Quarter life crisis
This is how you escape the deep!
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A quarter life crisis gives you a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty. How do you overcome it? We show you how to find new satisfaction.
Quarter life crisis: what is it exactly?
You've probably heard of a midlife crisis. It takes place between the 40s and 50s and is therefore also referred to as "midlife", which alludes to half of the average life expectancy of around 90 years. Accordingly, the Quarter life crisisat about a quarter (in English "Quarter") of the expected life. So anyone around 25 years old can be affected.
Whether mid-life or quarter-life crisis: the topic is similar. It's about one Crisis of meaningin which we question our skills, expectations and experiences. We feel like we are behind with life – and that can create great self-doubt.
For example, you often ask yourself:
- "Have I really used my youth to the full or have I wasted it?"
- "Am I on the completely wrong career path and should I have done something completely different?"
- "Why is my life so much less interesting and insignificant in comparison?"
- "What is the meaning and value of my life?"
- "Have I missed something that I (apparently) can't make up for?"
- "Why can't I have what others have?"
A quarter-life crisis can last different lengths of time. Anyone who has a bad week does not immediately suffer from a life crisis. But if the sad mood lasts for several weeks and maybe even months, you may find yourself in a life crisis.
We should definitely take them seriously. Because even if the quarter-life crisis cannot be clinically diagnosed, it can lead to depression or burnout. And these mental illnesses take a long time to cure.
Quarter life crisis: how do I know if I have it?
Good phase, bad phase – a certain ups and downs are part of life. When the positive feelings have been missing for a long time or stop for a very short time, the basic mood changes little by little. You can recognize the crisis of meaning, for example:
- For a few weeks now nothing can really inspire or delight you
- You are angry about a lot of what happened in the past
- When you think about the future, great fears and worries arise
- You fight against resignation and it is difficult to bring yourself up to take action
- Again and again you feel great envy when you think about the lives of others
- Persistent inferiority complexes
- You have a great desire to break out and turn your life upside down
What can I do about a crisis of meaning?
A quarter life crisis can affect any of us. Especially in today's society in which we are through social media be drawn into the vortex of comparison more than ever. If you have the suspicion that you are currently in a crisis of meaning, you don't have to put up with it. The following points can help you to develop a new satisfaction and to go through life motivated and inspired again.
1. Give up repression
A crisis of meaning often runs subconsciously in the background. We don't feel good but don't want to admit it to us either. It is more likely that the negative feelings are suppressed than that we deal with them. But you can only overcome the quarter-life crisis if you actively deal with what annoys, annoys or scares you. Take a weekend to ask yourself what is missing.
2. Question your profession
Work makes up the majority of our lives. If you haven't been really satisfied for a long time, you should definitely question your job. Do you still enjoy the area? And if so, is the job with the professional environment also satisfactory for you? Or more and more often you get the feeling that you actually want to do something completely different?
Nowadays it is perfectly legitimate to completely change your career path again. Even if that means that you have to study something completely different again or decide on a new apprenticeship. Listen to your gut feeling – it is mostly right.
3. Find out what you have missed
A quarter of your life is over now – you won't get that time back. In a life crisis, that is exactly what worries you. But don't forget: You still have three quarters of your life ahead of you! So there is still plenty of time to experience what you still want to experience. The age does not matter! For example, if you have always envied others because they have traveled more in the world than you have, you can set yourself this goal from today. Which cities do you want to see? How can you incorporate travel more into your life? It is never too late to make your dreams come true. A vision board will help you!
4. Develop new goals in life
Sometimes it takes a new focus so that we can look ahead with confidence again. What do you still want to achieve in this life? Do you want to have a family, buy a huge apartment or start your own business? Right now you may not be happy with your life. But what would make you happy? One or more goals in life can give you completely new strength – and new motivation to get up in the morning purposefully.
5. Make peace with the past
We all have our parcel to carry. Maybe you regret a professional decision, maybe one or the other problematic relationship. The fact is: we cannot bring the past back – so today is the time To make peace with her and not to grieve anymore. A few things may have gone wrong in the first quarter of your life – that's annoying. But don't take the chance for yourselfto experience wonderful moments in the next quarter. Let go of the past, your future needs you!
You can also find more topics related to satisfaction, well-being and personality development in the BRIGITTE Community. Have a look!
Sources used: oberbergkliniken.de, researchgate.net