I Don’t Know What I Want To Do With My Life

Whether you’re right out of college, experiencing a quarter-life crisis, or already mid-career and questioning everything, we’ve all had those moments when we have a mini life freak out. You’ve never looked at yourself in the mirror while screaming “I don’t know what I want to do with my life”?! It seems like everyone else has their lives together with these amazing high-paying jobs and we’re still buying the $10 bottles of wine and drinking on our couches. We get it, and believe us when we say you’re not alone.

Don’t believe us? There’s an entire Reddit addressing this issue, filled with others who don’t know what to do with their lives. Twenty-somethings are giving other twenty-somethings advice, and letting them know that it is okay to not have your life as picturesque as the ones you stalk on Instagram. Still concerned about what you should do with your life? Keep the following in mind, and you’ll be okay.

Your 20s are the time to figure things out.
As perfectly stated by TetrisArmada in the Reddit post, “If nothing else, do keep in mind that the 20s are the time to figure out what works and doesn’t work for you to invest in long-term; I thought I’d have all my shit figured out by now, but I’m still working for it. There’s no set time to have everything set in place, and you might be surprised that many find their long-term careers in their late 20s, even early 30s. It’s about finding something you want to make into more than just a job, immersing yourself in related and marketable skills, and then honing it to a finer point as you go. There’s plenty of road and time ahead, but I think you shouldn’t feel too pressured.”

Explore your creativity.
Wanting to use your creative side while stuck in a cubicle doing paperwork is a common reason for twenty-somethings to questions themselves. Let it be known that it is okay to explore your creative side. In fact, it’s even something you can make money off of. Monetize your creativity by using Etsy to cash in on your creative side, or take a look at these creative careers for young professionals.  Many millennials are afraid to embrace their creative side, but they should.

Don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20.
If you’ve never heard of this saying, I suggest engraining it into your mind. With social media, we see everything. We see other 25 year olds making bank by posing on Instagram whereas we’re slaving away at a 9-5. Just because you’re the same age does not mean that you’re at the same place in your life. Everyone’s story is different, and everyone reaches different chapters at different points in their lives.

Step back and evaluate.
You receive the most clarity on situations when you take a step back and take a look at everything as a whole. Ask yourself, “does this really make me happy?” If it does, congratulations, you found your calling and what you should do with your life. If you’re not happy, congratulations, you now know that you need a change in your life. What’s that next step? I can’t tell you. That’s something you need to figure out. No one knows you better than you do. As much as I wish someone could tell me what to do so I don’t have to make decisions, that’s not how life works. We know ourselves; other people don’t.

Try new things.
You never know unless you try. Don’t know what to do with your life? Well, try things you haven’t before. If it doesn’t work out then try something else. Research different opportunities that interest you from opening that Etsy shop to freelancing to a career change. If something sparks your interest, go for it.

It’s okay to be unsure of what you’re doing with your life. You’re not alone.