Quarter Life crisis!

So lately I have been thinking I've been going threw one. A quarter-life crisis is defined as : Feelings of confusion, anxiety, and self-doubt experienced by some people in their twenties, especially after completing their education. Just finishing a stressful last year of grad school, my personal life doesnt exist, I'm having problems at work, I've gained a couple unwanted pounds, and going to the club just isnt as fun anymore. So I decided to pick up this book, 20 Something 20 Everything : A quarter-life woman's guide to Balance and Direction by Christine Hassler. In the welcome chapter there is a 10 question quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a 20-something crisis. You are suppose to read each question carefully and then answer quickly with a simple YES or NO. If you have 5 or more YES answers, then you are in an early midlife crisis.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. Do you feel a need to "have it all?" YES
2. Do you feel older for the first time in your life? NO
3. Do you feel pressure to grow up and get your adult life in order? YES
4. Do you often feel depressed, overwhelmed, lost, and maybe even a little hopeless? YES
5. Do you ever feel like time is running out when you try to figure out your career and decide whether you want to get married and/or have children? NO
6. Are you stressed out about choices that seemingly will effect the rest of your life? YES
7. Do you feel you have failed because you dont know what you want to do with your life? NO
8. Do you overanalyze yourself and your decisions? YES
9. Do you ever feel guilty for complaining about your life when you've lived only about a quarter of it? YES
10. Are you embarassed that you have not figured out or accomplished more? YES

So with 7 YES answers, I guess I am going threw a quarterlife crisis. Hopefully upon completing this book it will enable me to get out of this funk and better understand and evaluate my personal, financial, and career choices. I'll keep you posted as I continue reading.

Oh, and I am on day 4 of the Purpose Driven Life. So far, nothing revolutionary, but reading both these books ought to spark something.

17 comments

magnoliapeach December 28, 2007 at 9:54 AM

So I answered yes to about 8 or 9, lol.
I have both of these books (Quarter Life Crisis and Purpose Driven) and never completed either. I think I'll pick them up this weekend.

Jazzy December 28, 2007 at 10:38 AM

Girl...you are right where you need to be. Keep in mind there are people much older than you who have not acheived YOUR level of success.

Those questions could apply to ANYONE at ANY point in their life...especially questions 1, 4, 6, 8 & 10.

Miss Lovely December 28, 2007 at 11:03 AM

Yea those questions are pretty general because I guess I have a crisis going on over here too. School is stressing me the hell out (nursing) and I just keep telling myself its gonna be worth it in the end. Don't worry, you're pointed in the right direction..

Unknown December 28, 2007 at 11:07 AM

Girl I am feeling you on this one!!! I feel like I've been going through this for about 2 years now!!

Let me know how that 20 something book is...I may have to pick it up. I have a Purpose Driven life, but never finished it!!

BTW thanks for stopping by my blog!! Yours is great!!

Jameil December 28, 2007 at 1:30 PM

before i read that i was kind of thinking maybe i was but now i guess i'm not. that's refreshing. only a few of those answers applied. yay! a few months ago, tho, that wouldn't have been the case. reading books and going to church def. helped for me. puts things in perspective.

Mizrepresent December 28, 2007 at 5:31 PM

Now that's something i never, ever heard of...really "Quarter Life Crisis"...tell me, does this ish keeping happening? Anyway i think any book that helps you to trust and believe in yourself is a Good Book!

Xave December 28, 2007 at 6:50 PM

Is that what I've been going through? Actually, I'm 42 but I'm finally coming out of it. LOL

Peace and Love,

Ali's Zay (LoversA.blogspot.com)

Mr.Slish December 29, 2007 at 10:24 AM

My twenties wooow.. Haven't been there in almost 9 years. I didn't appreciate that time in my life the way i should have, Because when I look back now I realised I accomplished quite a bit...lol..

I guess what I'm trying to say is look at what you have going on now. From reading your very first post..You own a home, had some pretty interesting jobs and experiences. Your life isn't bad at all..You could be strung out with 6 kids and 5 baby daddies..lol...You'll be fine...: )

Rell December 29, 2007 at 3:22 PM

Nice blog, you've got here -- I'll have to check it out more from here on out...

Trust, the quarter-life crisis is real and is something a lot of us 23+ (especially black) are going through.

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that our generation doesn't have an enemy that we can see. Racism, War, disease, famine have always been overt and fairly visible.

Our parents had Civil Rights and Vietname, their parents had WWII, their parents had KKK, Racism WWI and Prohibition.

What do we have? You could say 9/11 but that was an attack, not something America itself did.

I think that has a lot to do with with the quarter-life crisis, we have no BIG ENEMY to fight again. Instead, we have veiled racism and faceless terrorists.

It's a different world. But keep your head up, we're as blessed as any people at any point throughout history! :-)

Anonymous December 29, 2007 at 6:18 PM

omg there's a book!!! i had no idea!! i need to go pick that up TODAY! but I feel your pain...but blogging about my "quarter-life crisis" has actually been very thereapeutic...let us know how the book is...

Anonymous December 29, 2007 at 6:31 PM

btw- i got your 7 questions beat- i answered yes to all of em!! i guess i'm really screwed up!!

WhozHe December 30, 2007 at 10:18 AM

Quartelife crisis you say. Huh, well some peach cobbler and two scoops of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream may make you feel better. Always works for me.

Jazzy December 30, 2007 at 10:03 PM

lol@whozhe...I had to laugh at that. Peach cobbler...man I could use some of that right now!

Rashan Jamal December 30, 2007 at 11:55 PM

I'm too old for a quarter life crisis... At 33 , I probably went through this about 8 years ago.

Eb the Celeb December 31, 2007 at 8:56 AM

@EVERBODY... you all are hilarious

@ slish... nope dont own a house yet... that was susan l. taylor article that was mentioning her goals... but you're comment did make me realize what I am greateful for and been able to accomplish. I dont have any kids, and more importantly havent had any abortions, I just finished my masters degree from a pre-ivy league university... I am living it up in NYC, a city that has been known to crush peoples dreams and send them back home crying and broke... so thanks!

Anonymous December 31, 2007 at 1:52 PM

eb- i'm grateful for the few things i have accomplished- i know it could be worse- but i can tell you personally that i would kill to be living it up in NYC...keep doing your thang!!

Empress January 23, 2008 at 2:50 PM

So Eb, how was the book? Now I am thinking about picking it up

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