psychology
5 Subtle Signs You’re Having a Premature Midlife Crisis
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midlife crisis? Am I not much too young for this? In fact, many people experience this life crisis earlier and earlier. These five signs speak for it.
Most people find themselves having a midlife crisis in their late 40s or early 50s, if at all. They suddenly become aware of their own mortality and feel that they are not living their lives the way they really want to. So far, so well known.
Our world is changing, our society too. This can leave us feeling like we’re having a mid-life crisis from an early age. Even in their late 20s to around the late 30s, many people today, who are actually still young, are afraid that they have missed something or that they are not able to meet the demands of their environment. These are signs that you too may be in the midst of a premature midlife crisis.
These 5 subtle signs indicate a premature midlife crisis
1. You feel like you need to move on in your life
For many people in their 30s, the job and financial situation is different today than it was for their parents. While the boomer generation thanks to good Economic conditions earned relatively well early on, the world looks different for Millennials and Gen Z. Financial, economic and social crises ensure that many companies only hire for a limited period, real estate prices in the big cities are increasing immeasurably, so that normal earners can only dream of owning their own four walls.
All of this puts pressure on people in their late 20s and late 30s. Why am I not doing as well financially as my parents were at my age – or my friends, to whom everything seems to come naturally? Did I miss opportunities? What could I have done differently? Is it too late now? These and similar questions can be a sign that you are in an early midlife crisis.
2. You find it difficult to switch off
It could also be that the situation and your supposed failure stress you so much that you can hardly switch off. Your inner critic works overtime while you barely manage to calm down and just be. Of course, there can be many reasons behind this – a premature midlife crisis and a constantly revolving merry-go-round of thoughts about the topics just mentioned could be one.
3. You feel lonely
The world has never been as connected as it is today. We can communicate in seconds with people thousands of miles away. And yet probably never before have so many people been lonely as they are today. There can be many reasons for this, one of the most common being that we don’t feel understood. We can talk to countless people all day long – but still feel like we’re all alone in the world. Maybe you’ve moved away from people who were once very close to you because you’ve grown apart or because you feel like you can’t discuss certain things with that person. This can also be a sign of a deep crisis.
4. You are afraid of the future
When you look into the future, what do you see? Do you think that everything will develop positively? Do you see yourself as happy, in a loving relationship, or in the midst of a large family (if that’s something you desire)? Do you see professional success and financial security? But maybe your vision is more negative. Do you have the feeling that the world is turning faster and faster and you can’t keep up? Are you worried about inflation, about difficulties on the job market, about your dwindling pension? This could also be the beginning of a midlife crisis.
5. You feel like you’ve wasted your life
Perhaps as a teenager you thought that by the time you were in your late 20s you would have a secure job, a house, an optimal retirement plan and two children. But now you’re in your mid-30s – and you don’t seem to have achieved any of that. Of course, this could be because your desires and priorities have changed (after all, not everyone wants children and/or a home). Maybe life just had other plans for you. This can lead to a feeling of not being good enough. You may even feel like you wasted your life because it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined.
Do you recognize yourself in one or more of these thoughts? Most importantly, don’t stress yourself out any more. Because that would only lead to more brooding and send you even deeper into the brooding spiral. The first step out of the seduced midlife crisis might be to not be so hard on yourself. You are good the way you are – and you are exactly in the right place for you.
Even if you are not where you thought you would be financially, professionally, or personally at that age, you never know what that will be good for. And if you really feel dissatisfied with your life, take some time to think about what concrete steps you could take to get closer to your goal – whatever that might look like.
Sources used: yourtango.com, psychologytoday.com