One of the most difficult times in any woman’s life is around 25; it can feel confusing, high-pressure, and like you’re running out of time, despite knowing that you still have many decades to enjoy. This challenge is all too common, and here are some telltale signs you’re now going through this phase as well.
Relationship Uncertainty
Doubts about romantic relationships often arise during a woman’s quarter-life crisis. She might question if her partner is the right one or if she’s missing out on better opportunities. Unfortunately, these doubts can cause stress and strain on her relationship, even if the couple are otherwise happy together.
Feeling Directionless
One of the most overarching themes of a quarter-life crisis is a sense of overwhelming aimlessness. A woman experiencing this might feel like she’s floating around in life without a clear purpose or direction, which can be disorienting and lead to further anxiety about the future.
Overwhelmed by Choices
These days, the sheer multitude of life choices can be paralyzing, marking another common theme of a woman’s quarter-life crisis. Deciding between career paths, places to live, or even daily decisions can all be a serious source of stress, resulting in an overload that can make it difficult to move forward confidently.
Career Confusion
One of the most classic signs that a woman is going through a quarter-life crisis is when she is questioning her career path, wondering if her job aligns with her passions. As Harvard Business Review explains, she may feel trapped in a role that doesn’t fulfill her after years of study, leading to frequent thoughts about changing careers or returning to school for a different field.
Financial Anxiety
Struggles with managing finances are another common sign of a quarter-life crisis, as a woman may worry about student loans, credit card debt, or simply making ends meet. This financial stress can lead to sleepless nights and a constant feeling of unease, making her question whether she should have taken a different path in life.
Comparing Success
These days, social media is terrible for exacerbating feelings of inadequacy. When a woman constantly compares herself to peers who seem more successful online, it can lead to feelings of failure. This comparison can be mentally draining and contribute to a negative self-image, so it’s important to remember that it’s generally unrealistic and fake.
Friendships Evolving
Many quarter-life crises begin with changes in friendships; as people grow, friendships often change, which can leave a woman feeling isolated or out of sync with her social circle. This shift can be particularly tough if it feels like everyone else is moving on without her, but it’s important to remember that everyone moves through life at different paces.
Questioning Personal Values
When a woman starts to re-evaluate her personal beliefs and values, this could well be a sign of a quarter-life crisis. What once seemed certain may now feel questionable, leading to a period of introspection and self-doubt. Spending your entire life with a certain perspective, only to start questioning it, is undeniably tough to deal with.
Seeking New Experiences
Another telltale sign that a woman is going through a quarter-life crisis is if she shows an intense desire to travel or try new things. She might feel a need to break away from routine and explore different cultures or lifestyles to find herself, an urge for change that can be both exhilarating and daunting.
Burnout
One of the most common symptoms of a quarter-life crisis is burnout, with a woman feeling completely exhausted and unmotivated despite having a manageable workload. She has been constantly striving for success for too long without feeling fulfilled, and ultimately, she feels physically and mentally fatigued, making even the simplest tasks tiring. Ultimately, she needs a break and may want to consider change for her 30s.
Imposter Syndrome
Even if she has achieved a lot in her life so far, a woman might doubt her accomplishments and feel like a fraud during her quarter-life crisis, otherwise known as imposter syndrome. Despite external validation, she might feel she doesn’t deserve her success and fears being exposed. In reality, this is probably just a trick of her mind, yet it can still hinder her from fully embracing her achievements.
Existential Questions
While a quarter-life crisis usually occurs far before the end of life, a woman experiencing this tough period might start to question her mortality, the meaning and purpose of life, and other existential questions. These deep philosophical questions could even lead to an existential crisis, taking this enriching situation and making it feel very unsettling.
Physical Symptoms
Despite quarter-life crises generally being a mental challenge, the stress and anxiety that it causes can still manifest physically. Symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or insomnia can arise, leading a woman to think that she is becoming sick when, in reality, she’s just going through a turbulent period of her life.
Loneliness
Even with a supportive network, feelings of loneliness can overwhelm a woman during a quarter-life crisis. She might feel misunderstood or disconnected from those around her, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and contribute to a sense of being different from everyone else.
Regretting Past Decisions
It’s very common for women experiencing quarter-life crises to reflect deeply on their past choices, often with regret. She may wonder if different decisions would have led to a happier or more successful life, a feeling that can be completely paralyzing, preventing her from moving forward with confidence.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Another common symptom of a quarter-life crisis is having a strong fear of missing out on opportunities. A woman might feel pressured to seize every opportunity that presents itself to her, worrying that her life could change for the positive at any moment. Unfortunately, this generally tends to lead to stress and dissatisfaction with her current situation rather than genuinely exciting opportunities.
Difficulty Making Decisions
Women are often plagued by indecisiveness during their quarter-life crises, with the pressure to make the “right” choices causing them to second-guess and hesitate on every decision. It’s a similar sensation to FOMO, making even the most simple decisions feel overwhelming and life-altering.
Desire for Authenticity
After 25 to 30 years of being alive, a woman might start to get sick of the fakeness of her reality, craving for a more authentic life. She might feel a disconnect between her true self and the life she’s living, prompting a desire to align her actions and choices with her core values. This pursuit of authenticity can certainly be liberating, although challenging, too.
Educational Doubts
It’s an unfortunate fact that when a woman has a quarter-life crisis, she may start dwelling on the value of her education and its relevance to her career. It’s very common that she will question if her degree was worth the investment, as it may not have helped her much in life. She may even consider returning to school and studying a completely different degree to kickstart a new career.
Seeking Therapy
One of the more positive sides of a quarter-life crisis is when a woman turns to therapy or counseling for support. After years or even decades of struggling, she may have finally realized that she needs help, realizing that only professional guidance can help her navigate this challenging period. While this will no doubt be tough, it’s certainly a proactive and beneficial step to take.
Changing Personal Goals
Above all, quarter-life crises are often synonymous with seeking change, so a woman’s long-term goals may shift dramatically during this time. She might find that what she once aspired to no longer holds the same appeal, leading to a reassessment of her future plans. This can be disorienting but also an opportunity for growth and realignment.