As you get older, it can be tough to remember what being in your twenties was really like. Not how it looks in your employees’ carefree Instagram photos or your own old photo albums (remember those?), but how it really felt in the moment.
Why Your Late Twenties Is the Worst Time of Your Life
Younger people’s brains just aren’t as good at dealing with stress.
March 07, 2016
Summary.
The “quarter-life” crisis experienced by many 20- and 30-somethings typically involves four stages:
1. Being locked into a commitment (relationship, job, housing, etc.)
2. Ending that commitment, and now feeling isolated
3. Internal reflection, followed by exploring new interests
4. Emerging from the crisis much happier and with a greater sense of purpose
It feels horrible at the time, but research suggests that going through this crisis is extremely valuable as we age. Folks in their 40s and 50s have higher stress levels than their younger counterparts, but they don’t jump into crisis mode. Why? Because those coping mechanisms that they developed as young adults have continued to strengthen. The pains of being a 20-something may feel terrible when you’re in the middle of it, but it improves our lives in the future.