to be depressed
Yes, people experiencing a quarter life crisis tend to be depressed because they lack confidence, doubt themselves, and are reluctant to meet others who they know are better than them.
So what exactly is a quarter life crisis?
A quarter life crisis is a period when an individual starts to feel uncertain/insecure and eventually loses direction towards the future, usually related to career, finances, and relationships.
And based on statistics, this quarter life crisis is experienced by 86% of people aged 20–30 years. It usually happens during the transition from college life to the working world and can happen without any specific trigger. With a figure of 86%, it is a significant number that makes this phenomenon quite common, and I myself have experienced it. And maybe you, who are reading this, have, are currently experiencing, or will experience it.
“Do you feel these things?”
If so, don’t forget to consult with experts so as not to self-diagnose, because we often diagnose ourselves with what illness or disorder we have, but all of that is wrong. I hope this is useful, warm regards.
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