According to a study from LinkedIn, 75% of 25-to-33-year-olds have experienced a quarter-life crisis, defined as “a period of insecurity and doubt that many people in their mid-20s to early 30s go through surrounding their career, relationships, and finances.”
This also tends to be the age range when people have
graduated from college and are starting to settle down — figuring out exactly
how they want to live their lives between work, relationships, and living
scenarios.
The majority of the anxiety that induces the post-graduation
quarter-life crisis comes from fear, anxiety, and expectations:
- Fear
that they won’t find a career they’re passionate about.
- Anxiety
stemming from their financial situations and comparing themselves to
others.
- Expectations
around when they need to achieve certain life milestones.
If you don’t want to fall into the spiral of a
quarter-life crisis yourself and seek to remain happy instead, here are some
things to avoid doing after you graduate:
Never step out of your comfort zone
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
Cheesy, but true.
If you’re afraid to step outside of your comfort zone after
graduating, newsflash, honey! You’re going to have a really difficult time.
Whether it’s starting a side hustle business, applying for
your dream job out of the country, or embarking on a solo travel adventure
— there is so much opportunity to be found outside of your comfort
zone. A lot of people dealing with quarter-life crises struggle because
they continue on in their everyday routines, never challenging their limits.
When you make the choice to step out of your comfort zone
and be courageous, a whole world opens up that you never thought was possible —
even if you’re nervous at first.
Compare yourself to your colleagues & peers
Comparison syndrome is real after college, and it’s even
worse now with social media. But, comparison is the #1 thief of joy. In fact,
that same LinkedIn study found that 48% of 25-to-33-year-olds said that
comparing themselves to their “more successful” friends causes them anxiety.
It might be getting jealous of all of the different job
notifications you get from LinkedIn. Maybe it’s comparing yourself to others in
regards to when you’ll get married, have kids, or buy a house. Whatever it is,
the constant comparison game is keeping you in your miserable quarter-life
crisis.
There is always going to be someone smarter, prettier,
funnier, and better than you.
That’s okay. You’re not them, but they’re not
you. True empowerment comes from recognizing the fact that we are all
on our own unique journeys, and life is not a race to some finish line. You
don’t get a medal for getting married the quickest, or having the coolest
travel experiences before you turned 40.
Know what you bring to the table, and let others have their wins. Just because other people are happy and getting opportunities, doesn’t mean there’s not any on the horizon for you.
Expect one job to be your end-all-be-all
I had a job in my field set up for me to start working once
I had graduated from college. I remember feeling like I had my whole life
together, and couldn’t wait to start my first job with this company.
I quit working there after 2 months.
Oftentimes, getting your first “real” job within your field
is extremely exciting, and you bite at the job offer with zero hesitation.
There’s nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, people end
up realizing that they don’t really have an interest in that career field, or
that they’re stuck in a toxic work environment. When we’ve been drilled through
university about “climbing the corporate ladder”, it’s difficult to take a
step back and recognize the fact that we do should not have to sell our soul to
any company or job.
If something doesn’t feel right, it’s time to leave. There
are so many unexpected opportunities out there waiting for you.
Think that you’ll have it all figured out by the time you’re
a certain age
I think a lot of us grew up with the misconception that by
the time you’re 25, you have your life together.
You’ve got a job, a partner, a house, maybe a kid on the way
(or thinking about it). You cook 3 healthy meals a day, workout 5 times a week,
and blah blah. You’re also enrolled in an MBA program. You
know exactly what company you want to work for upon graduating, and your
retirement fund is set up so that you can start traveling the world by the time
you’re 50.
IF ONLY IT ACTUALLY WORKED LIKE THAT!
The truth is, people of all ages are still “figuring it
out.” A part of us is always going to be “figuring it out” because we are
constantly changing, growing, and evolving into better versions of ourselves.
You may decide on a career, think you have it all figured out, and realize you
hate that career — making a complete change.
That’s okay.
There is always enough time to “figure it out.” You’ve got this.
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