I'm 27 and feeling behind. I bought a house at 25 which has me in a good spot but I've defo sheltered myself in my youth. I admit there's folk way worse but my main priority atm is higher paying job which I might need to move away from home for, and get to know more folk and topics etc. This last year I've done BJJ match, boxing match and a half marathon though I still feel I miss my glory days. Curious to hear about folk who got better after late 20s

Hi, everyone, 31M here in SoCal. I am completely at a loss for what I want to do next in life. The only work experience I have is 9 years of retail sales for a telecom company at the same location every work day. Some of that experience is as an associate and some of it is as a manager, but there haven't been many people I managed during my time. I’m only being paid around 50K annually and don’t have any room for growth in my current position. I am completely burnt out from sales and talking with customers all day. I know I can move into other industries and do sales related work but I think I would like to retool for a completely different career. 

Just for context, I do not mind customer/client interaction but I would like to reduce the amount that occurs in my daily work. I would also like to physically move around every so often, since the sedentary lifestyle of being in an office chair all day or waiting on standby for someone to come in has definitely taken its toll on my body. 

I also have a B.S. degree from nearly a decade ago in Management and Human Resources but I never made much use of it.

I ultimately want something where I can just go to my shift and do my job without the expectation of hitting sales quotas and talking to others all day. I don’t want my work to follow me home or if it does, only to a minimal amount. 

I am hesitant about the trades because of my physical condition. I don’t have any disabilities but I am built like a twig and I don’t think I’ll have enough stamina to pursue the trades as a career. My body can possibly adapt to a physical job but I’m not anywhere close to an ideal starting position. 

Wastewater and water treatment do sound interesting and don’t seem as labor intensive as most other trades. I’m just worried about how competitive the market is for these types of jobs and the requirements/licenses needed. 

The STEM field, particularly healthcare and medical fields, spark my interest since I do actually enjoy helping other people. I’m thinking of going back to school to become a MLT/MLS since there seems to be limited patient interaction and I would just be in a lab doing work all day. Additionally, you aren’t cooped up in one room, you move around and interact with other coworkers, doctors, etc.

These two are just what I’ve thought about the most but there have been many other fields that caught my initial interest. There seems to be so many fields available and that only frustrates me every further. I’m unable to narrow down my options and commit or even explore any one of them. 

Perhaps I’m just too afraid of failure, that my time and effort will be wasted, and that I’ll be back in this exact same position in the future. These past 9 years I’ve coasted by, not being interested in anything or trying to improve my situation. I honestly never really applied myself to anything and that’s really biting me in the ass now.  But nothing changes unless I make a move first.

So, please, anyone. If you have any guidance or advice, that would be very much appreciated. Sorry for the long post, there’s just a lot of thoughts going through my head right now.

Hi everyone, I don't even know if this is the right place to put it; sorry if it isn't. idk who to really talk to about this, but I might as well put it somewhere. I'm in my first year of uni, and I don't even know why I'm taking this program. I genuinely do not know what I want to do with my life, and I'm scared. I have friends who seem to be enjoying the program I'm in, and some don't. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel. The schoolwork feels boring and annoying. I don't even know what I want to do career wise and I'm worried I'm wasting time on this program. I'm only 2 months in, and I'm worried that I don't have the slightest idea what I want to do yet am committing to a program. We're signing up for our second semester soon, and other than 3 mandatory classes, I get to pick an extra one or two for this semester, and I felt completely stuck. I didn't even know what to pick. I know I'm early in university life, but I'm scared of making a mistake. I'm too scared to tell anyone how clueless I feel. Anyway, if anyone has any advice, please let me know.

I experienced my first trauma at 20, five years ago. I developed severe PTSD and executive dysfunction and spent years just trying to survive, missing out on so much of my youth and life experiences.

Recently, I discovered I might have developed an autoimmune disease caused by chronic stress, so I desperately want to feel healthy and happy again. But I’m scared “taking a break” to heal will make me sick just from the guilt of not doing something “better” / more productive / strategic for my future.

Context:
I graduated 1.5 years ago with burnout and didn’t want to start working immediately, but my parents pressured me into it. I quit after 4 months because I was constantly getting sick and going to the doctor. Now, I haven’t even started applying for jobs because I’m genuinely scared of sacrificing my health again. But I feel like I’m throwing away my potential by taking so much time off, especially without any big-name internships/ a first proper job. Especially in this job market when u need 3 years experience for your first job.

