Am I suffering a Quarter Life Crisis?
Discussion
I am sure this is similar if not the same as a Mid Life Crisis, however I am all of a sudden questioning my future in my career and in life in general. Socially my life is crap at the moment yet my family life is good. Although im in a stable and reasonably paid career, I find myself wanting to get away from it and do something else.
I'm not yet married and not yet with dependants. What am I missing? Do I need to stop chasing the ££ and start chasing happiness? (As I have found that more money does not necessarily mean more happiness.) I did consider emigrating however it does seem life is not generally better as an ex-pat. I am starting to wonder what actually provides contentment in life. Kids?
Is anyone else having some kind of life crisis and have they diagnosed their problem?
I'm not yet married and not yet with dependants. What am I missing? Do I need to stop chasing the ££ and start chasing happiness? (As I have found that more money does not necessarily mean more happiness.) I did consider emigrating however it does seem life is not generally better as an ex-pat. I am starting to wonder what actually provides contentment in life. Kids?
Is anyone else having some kind of life crisis and have they diagnosed their problem?
I have already had 3 quarter life crisis 'moments' and have not even hit 35 yet. All I can say is that the world is a very big place, wonderful to find out what is out there and live in different places.
You can also do pretty much any job you want and learn to do anything. No family really does mean you are not tied down. Make the most of right now.
I would not have thought at 21, I would have done most of what I have so far.
Remember that life is fragile, fleeting and you only get one.
You can also do pretty much any job you want and learn to do anything. No family really does mean you are not tied down. Make the most of right now.
I would not have thought at 21, I would have done most of what I have so far.
Remember that life is fragile, fleeting and you only get one.
Each to their own, but i sorted mine out (at 25 years old) by going traveling with my missus.
Year out, sabbatical from work. Round the world backpacking style.
Came back much 'richer' that i started (Not in money terms obviously). New career and even married the girl I went with
Make a big change, whatever that might be. However i suggest buying something material (I.E a car) won't help long term.
Year out, sabbatical from work. Round the world backpacking style.
Came back much 'richer' that i started (Not in money terms obviously). New career and even married the girl I went with
Make a big change, whatever that might be. However i suggest buying something material (I.E a car) won't help long term.
Always go for the money. Never assume that it isn't buying you happiness because it is.
Money allows you to make choices and do things that would be impossible or very difficult otherwise.
If you are very rich then I assume that there is some diminishing return rule somewhere but, trust me, it is far higher than most people ever earn.
Just consider if you had less money and found that your future involved none of, or very rare, foreign holidays, hobbies and fast cars. Plenty of people have to make choices along the lines of "If I cancell the kids activities then we will be able to go abroad this year" or "The wife is expecting so one income will make anything better than my old Astra 1.6 over budget" or "we can't afford a three bed home unless the hobbies, fast car and foriegn holidays stop" often followed by "I suppose if we bought Tesco value then you'd be able to carry on your watercolours / homebrew / walking club / etc"
Get some friends, join a club, attend and organise some events. A big social circle will give you contacts to fill up those unfullfilling times.
Money allows you to make choices and do things that would be impossible or very difficult otherwise.
If you are very rich then I assume that there is some diminishing return rule somewhere but, trust me, it is far higher than most people ever earn.
Just consider if you had less money and found that your future involved none of, or very rare, foreign holidays, hobbies and fast cars. Plenty of people have to make choices along the lines of "If I cancell the kids activities then we will be able to go abroad this year" or "The wife is expecting so one income will make anything better than my old Astra 1.6 over budget" or "we can't afford a three bed home unless the hobbies, fast car and foriegn holidays stop" often followed by "I suppose if we bought Tesco value then you'd be able to carry on your watercolours / homebrew / walking club / etc"
Get some friends, join a club, attend and organise some events. A big social circle will give you contacts to fill up those unfullfilling times.
el stovey said:
cymtriks said:
Always go for the money. Never assume that it isn't buying you happiness because it is.
As long as you are getting enough free time to enjoy it. I was holding down 2 jobs for about 2yrs from about 19...Only day I ever had off was a Sunday where I'd just sleep in.
It eventually was worth it where by I could ditch the 2nd job & just focus on my 1st leaving my weekends free again...Spare time is a wonderful privilige when you have it back again
Edited by ironictwist on Tuesday 5th January 10:00
Getting married this year so I guess the "find a loved one" is sorted 
I'm certainly not rich and not a top earner but I am looking out from my current job to see whether I can earn more money elsewhere or whether I can get away from a shift pattern and go back onto the Mon-Fri routine as I think that may improve my social life.
