Google the term “quarter-life crisis” and you’ll find hundreds of articles talking about it, from what exactly it is – Wikipedia describes it as “a period of life ranging from twenties to thirties, in which a person begins to feel doubtful about their own lives, brought on by the stress of becoming an adult.” The page also details signs that you’re suffering from it and how to overcome it.

But, how is it different from a mid-life crisis? Is it just a term that millennials have created in order to avoid the responsibilities of being an adult?

Alexandra Robbins, one of the authors behind the famed Quarter Life Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twentiesbook explains: “The midlife crisis revolves around a doomed sense of stagnancy, of a life set on pause while the rest of the world rattles on. The quarter-life crisis is a response to instability, constant change, too many choices and a panicked sense of helplessness.”

(Read also: Let's talk about the pressure of getting married in your 20s)

I’m one of those who experience this so-called crisis among other young adults out there. The thing about being in your 20s is, it leaves you in an awkward situation where you are expected to become a completely independent individual who gets their life together, while at the same time this is your first time diving into the adult world. This expectation-doesn’t-meet-reality situation then makes you feel insecure about everything, the question of “what do I want to do with my life?” constantly lingers on your mind, all the while dealing with finding the job that really suits your passion, paying for your own needs and wants for the first time and trying to somehow give back to your parents.

And on top of that, let’s not forget that we are now living in a world where everything that we do is well-documented and well-shared on social media. We see our friends posting updates of themselves traveling across continents, working at a prestigious company or making money from something that they are passionate about. These things can leave you feeling inferior about yourself. Robbins herself believes that both the media and public tend to celebrate the success of twenty-somethings, making us believe that we should all be successful and have a wonderful, free time to do whatever we want to do.

In an article published by The Guardian, Dr. Oliver Robinson, a lead researcher from the University of Greenwich, explains that there are four phases of a quarter-life crisis: The first one is feeling “trapped” in a job, relationship or both, the second is defined by a growing sense that change is possible, the third is a period of rebuilding a new life and the last phase is the cementing of fresh commitments in your life.

As daunting as it may sound Robinson actually believes that dealing with a quarter-life crisis can turn out to be a positive experience and the crisis itself usually lasts for two years on average.

When it comes to overcoming a quarter-life crisis, there isn’t a one-rule-fits-all solution. Everyone has their own way in dealing with the problem, but one thing that you need to keep in mind is: you are not alone, I’m dealing with this too and so are your friends. It’s important that you surround yourself with people whom you can talk about this issue, friends who will walk through this struggle together with you.

(Read also: How social is social media?)

And by all means, stop comparing yourself to others! It doesn’t matter if this girl runs a successful business by the age of 25, or that guy is now spending his time city-hopping on a daily basis; everyone works according to their own timeline. Someone may achieve their dreams quicker than you and that’s perfectly fine, that doesn’t make you a failure. 

Also, remember that social media is not the real world; people use editing apps and filters to generate likes. No one likes to post their ugly side (figuratively and literally speaking) on the internet, right? Instead of wasting your time envying other people’s life, use your time to deal with your quarter-life crisis. Find out what it is that you really want to do with your life, make plans and dare to make bold decisions when it comes to redefining your life, because in the end nothing defines the successful more than their realization of what their dreams are and an ability to achieve them.

---------------

Interested to write for thejakartapost.com? We are looking for information and opinions from experts in a variety of fields or others with appropriate writing skills. The content must be original on the following topics: lifestyle ( beauty, fashion, food ), entertainment, science & technology, health, parenting, social media, and sports. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com. For more information click here.

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales