25-year Crisis: What it is and in What Aspects of Life it is Reflected

Your twenties can be seen as a vital time full of opportunities. Especially if we compare it with other ages, we can think of it as a time of youth, energy, fun and/or experimentation in the absence of the responsibilities of late adulthood (children, mortgages…).

However, the so-called “millennials” (born between 1981 and 1999) do not always feel as positive emotions as one would expect in this scenario.

What is the quarter-life crisis?

American psychologist Abby Wilner and journalist Alexandra Robbins coined the term “quarter-life crisis.” in his book of the same name, published in 2001.

Both refer with this term to the state of confusion and feelings of being lost and trapped that can appear in our twenties and lead to lifestyle rethinking including changes in friendships, partners, and vocations.

Why can we experience a crisis when we reach the age of 25?

The economic and social uncertainty, the awareness of the difficulties in becoming independent from the family of origin and being autonomous, the possible disappointments when immersing oneself in the world of work, the differences between the life that one thought one would have. at this age and the age one really has, doubts about one’s own performance and abilities in the face of social demands for perfection and success… These are some of the aspects that have been related to the experience of a crisis when reaching the stage between 25 and 30 years old.

The society in which we live, highly mediated and exposed on social networks, has established models of “perfect life” accessible 24 hours/day just by having a mobile phone with an Internet connection. We have models regarding how to dress, how to comb our hair, what our body should be like, how we should have fun, what we should eat, where we should work and where to travel to be accepted and considered successful.

This can generate a lot of pressure, which we can handle better later in our lives. In fact, there are studies that have confirmed that the presence of negative affect emotions (anxiety, sadness, stress, anguish, etc.) is greater in young people than in older people.

What are the fundamental aspects of the quarter-life crisis?

These are the typical signs and symptoms of this psychological phenomenon:

1. The search for a perfect job

Studies have found that young people are especially focused on achieving a perfect work situation. This includes looking for new jobs, better paid, with fewer hours, with greater status, better relationships with colleagues and with less stress. This can lead to a continuous state of tension, anxiety and worry.

2. Awareness and involvement in social and health issues

Experts agree that Young people are very aware of the problems that exist in society and those that they will have to face both economically, socially and even ecologically in the future.

It has also been pointed out that young people are fully aware of their own state of tension and try to reduce stress through specific activities, such as yoga, meditation, going to the gym or simply resting in bed for a while and sleep.

3. Prioritizing independence

Compared to older people, studies suggest that 20-somethings place particular importance on their independence. This means developing individual skills that allow autonomy at all levels although there is a risk of falling into extreme individuality.

Experts have detected that millennials describe personal relationships as an area to foster to achieve personal satisfaction less frequently than people in their 40s or 50s. Achieving a successful career seems to have become the priority over creating a family, compared to previous generations. Furthermore, the data suggests that young people do not go out or hang out with their peers as much as one would expect and even in relation to older people.

4. False spirituality

Studies have detected that interest in spiritual aspects (understood as the need to transcend and self-realization) appears at later ages. Furthermore, they point out a current tendency to seek satisfaction in material and quick aspects, when not fleeting. This aspect contrasts with spirituality based on bonding and deep aspects, and which can only be achieved in the long term.

Conclusion

In summary, the 25-year (or quarter-life) crisis is more common than it may seem at first glance. It is related to generational aspects, but also to the social, economic and ecological situation of today’s world.

The form and duration of the transition to adulthood has changed in recent years and can lead to disappointment and frustration if what we expected our life to be does not match our reality. Furthermore, the lack of certainty, uncertainty and awareness of all the problems that will have to be faced in the future can also influence the appearance of a state of tension and anxiety.

Given this, We can remain blocked or we can try to redefine this state of crisis as an opportunity to make the necessary changes so that our life gets closer to what we want. Crises are a good time to rethink our priorities and values. Furthermore, in light of the studies, it may be especially relevant to evaluate to what extent we are focusing on work aspects, leaving for later relational aspects (whether related to our partner, family or friends) and spiritual aspects. linked to satisfaction and self-realization.