I would agree about the travelling - would love to go but already tied in with Mortgage/Job.
I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
I'm certainly not rich and not a top earner but I am looking out from my current job to see whether I can earn more money elsewhere or whether I can get away from a shift pattern and go back onto the Mon-Fri routine as I think that may improve my social life.
I would agree about the travelling - would love to go but already tied in with Mortgage/Job.
I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
Rob13 said:
I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
Ah yes! Im just amazed how many of my peers are already married & have sprogs at 22/23...The mind boggles when I think back to how they once were!Rob13 said:
I would agree about the travelling - would love to go but already tied in with Mortgage/Job.
I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
Ignore the facebookers. The amount of times i've been out in bars and people have gathered round for the classic "facebook photographs", they take the picture looking like they are having the time of their life, and then go back to standing around looking glum. Most people are trying to look like they are having a better time than anyone else.I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
Im thinking of doing a road trip in the U.S, or at least pursuing a better job and different hobbies
Should do the trick to solve my quarter life crisis. If not, i'm going to drive an mx5, while having sex with hookers and taking a bit of coke in true ph stylie :b Doesnt sound like a crisis chap, I think most of us sit and wonder what else we could be doing with our time sometimes.
If the job isnt really doing your head in, and allowing you to afford the necessary things in life plus a few of the more luxury items then it cant be all bad.
Some people just seem to be driven to do certain things and probably look very fulfilled to the rest of us - but even those jetsetters who just disappear off on a whim, are they any happier than you are? Maybe maybe not - they're probably worrying how the next flight to the next destination is going to get paid for and no doubt wont have a steady form of income to rely on when the trips come to an end.
Set yourself a short term goal of something that you fancy doing - whether that be doing a track day, going to see a particular comedian you like, going on holiday for a week to somewhere you fancy, or just bumming around at home tinkering with the car. Then look to the next thing you wanna do.
It alwasy seems to me that positive driven people with something to aim at, seem to fair better than those who have nothing to aim at. If moneys your thing, then gun for the next big earning job, it will make you more confident in yourself, possibly push you into a new circle of friends and allow you the money to participate in whatever social activities are available to these people.
Ive gone from working my @r$e off in a low paid job and thoroughly enjoying it, to being in a much better paid job and being totally bored and disillusioned (its afforded me a couple of toys along the way to numb the pain) but you have to try and decide what it is you fancy doing - whether thats professionally or personally.
Perhaps you could list a few things that 'tick your boxes' and then we can have another crack at suggesting the next move?
Good luck anyway!
If the job isnt really doing your head in, and allowing you to afford the necessary things in life plus a few of the more luxury items then it cant be all bad.
Some people just seem to be driven to do certain things and probably look very fulfilled to the rest of us - but even those jetsetters who just disappear off on a whim, are they any happier than you are? Maybe maybe not - they're probably worrying how the next flight to the next destination is going to get paid for and no doubt wont have a steady form of income to rely on when the trips come to an end.
Set yourself a short term goal of something that you fancy doing - whether that be doing a track day, going to see a particular comedian you like, going on holiday for a week to somewhere you fancy, or just bumming around at home tinkering with the car. Then look to the next thing you wanna do.
It alwasy seems to me that positive driven people with something to aim at, seem to fair better than those who have nothing to aim at. If moneys your thing, then gun for the next big earning job, it will make you more confident in yourself, possibly push you into a new circle of friends and allow you the money to participate in whatever social activities are available to these people.
Ive gone from working my @r$e off in a low paid job and thoroughly enjoying it, to being in a much better paid job and being totally bored and disillusioned (its afforded me a couple of toys along the way to numb the pain) but you have to try and decide what it is you fancy doing - whether thats professionally or personally.
Perhaps you could list a few things that 'tick your boxes' and then we can have another crack at suggesting the next move?
Good luck anyway!
r1ch said:
Rob13 said:
I would agree about the travelling - would love to go but already tied in with Mortgage/Job.
I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
Ignore the facebookers. The amount of times i've been out in bars and people have gathered round for the classic "facebook photographs", they take the picture looking like they are having the time of their life, and then go back to standing around looking glum. Most people are trying to look like they are having a better time than anyone else.I think Facebook hasnt helped as you get to see what others are up to and they always seem to be having a better time than I am!
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