Web Therapy & Your Quarter Life Crisis

Back in March, I wrote about my quarter-life crisis. For those unfamiliar with this phenomenon, a quarter-life crisis is the suffering of young adults as they transition from the comfort of adolescence to the harsh realities of adulthood.

After much investigation and plenty of thinking, I have composed a few (healthy) ideas for coping with a quarter-life crisis...

So you have a quarter-life crisis? Feeling down about where you are in life right now? Need a change of pace from your everyday? Here comes the Internet to your rescue:

Reintroduce Yourself To Yourself

What do you like? What are you really interested in? Do you have a hobby? What do you like to do? Take some time to dive into something that you absolutely love. For example, I recently began researching things that interest me like new technology, wrestling, tattoos, and cars. 

By doing this, you're getting to know yourself better. Instead of simply being able to say you like something, you can like something-specific-about-that-something and have in-depth conversations with people who share that interest.

Sometimes our interests are so vague, it's questionable whether we're interested in it at all.

If you don't know who these men are, you are not a wrestling fan.

Get Serious About Getting Your Life Together

Stop whining and start planning then doing! You may not be able to turn everything around today, but the first thing you can do a 180 on is your attitude. If your unhappy about your weight, decide to go on a diet and start an exercise regimen. If you wish you were like someone else, make a list of the qualities you admire and start adapting some. It starts with you!

Challenge Yourself

Self-esteem is a major hurdle for everyone going through a crisis. (After all, if you felt good about yourself, you wouldn't be having a crisis.) Taking on a [reasonable] challenge gives you an opportunity to boost your self-esteem; at the end of the day, you can say you did it!

Days 1-5 are going to suck, but on Day 6 you're going to feel awesome.

Distract Yourself

There is only so much progress you can make in one day. Sometimes you have to be happy with what you have until you can achieve more. Take your mind off the disappointment of your life not being the way you'd like by adopting a new hobby.

Sure, laugh. But while you were whining about your job, this guy got broke a record.

Note: It is especially worth it to do something creative! A painting or a good screenplay is something to show people and be proud of, which boosts the self-esteem.

Try Not To Make It Worse

Social Media Anxiety Disorder  (SMAD) is an easy way to discourage a quarter-life crisis sufferer. While you're worrying about your future, your classmates and friends are grasping theirs.

No one wants to be Gretchen Weiners!

Use your social media skills and censor yourself from this if you have to. There is no shame in not wanting people to gloat about their lives to you every day. You may even want to log off of your social networks until you can deal with your situation better. And remember...

Feel Good and Be Better!!!

And spread the love on Facebook!

My Quarter-Life Crisis

"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive." - Elbert Hubbard

Many people reach the middle of their lives and begin taking stock: How much time do I have left? What have I accomplished thus far? Have I ever truly felt alive? 

This internal struggle - commonly referred to as a mid-life crisis - usually manifests itself outwardly through risky/outrageous acts, spontaneous trips, and expensive purchases.

As painful as a mid-life crisis is, this is not the only crisis of the modern world some of us are bound to face...

Before you can even reach the "What Have I Done With My Life?" crisis, you must first encounter the "What Am I Going To Do With My Life" crisis: The Quarter-Life Crisis.

The overwhelming panic of being thrust into the "real world" clueless of what the future holds can be a terrible experience for us in our early 20s to 30s: What am I going to do with my life? Did I go to school for the right thing? Or have I screwed it all up already? Is happiness even a real thing?

Unlike a mid-life crisis, young people typically don't have the option to spend their savings on something to help cure their crisis. So what do you do?

Here's how I've been spending my quarter-life crisis...

Becoming A Warrior

Lately, my interest in martial arts has become a small hobby. Israeli Krav Maga, in particular, has piqued my interest, and I've been practicing a few techniques I found online. Feeling my punches have been weak (and my stamina should be better), I've also begun doing strength-building yoga from a book I bought a while back.

Becoming A Feng Shui Master & Fashion Stylist

My quarter-life crisis has brought out my creative side. Around Christmas time, I mentioned I bought a book about feng shui, and I love interior decorating! I've been watching a lot of HGTV and pinning a lot of home decor on Pinterest.

When I grow bored of interior design, I turn to exterior design. I watch Fashion Star and create outfits on Polyvore (inspired by music that I like).

Connecting To Culture

I've begun watching a period anime, Samurai Champloo, with deep plots in each episode and the smoothest music! This show has simultaneously educated me about Japan in the Edo period and reminded me of what hip hop used to mean before... what it is now...

This thought of culture has me into spoken word again, too. I actually got the urge to write a poem after a hard day at work while listening to the above song. (That melody soothes me.) I've also started listening to poetry on YouTube - which I strongly recommend on a bad day.

What are your suggestions for coping with a Quarter-Life Crisis?

Let me know on Facebook!!!