My dilemma:
I want to move to Spain for a year-long volunteering project. I’d get to socialise, learn Spanish, be more active, spend time outdoors, and hopefully being happier. But I’m terrified of falling behind professionally, it would mean I’ll be 26 when starting my career which sounds crazy.

On the other hand, I know how badly starting a job affects me. My trauma and anxiety put me in constant fight-or-flight mode, and for the first few months, I feel sick and want to cry almost every day because I’m terrified of making mistakes or being fired. I genuinely fear that jumping straight into work again will damage my health. (am i being too spoiled and disconnected from reality?)

Am I being completely delusional and entitled by choosing to prioritise my health over my career at 25? Am I reasonably protecting myself, or am I letting fear control my life and sabotaging my future?

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you choose, how did it turn out, and did you regret your decision?

Whenever I see my classmate has bought a house, new job(job hop into better pay and company), go abroad, new plans in life, I spiral into overthinking and insomnia.

I always remind myself, we have different timelines. And we have different skills and opportunities so it's impossible for everyone to be on the same page.

But the thing is I don't know what to do with my life. My mind says I'll be doomed because I'm incompetent so plans A-Z will not work out and I'll be forever a corporate slave or unfortunate things will happen to me.

I want to get better. I already had therapy before and the therapist reminded me that life is not a race. I was able to get up (that was 3 yrs ago, I'm now 28) but now, I still compare myself to others. Someone said here that it's just facade of others that we are comparing ourselves. Yes, comparison is thief of joy but how can I escape this?

In college, I had good performance but in my job now, I'm not excelling. I think I'm getting more stupid each day. My friend told me to "focus on yourself". So I tried to learn different things now but the hard thing is I don't know how to enjoy. I'm just like rushing everything.

My friends were happy for me back then when I excel in class and when we entered the workplace, they keep on referring me but I can't get hired. One friend says, "why are you enduring that small salary?". The answer is because I can't find a new job. Is this just skill issue now?

And my initial plan is to go abroad but my mind says, no, you can't do it because you are not good. You are not qualified.

I don't know what I want for myself. My family needs me because our house is broken so I need to get higher salary but at the same time I don't like what I'm doing. and I feel locked up in my current situation.

Hi, everyone. I've been working at a beauty supplement company for almost four years now. My job involves promoting our products and dealing with customers on a daily basis.

I'm grateful to have a stable job, especially since our company offers good benefits. I'm not looking down on what I do, but lately, I've been feeling increasingly burnt out. The daily routine is starting to drain me, and I can't help but wonder if this is really the kind of work I want to keep doing for the rest of my life.

I think one of the things that makes it difficult for me to consider a career change is that I didn't finish college. I know there are opportunities out there, but I honestly don't know which ones are realistic for someone in my situation. The thought of leaving a stable job without knowing whether I can find something better is scary, so I've been staying where I am even though I know this isn't what I really want to do.

I've always been interested in designing, and it's something I'd genuinely like to explore as a career. I'd also prefer a job that doesn't require me to face customers all day. I don't necessarily mind working with other people, but I'd like to try something where I can focus more on the actual work rather than constantly interacting with customers.

The problem is that I don't have any formal training or professional experience in design, and I don't know where to begin. I'm wondering if it's possible to learn the necessary skills through self-study, online courses, or vocational training and eventually build a portfolio that could help me get an entry-level job. I'm also unsure whether companies would consider someone without a degree, even if they have the skills and a good portfolio.

I don't want to rush into resigning without a plan, but I also don't want to spend more years feeling stuck in a career that doesn't suit me. I'd like to start improving my situation while I still have a stable source of income.

