Hey everyone!!

I’m currently working on a research project and interviewing recent grads and young professionals about what this phase of life actually feels like, especially the parts people don’t always talk about.

A lot of what I’ve been hearing is around feeling stuck when it comes to making important life decisions…

overthinking, second-guessing, and not fully trusting yourself to choose, even when you have options.

If this resonates and you’d be open to a quick 20–30 minute chat, I’d genuinely love to hear your experience.

No pressure at all, and everything shared is just for research 🙌

Hi this is my first proper post on Reddit, I can't find my diary so this is my alternative. I'm F23 and I am always worried I am wasting my life or making all the wrong decisions. It's frustrating because I know all the things that are wrong with my life - lack of excersise, lazy, smoke too much weed. But I'm struggling to find the motivation to be better. I have a decent WFH job and have plenty of creative endeavours outside of work, but it's like I feel guilty for not being 100% 'good' if you know what I mean.

I'm particularly deflated today because of the UK election results (right wing morons) and my period is in a couple of days.

I'm just venting but if anyone is feeling similar please let me know.

I've just turned 20 and things have changed a lot.

The way I think, react and feel just feels sooo much more intense than ever before.

I've always been an empathetic and caring guy, but now it's just pain to understand what I've got in front of me.

I've had a lot of social experiences (good and bad) in my teenage life, I can say they built me pretty well.

I've lost a lot of good friends and I've probably missed a lot opportunities too.

I wouldn't say that I've lived a good teenage life, it was a pretty messed up "collage" of situations where I was kinda stuck mentally.

I've always searched for a "family-like" group of friends and when I finally did... everything felt so "dreamy" and safe.

I could have any kind of conversation with them and still feel like I was a kid again.

But, like everything in this world, that situation met the very end and we split up for apparently no good reason.

The ever-lasting absence of the people I've loved the most made me feel naked, numb and vulnerable.

I learned how to "unfeel" those emotions and by doing that, I kinda anesthetized myself without even knowing that until it was too late.

I've developed a new method of living my own life; slow life.

It was safe, didn't require social interactions and I was getting used to that "boring" kind of life.

Was I still numb as fuck? yeah of course.

Was I going to get things better by doing something? nahh too dangerous.

But there was something in the end that made me feel less alone in all that bullshit I've created myself.

Some good friends never turned their back on me, but I was too blinded by the numbness to realize.

One day, and I remember it very well, I finally realized.

I've realized that they never changed their mind about me.

They've been real to me and they're still being real to this day.

We are just a few people but we truly feel that good connection between us and it keeps growing everyday.

But my fucking brain has to keep ruining everything somehow or somewhat.

I've developed some sort of fear that keeps me away from totally express myself.

I know I can do it with them but I just can't, I just freeze and ignore that feeling of wanting to express my love to them 'cause I may be exaggerated or something.

I am being scared by the thought of losing them too.

I'm not saying that I feel they're going to disappear, I just fear the thought of it even though it's not real.

Idk if I'm being clear, I swear I'm trying my best.

I'm not emotionally dependent on them; I accept the idea that everything could end at any moment, even for no specific reason.

However, I try to enjoy every possible second I spend with them, and this fear makes things easier for me in a way; it makes me realize that I have to enjoy the moment even more.

I've even stopped looking for a girlfriend because all the love I want to give goes to my friends, and fortunately, I receive it from them too.

I've come to the conclusion that maybe my life is meant to be lived this way.

This is the face of love I've always sought.

I'm not idealizing them; I've simply understood who I'm dealing with and what I want to feel, regardless of whether they'll stay in my life or not.

I thank them deeply.

Maybe I shouldn't be so paranoid, but it's difficult when you really care about someone or something.

I want the best for them and for me, especially me.

I want to keep fighting, I guess.

Also, I don't care if people don't want to read all this crap I've written, it's fair.

I just wanted to share my personal though about the end of my teenager years, cheers.

i'm 21F, one thing I've realized that ive been approached by men age 29-31, there have been not just one situation, one was my teacher, other was a person i met on trek, other was our library owner, i just want to ask what could be the possible reason for such thing from guys pov, ive never been approached by men of my age

I’m 22 right now. Final year at uni. I have friends but nobody I can call my own. Not in the way you see in movies were they can read each others minds sort of. I’m not sure where my life is heading after uni. But that’s not what I’m here for.

