We are all familiar with the concept of a midlife crisis, a far-off phenomenon that has no bearing on university students. But something that may hit a lot closer to home is starting to gain traction in the media – the quarter-life crisis. Some readers may recognise this term as the title for Taylor Bickett’s 2022 song about her experience as a twenty-something in the modern day, “focusing all of [her] energy on just being okay”. But what exactly is a quarter-life crisis? And how can it be navigated?
Collins Dictionary defines a quarter-life crisis as “a crisis that may be experienced in one’s twenties, involving anxiety over the direction and quality of one’s life”. A New York Times article by Dani Blum suggests that this phenomenon usually accompanies an individual’s transition into early adulthood, which is characterised by increased independence but also more responsibility and uncertainty. At this stage, people begin to distance themselves from their parents by moving out, starting to earn their own money, and relying more on peers for emotional support. Blum’s article suggests that even individuals in their late teens or mid-thirties could experience a quarter-life crisis, depending on their current phase of life. Furthermore, Blum points out that Gen Z’s quarter-life crisis has an added layer of anxiety, compliments of the pandemic and the increasing effect of climate change.
How prevalent is this crisis really? According to a literature review in Psychology Research and Behavior Management, a recent LinkedIn poll involving 6 000 adults aged 25 to 33 in the US, the UK, India and Australia revealed that 75% of participants were experiencing a quarter-life crisis. This indicates that this is a widespread phenomenon that impacts many young adults.
Leading causes
Leaving your childhood behind to enter the “adult” world entails dealing with new expectations. According to a review in Psychology Research and Behavior Management, “the numerous requirements to becoming an adult, such as finishing studies on time, obtaining the perfect job, choosing the proper spouse, or continuing education to a higher degree, are what lead to the quarter-life crisis”. Your anxiety over meeting these requirements is exacerbated when you open LinkedIn to find peers starting new positions at prestigious companies while you are still struggling to finish your degree (which you maybe hate). And the pit in your stomach grows bigger as you hear of people your own age getting married or having children, while you are still casually browsing on Tinder or Bumble. You take others’ experiences to be the norm and start to question whether you are falling behind in the race of life.
Questioning your goals and trajectory in life goes hand-in-hand with an identity crisis, which an article in the Hindustan Times indicates as a leading contributor to a quarter-life crisis. It can feel scary to not yet know who you are or in which direction your life is headed as you age, especially as you start believing that those around you have it all figured out.
How can you deal with it?
Talk about it. This is a cliché for a reason. Not only will sharing your experiences and worries with your friends lighten your mood, but it will also likely reveal that they are going through similar struggles. Maybe you can even embrace the pain by creating a Whatsapp group dedicated to memes about that quarter-life trauma.
Be patient. This one is recommended by Dani Blum. Realise that there are no set time constraints and accept that you do not need to have it all together by 25 (almost no one does, anyway). There is no need to rush along the path to adulthood.
Find balance. Therapist Satya Doyle Byock advises that you need both stability and passion or purpose in your life. While pursuing your goals can give you a sense of security, you also need to allow yourself to take part in activities you are passionate about.
Channel your frustrations. A 7 Summit Pathways article suggests channeling your stress and anxiety into another activity. Maybe learn ventriloquy, pursue your dream of writing My Little Pony fanfic, or start a side hustle selling cacti.
The path to adulthood is exciting but also riddled with anxiety, and it is normal to feel unsure about a slew of things. If you happen to pass the quarter-life crisis along the way, know that you are not alone. As Taylor Bickett sings, “everybody feels like this at 23” (or, more generally, at twenty-something).