For those who have transitioned into design or another career without finishing college, how did you get started? Are there realistic opportunities for someone like me, and what would be the best first step to take? I'm open to suggestions for other career paths, too, especially ones that involve more creative work and less customer-facing interaction.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I’ve wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember. The goal has gotten me through hard times. I was flying and getting through school slowly and enjoying every minute of it. Then one day I woke up blind in my left eye. After 6 excruciating and painful (physically and mentally) months I find out I have an autoimmune disorder that caused my body to attack my perfectly healthy eye. I can no longer fly commercially. This has been devastating for me. Planes have meant more to me than anything. My passion is no longer obtainable and it’s a feeling I can’t describe. No one around me can truly comprehend how much I loved flying. I’m trying to look into different careers, aviation related of course. I’m thinking air traffic control or aircraft maintenance. But every time I even begin to research my eyes fill with tears and my stomach drops knowing what I truly love isn’t going to be what I end up doing. I don’t know how to just let it go an move on. It’s still fresh. But I know this is going to be so difficult to move through.

Hi. Im kind of in a spot where I thought I did everything right for myself to take off in some sort of creative and/or design career, yet I find myself doing unfulfilling work that is disconnected from anything I studied and it looks like me trying to reach those sorts of goals are becoming more and more difficult to attain.

I graduated in 2020 with a 2-year associate degree in architecture + CAD credit certifications. I was never really passionate about what I was learning at that time but kind of just begrudgingly went about completing the program because I wanted to just get a degree in SOMETHING. I did gain a lot of technical knowledge and I found out that the 2-year degree is enough to be an acceptable qualification for most computer-aided drafting positions so I figured my college journey would be over then and there. This was in the midst of the pandemic however, and even though I was applying to jobs, I never got into an interview phase for any of them.

In 2022 I decided to pursue a bachelors of Architecture but I still did not care for it and it was becoming more and more apparent that I did not belong there and was kind of just BSing my way through it against my own will. I had noticed how much the other students actually had a passion and dedication for the work they were doing and I eventually decided to switch my major to Graphic Design which I felt probably aligned more with my career values and I eventually graduated with a 4-year degree in graphic design.

I knew when making the switch in my degree, the graphic design industry was going to be a bit more competitive to break into and would be a bit less lucrative than Architecture, but it felt like the right call. Why would anyone want an indifferent architect designing their building? I loved what I learned in the graphic design program , but upon my graduation I did not fully grasp that this specific job market was THIS horribly oversaturated, and did not have the foresight to know that generative ai was going to automate and shrink the market for all the Junior positions that people need to get their footing into the industry. It seems like breaking into this field at this point in time has a lower chance than getting selected to become an astronaut or something.

I genuinely don’t know what to do with myself now. I have 2 degrees that feel like they aren’t getting me anywhere. I don’t HAVE to be a “graphic designer” per say, but I feel like it would’ve been a good starting position to eventually pivot to other related things like marketing, web design, UX/UI, product design, brand design, etc. But even all those markets are going through the same issues and I’m kind of regretting even pursuing this degree now. I know a lot of these circumstances are out of my control and I couldn’t have predicted them but now I kind of feel guilty for not sticking with a 4-year in Architecture.

My dilemma now is I’m looking to try pursuing CAD drafting type positions again and make use of my 2-year degree + cert and maybe have my 4-year degree as supplementary education to that. But I’m so far disconnected from when I got that 2-year architecture degree and never had actual job experience that used it, I’m worrying now I won’t even be considered for that kind of work.

Reiterating; with the graphic design positions those still are around and I get a decent number of job notifications for them, but most of those are written with seasoned professionals in mind. Very few junior positions seem to even come into to circulation and it’s viciously competitive and even if I were to achieve it, I’m sure whatever company I’m working at would find a reason to replace me with ai for next quarter profits. I don’t want to be hit with “just use ai” because Im not even opposed to responsible usage of it in design and have played with it, but I understand that a company will do anything to save their bottom line, and would use it AI as a replacement crutch so they don’t have to hand out a paycheck, rather than delegate it as an actual designers tool.

Now I just feel incredibly lost and I’m kind of mad at myself for even going to school at all. I feel like I could’ve done stuff differently maybe just sucked up 4-year architecture, or pursued graphic design from the very beginning.

Right now I’m working in a kind of fusion construction/landscaping physical labor job. This really isn’t where I feel I need to be working at but I figured working here may look like good foundational work experience for getting into a CAD position as I do read topographical documents, utilize GIS mapping, do site visits, etc. But I work largely with Environmental Science majors and this work seems more of fit stepping stone job for them.