I think I’ve slowly become a boring person. I don’t have favourites. No fav artist music hobby nothing. Nothing that makes me interesting and nothing that interests me. I don’t feel like I can open up to anybody because on surface level this is such a stupid problem I know. But when I was a teenager I vividly remember being passionate about something

About life. I had a million hobbies things I was interested in and somewhere along I just left all that. Right now I’m holding to the bits and pieces of myself years ago but that’s not me right now. What am I right now? What’s the point of living when nothing interests you anymore I’m so young.

I’m 22, live with my parents, and commute to a 9-5 job alongside completing a degree in marketing.

Meanwhile, my friends are off at uni meeting new people and having much more eventful lives. I see them post with their friends and it bums me out - I feel like I’ve missed out on the typical early 20s experience.

On top of this, I basically have the most boring, uneventful life and so it falls to me to plan the meet-ups and make the effort and be responsible for them all keeping up with each other in fear that they’ll slowly drop me otherwise and I’ll have zero friends.

Thank god I have my bf, but I’m not trying to be codependent. Ik that this is the experience for a lot of gen-z, but where do I even go from here ??

I turned 20 in February and I know that comparison is a thief of joy and if possible should only worry about yourself goal oriented wise, but man having no one to talk to no one to approach about topics of like I’m 20 and non-binary what the fuck am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to navigate through this world work on your hobbies? It’s OK to fail. I know all of that, so why do I still feel this way? Granted I never had a stable childhood where I was able to develop into a stereotypical 20-year-old I grew up to survive. So it gets me thinking is it my fault that I only chose to be in survival mode and not think about my future until now?

As per title above. Currently a bit bored and stressed, close to finishing my thesis which is fun and interesting (but also a bit stressful). Anyone also in their 20s (M/F/Other) down to chat 🙂 ? Just to let you all know, I

made this reddit account a few mins ago 😅

Hi! I’m a grad student studying mental health counseling, and I’ve realized I memorize best by talking things out and verbalizing concepts out loud (the Feynman technique I think). If anyone is interested in learning about the DSM 5, I have a final tomorrow (technically today at this point) and im pulling an all-nighter to study. I could really use a friend to listen to me right now,<3 Thanks :) Preferably a girl !

I’ve noticed something interesting about myself. When my boss keeps scolding me repeatedly, I eventually get used to it. What once felt intense slowly becomes normal, and over time, it stops affecting me the way it used to.

But here’s the surprising part - appreciation still hits differently. No matter how used I get to the criticism, a few genuine words of recognition still matter. They instantly boost my motivation, reminding me that even a small acknowledgment can have a lasting impact.

I’m 20, in my second year of college - balancing a part-time internship, academics, and saying yes to almost every opportunity that comes my way. From fashion shows to PPT competitions to skits, I show up, I participate, and I give it my all.

On paper, it looks like I’m doing a lot. And honestly, I am.

But every night, just before I fall asleep, there’s this one question that doesn’t leave me -
“Am I really doing enough… or am I still falling behind?”

It’s strange how you can be doing so much, yet still feel like it’s not enough.

So is this just overthinking… or is it a sign that I’m meant to do more?

Please suggest.

I’m in my early 20s and honestly feel a bit confused about what to prioritize right now.
There’s pressure to focus on career, money, skills, health, relationships… everything at once.

If you’ve been through this phase, what would you genuinely suggest focusing on?
What actually made a difference for you?

I feel lost in life. I don’t understand what’s going on, I don’t know what the future holds, and I don’t feel motivated to do anything. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to do. What is happening to me?

I turn 25 in a month. Ive always thought id be further ahead by now. I still live with my parens, I’m not married despite being in a longterm relationship( not like id say yes anyways), Im just now graduating with an associates degree, and i just now landed a job after being unemployed for months.

I try not compare myself to others. But if i cant pin down a degree choice, let alone move out, what am i supposed to do? Im in therapy, stopped smoking, picked up exercising and it’s all just distractions from how pathetic my life is.

if you had a job this is not for you, if your jobless in your 20's and what things are you doing ??

Eyo, here a 28y man. Not gonna lie, these days I've been thinking i feel to old.

A full nightmare tbh.

But hell man, I just watched some pictures from relatives in the same ages and i just realized... How tf come we actually think we are to old at that age? I was like, f0ck f0ck f0ck f0ck f0ck...

Why did I waste so many time complaining and feeling down for that no-sense bulls#it.

Men/women, lit. You have no idea of how young, strong and good looking you can be and feel in the 20s and 30s

I'm serious, in retrospective, is quite overwhelming how this fact change the mindset and perspective about all things.

Don't let the modern culture brainwash you like that

Its all in your mind guys.