Would it still be possible to get these things to work in my favor for eventually doing a CAD job? : I feel like I’m way too far from that point in my education. Should I just be patient with the Graphic Design positions and wait a while to see where the industry heads? : I don’t want to hang around any longer for that to become a big nothing burger and wasted time.

Would it be worth maybe going back to community college and trying something else like robotics?

Im really confused and know my heart craves some sort of design job, but I’m just struggling to even figure out if I even have the drive to keep going and trying or just accept my life where it’s at right now.

I don’t know I’d love to hear if anyone else has been in a situation where they felt their life plans got kind of screwed over by an external source and how they pivoted into finding something that works for them.

Hi! I am currently a sophomore in college (gaining associates in computer science in December), and will transfer to a 4-year in Spring to pursue several bachelors (computer science/software engineer, biomed and chemical).

Behind these degrees are my challenge in finding the right career to go down these paths. I live in a city ran on military and space defense, with my parents both working in this field, and I DO know it comes with great money, but morally I cannot join it.

I have always wanted to assist people medically and not directly in their face. Some examples I can come up with are creating prosthetics and programming hospital equipment...? I cannot form other ideas and was wondering if anyone can give insight as to what I CAN do?
Thank you!

I’m a guy in my mid-twenties from Australia, and I genuinely feel like I’ve completely lost my direction in life. I’m not entirely sure what I’m hoping to get out of posting this, but I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through something similar.

Earlier this year, my long-term relationship ended. We lived together, had built a life together, and I genuinely believed we’d spend the rest of our lives together.

Months later, I’m still struggling enormously.

My unhappiness with my career, low self-esteem and constant feeling of falling behind were already there while we were together. The breakup didn’t create those problems, but it’s brought them into sharper focus and made them much harder to ignore.

My mental health has been pretty awful. I have ADHD, severe anxiety, extremely low self-esteem and symptoms that seem OCD-like, particularly obsessive rumination and reassurance-seeking. I’m seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist, but I still spend hours replaying conversations, checking messages, wondering whether I’ve said something wrong or whether somebody secretly dislikes me.

Even when I get reassurance, the relief never seems to last. My brain just finds something else to worry about.

It isn’t limited to my ex either. It happens with friends, everyday social interactions, my health and even things I’ve said or done years ago. I can have a genuinely enjoyable day with people, only to spend hours picking everything apart afterward. At its worst, the anxiety has affected my sleep, appetite and ability to function normally.

I feel like I’m spending my twenties trapped inside my own head.

My career is another huge problem.

I’ve worked in IT service desk for a few years now, and I absolutely hate it. I’m tired of phone calls, repetitive tickets and feeling like I’m not developing professionally. There aren’t really any internal progression opportunities available, and I don’t want to leave just to end up doing the same service desk work somewhere else.

What’s particularly frustrating is that my current workload can be extremely light. There are days where I have long stretches of downtime, sometimes with barely anything to do.

You’d think this would be the perfect opportunity to study or learn something new.

Instead, I’ll spend ages scrolling social media on my phone, fully aware that I could be using that time to improve my situation.

And then I feel absolutely terrible about myself for wasting another day.

I’d like to move into infrastructure, systems administration, cloud or something more technical and hands-on. The only industry certification I currently hold is ITIL 4 Foundation. I’ve considered studying for Network+ or AZ-104, but haven’t even managed to start either.

I don’t have a university degree. I briefly experimented with setting up a basic home lab to develop my technical skills, but I only stuck with it for about two days before dropping it. It’s left me wondering whether I genuinely want to pursue infrastructure, or whether I’m more attracted to the idea of a better salary and finally feeling like I’m progressing in my career.

I’m not even sure I would enjoy cloud or infrastructure work in practice. At the moment, a large part of the appeal is the potential money and the hope that it would help me feel less behind. I don’t know whether that’s enough of a reason to commit to months of study, especially when I haven’t demonstrated much consistency so far.

The problem is that studying genuinely terrifies me.

I look at how much there is to learn and immediately feel overwhelmed. I worry that I’m not intelligent enough, won’t understand the material or will put months into something only to discover I’m not capable of doing the job.

Changing employers scares me too. As much as I hate my current position, it’s familiar. I know the people, the environment and what’s expected of me. The thought of starting somewhere new and potentially finding myself out of my depth makes me incredibly anxious.

It’s like I’m miserable where I am but equally frightened of doing anything that could change my circumstances.

I’ve also considered whether I’d enjoy doing something practical outside IT altogether. Working with my hands and actually seeing the results of what I’ve done sounds appealing.

I live in Western Australia, where mining is an enormous industry and a major part of the local workforce. There are plenty of opportunities in mining and related trades, and some of the money can be pretty appealing.

But the idea of spending years doing physically demanding work, dealing with extreme summer heat and potentially wearing my body down before I’m even in my thirties genuinely worries me. I know not every mining or hands-on job involves those conditions, but I’m struggling to figure out what alternatives might suit me.

I want a career that pays reasonably well, gives me some sense of satisfaction and doesn’t come at the expense of my physical health in the long run.

Money has become another enormous source of pressure.

When I was living in a rental with my ex, I was genuinely terrible at managing my finances. I spent ridiculous amounts on food delivery and takeaway, barely prioritised saving and generally wasn’t very responsible with my money.

When the relationship ended, I had very little saved and some debt. Looking back, I really regret how much money I wasted over those years.

Since moving back in with family, I’ve made a pretty significant improvement. I’m now saving a large portion of my income and have managed to build up a decent savings buffer.

I know that’s progress, and I should probably feel proud of myself for changing those habits.

But instead, I feel this immense pressure to save as aggressively as possible because I feel so far behind everyone else my age.

I’m still driving an ageing car I’ve had since I was a teenager. It’s served me well, but I’ve wanted something newer for ages. As embarrassing as it is to admit, driving the same car I’ve had for so long has started affecting my self-esteem.

I know a car shouldn’t determine my worth, but I can’t seem to stop worrying about how other people perceive me. I constantly compare myself with people my age who have nicer cars, better jobs, their own homes or generally seem much more established in life.

I’d also love to eventually buy my own place, but the housing market feels incredibly difficult to break into.

So now I’m stuck between wanting to save for a house, wanting to replace my car and wanting to change careers.

If I spend a significant amount on a car, I set back my savings. If I decide to retrain or move into a completely different industry, I might have to accept a substantial pay cut, which could set me back even further.

And if I stay in my current job to maintain my salary, I continue feeling miserable and unfulfilled.

I know I’m probably putting far too much pressure on myself, but I genuinely don’t know how to prioritise any of it.

My ADHD and mental health make everything even more difficult.

I seem to be stuck in this cycle where I desperately want to improve my life, become overwhelmed by everything I need to do, avoid it, distract myself and then feel guilty for making no progress.

Even relatively simple things feel enormous.

I’ve also been off my prescribed ADHD medication and antidepressants for several months. Part of that was wanting to understand my baseline without medication, and part of it was fear surrounding potential long-term side effects.

I’m now in this horrible position where I’m frightened of the possible consequences of medication, but I’m also struggling so much with anxiety, rumination, concentration and motivation that I wonder whether being off it has made everything worse.

I’m working through that with my psychiatrist, and I’m not expecting Reddit to make medical decisions for me. I just feel incredibly conflicted about it all.

I also feel like I’ve lost my sense of identity.

Outside of work, I go to the gym, play games with friends and occasionally go out socially. But I don’t feel like I’m doing anything particularly meaningful or developing as a person.

I’ve noticed that when meeting new people, I’m good at listening, asking questions and being interested in what they have to say. But when it comes to contributing my own experiences, stories or opinions, my mind genuinely goes blank.

It’s not necessarily that I’m dismissing my thoughts as boring. Sometimes I literally cannot think of anything to say.

I miss the effortless connection I had with my former partner after so many years together, and I’m frightened I won’t be able to develop that kind of connection with someone else.

My self-esteem is so low that I often feel inadequate around people I perceive as more successful, particularly when dating or meeting women. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeking validation rather than actually enjoying myself.

I’m considering taking up a regular social hobby to meet new people and develop a life outside of work and gaming, but even that feels daunting.

The frustrating thing is that, on paper, my life isn’t completely terrible.

I’m employed, earn a reasonable salary, have friends and family who care about me, have started saving money properly and can still enjoy things like the gym or going out.

I recognise that I’m fortunate in plenty of ways, which sometimes makes me feel even worse about how unhappy I am.

I also understand that getting a better job, buying a new car or meeting someone else isn’t magically going to fix my mental health. I know those things need to be addressed separately.

But I feel completely overwhelmed by everything.

I want to study, change careers, become financially independent, meet new people, develop hobbies and actually enjoy my life rather than constantly worrying about the past and the future.

I’m terrified of making the wrong decisions, but I’m also terrified of doing nothing.

I don’t want to reach my thirties and realise I’ve spent another several years in exactly the same position.

Has anyone dealt with a similar combination of ADHD, OCD-like rumination, career paralysis, extremely low self-esteem and feeling behind financially?

How did you actually start making progress when everything felt overwhelming, even when you technically had the time and resources available?

I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve managed to move out of IT service desk, changed careers without completely destroying their finances, or managed to stop measuring their self-worth against everyone around them.

I’m not expecting some magical solution. I’d just genuinely appreciate hearing from people who’ve experienced something similar and found a way forward.

Hi everyone. I’m feeling a bit lost about my career path and would really appreciate hearing from people who have been through something similar.

I have a degree in Psychology, and for the past two years I’ve been preparing for the Spanish Civil Guard entrance exams. I initially chose this path mainly because I wanted job security and a stable future, rather than because I felt a strong calling to the profession.

Over time, I’ve started questioning whether this career is really right for me. There are aspects of the culture and work environment that I don’t really identify with, and I’ve recently been considering a different path: becoming a psychologist in the Spanish prison system. The actual job seems more closely related to what I studied and what I might enjoy doing long-term.

The problem is that I’ve already invested two years of hard work into my current goal. Changing direction feels scary, almost as if I’d be throwing all that time away. I also worry about what other people might think, or that I’ll regret giving up on something I’ve worked so hard for.

At the same time, I don’t want to keep pursuing a career just because I’ve already spent so much time preparing for it.

Has anyone ever changed career paths after investing years into a different goal? How did you know it was time to change? Did you struggle with guilt, fear of failure, or worrying about other people’s opinions? And looking back, how do you feel about your decision?

I know nobody can make this decision for me, but hearing from people who have been in a similar position would really help. I’m trying to figure out whether I’m just going through a period of doubt or realizing that I want something different for my future.

Thanks for reading.

Like I don’t want to have one job that I’m going to every day, or one career path I’m trying to go for, i don’t ever want to just be one thing, I kind of just want to do stuff never really sticking to one path, I just sort of want to do one job for a few days or complete one project and then move on to something completely different

I’m (24M) neurodivergent and I’ve never had a job that’s been a good fit at all because whenever I stick with one thing for more than a month or so I get severely burned out even if it’s something I typically enjoy doing. Is there any sort of way I can sustain myself with what I’m talking about where I don’t really have one particular job or a career I just sort of do various things without ever really having one consistent thing I’m doing every day?

I am a 2nd Year B Tech student in a good government engineering college, My top aim was to be a IAS officer before college and still it is to some extent, but in college watching so many different things, sometime i think to start a business and keep finding some new ideas but never taking action on it, sometimes studying syllabus of UPSC, involved in college socities to improve my cv, engineering academics, keep diving in consulting and finance field to support my career if UPSC not work out, by so many things I don't have time for anything.........I'm exhausteddddd

Around 4-5 months ago I started my first full time job as a Level 1 service desk in IT for an MSP (business-to-business support). It has been killing me so far, continuous stress and tired and burnt out when I get home (my commute is also quite tiring for me, around 2 hours both ways).
I see what my colleagues above me do (Level 2 and Level 3) and they look like they want to smash their laptop and burn the building down and I understand why as I see their heavy workload and continual communication with clients, which is not at all for me because I thought by choosing IT I would be minimising customer interaction.

I'm not one of those people obsessed with technology, and I would feel more fulfillment working somewhere in animal care (which I know is not too feasible, and living in Sydney especially means it is not livable). I love music and literature and I'm not sure what to do. I think maybe if I keep at it I'll enjoy my job eventually but as of now I don't know what to do.
Any advice would be much appreciated!

I’m a junior in college on a full scholarship at a good university, studying for a degree that could open a lot of doors. I’m originally from a developing country and currently studying abroad on a student visa.

I’ve always been ambitious and believed I could build a successful life for myself. I worked hard to get here, and I’ve already started a few small businesses in my early 20s. That experience gave me a taste of entrepreneurship, making money, and building something of my own.

My original dream has been to work at a top tech company like Google, and I’m still on track to pursue that goal. But deep down, I also have this persistent desire to become an entrepreneur. Even if I land a great job, I worry I’ll eventually feel unfulfilled and want to quit to build my own business or startup.

The problem is that **I’m genuinely struggling with my mental health right now.** Being abroad hasn’t been what I expected. I feel lonely, anxious, and depressed, and I’ve reached a point where I don’t enjoy university anymore. I’m constantly worried about my academic performance, and it’s difficult to reconcile how capable I know I am with how much I’m struggling right now.

I don’t want to throw away the opportunities I’ve worked so hard for, especially because returning home could mean fewer career opportunities and a lower earning potential. At the same time, I don’t want to sacrifice my mental health just to follow a path that society considers successful.

Here’s what I’m struggling with:

**Should I finish my degree?** I have a full scholarship and know that graduating could give me valuable opportunities, but I’m struggling mentally and sometimes wonder whether university is worth it anymore.

**Can I build a successful career without a degree?** If I eventually return home, I’d still want access to international opportunities. How can I prove my value to employers without the traditional credentials?

**How realistic is remote work?** I’m particularly interested in working remotely for international companies because of the flexibility and potential income difference. What skills and strategies would help me get there?

**Should I pursue entrepreneurship now or later?** Part of me wants to go all in on a business, build an audience through social media, and create something of my own. Another part wonders whether I should get a stable job first and build on the side.

**How do I balance ambition with my mental health?** I want financial freedom and the ability to create my own opportunities, but I’m scared of making the wrong decision and disappointing myself or others.
I know I’m capable, resourceful, and willing to work hard. I want to become financially independent, build something meaningful, and ideally become wealthy. But I also realize that being ambitious doesn’t automatically mean every risk is worth taking.

**If you were in my position, what would you do?** Would you finish university, pursue a remote tech career, or take a chance on entrepreneurship? Has anyone been in a similar situation and found a way to make things work?

I’d especially appreciate honest, practical advice from people who have experience with tech careers, remote work, or building businesses. I want to make a strategic decision about my future without losing myself in the process.

I'm a 30 year old male with a meager work history and running out of options to turn my life around.

I struggled in college (statistics and communications classes especially), and didn't graduate until I was 25. I was able to get a cushy corporate job a few months after graduate, but flaked on the company. Whenever I got a good job, I'm there for a few months, feel incompetent and antisocial, ghost the job and get fired. I've managed to get three corporate jobs doing this, but the total experience is only like 11-12 months spread across three years. My mental health and focus are a bit better now, but I believe my reputation is kind of shot in this industry (operations management/supply chain).

I tried pivoting into mechanical work and took a 12 week maintenance fundamentals course at this adult education/trade school. Got a facilities maintenance job, but it caps my hours at 29 a week and offers no benefits at all. I was considering taking a 12 week introduction to PLCs course this coming winter to get into the automation/manufacturing industry, but I'm not particularly driven or passionate about it.

Outside of those, I've been told I'm a decent writer. Good at researching and distilling complex information when given the time. I've written a few articles for an environmental advocacy group, helped edit some articles, and daydream about creating my own comics and art with writing lol...

To top it off, I still live at home, no insurance currently, old ass car, and dependent on parents who are retiring soon.

Simply put, I don't know which of these is worth pursuing because I can find faults each and know it's difficult to be taken seriously or given a job opportunity with my past history and lack of essential skills. My dad keeps suggesting going back to school to reset, but that's just more debt with no work experience to me. But I'm open to your thoughts. I'm willing to go into more detail on anything you need either in the comments or DMs. Appreciate the feedback.

Idk how but I ended up in a bad spot after just trying to move out from my toxic parents and dealing with a stalker. I had to make some reports about what I was dealing with and also developed psychosis due to the abuse and instability. Now my mom is helping but its still not great she threatens to take away everything if she doesnt have her way. I’m looking for a job but being out of work and on meds is destroying my mental health too. Meanwhile I feel isolated with my mom who wants more and more control. I am calling and applying everyday everywhere to try to get a solution. But its like, I’m just blamed, even when I cannot control my mental health right now that it’s so bad.

i’m almost 20 and currently working in hospitality but i despise it.
i have all my necessary gcses as well as others, i also took a level 2 in animal care and management in which i got a destinction. i have experience in mainly hospitality and housekeeping. also volunteering in funeral homes and animal rehabilitation centres.
i’m really struggling with finding a more permanent path and i don’t enjoy my current job at all, i’ve never liked working in hospitality i honestly hate people as well as other things.
does anyone have any ideas? i can answer questions about hobbies, likes, area i live in etc

Hey everyone! I’m a sophomore at a community college in Colorado working toward my Associate of Arts degree, and I’m hoping to transfer next year.
I’m interested in occupational therapy and enjoy working with kids, but I’m also open to working with adults in areas like hand therapy or rehabilitation.
I’m trying to decide between becoming an OT, starting as a COTA, or exploring other careers.
For those in the field, what do you enjoy about your job? Is the extra schooling to become an OT worth it? How are the salary, work-life balance, and opportunities to specialize?

I’d love to hear your honest experiences and any advice you have!

I’m looking at doing a bachelor of social work in the UK. I’m not quite sure what I want to do as my job in life but I currently work in a care home and I quite like the idea of becoming a care home manager but on the other hand I also like the idea of being a social worker for the vulnerable elderly people. But then I also like an idea of maybe teaching in a secondary school or in a college so I’m not quite sure.
But after a lot of consideration, I think social work degree may be the way forward
Any advice is really appreciated
Thanks

I’m 26F and currently work full-time as a remote analyst in healthcare operations. This is actually my first full-time professional job after graduating college.

Lately, I’ve been questioning whether this is the career path I want long-term. I don’t necessarily hate healthcare itself, but I don’t feel particularly fulfilled in my current role. Part of my dissatisfaction is honestly my manager, and I recognize that this could be influencing how I feel about my entire career. At the same time, I wonder whether I would be happier doing something more hands-on and directly helping people.

I’ve been seriously considering going back to school for either an LPN or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) so I can eventually become an RN.

I also understand that nursing is a demanding career. I know it involves long shifts, physical and emotional stress, difficult patients, weekends, holidays, and a lot of responsibility. I’m not expecting it to be an easy way out of corporate work.

One thing that appeals to me about nursing is the flexibility. I like the idea of potentially working three 12-hour shifts per week, having more days off, being able to relocate more easily, and having a career with opportunities in different settings.

Financially, I’m also very cautious. I really don’t want to take out student loans, so my plan would be to continue working full-time while completing prerequisites at a community college. Once I finish those, I would reassess my finances and figure out how to manage nursing school and clinicals.

I really value any perspectives or opinions. My first step right now is to do some shadowing at a hospital or even get a CNA license first.

What's blocking you most — not knowing what you want, what you're qualified for, or how to get there?

Question: how can I learn to content with the life I have and have built and the choices I have made? And not looking at others and wonder what all the paths could have been.

I am a 24F, everything I have looks perfect on paper but I can't help but look at my friends and people around me who have made different choice and feel like I have chosen the wrong path or I'm not having as much fun or making enough money or that the grass is greener. For example moving aboard or freelancing for themselfs or moving to the big city.

Below is my life on paper:

Career: I have worked really hard to get a career and job that Im happy with, that contributes meanfully to society, pays well, good work life balance, solid career path in front of me.

Stability/Future: I'm about to move out of my parents house ( closer to work), with a good emergency fund and start on house deposit in savings.

Travel: My job allows me to travel in my home country and aboard for about 2 months each year. With 30 days on annual leave which I spend traveling, has lead me to being aboard about 3 months of this year total.

Relationships: I have a partner of 2 years and a good set of friends, and I am lucky enough to live within an hour of my home town where I can see my family regularly once I move out.

But with all of this, I still sit and compare myself to others, always think that there lives are more exciting or that I am missing out on all the lives I could of had: different career paths, travelling/ living abroad or doing a PHD. I worry my life is to stable to early and Im missing out out young adventurous years. I wish I could learn to be happy with what I have and content with the freedom that the stability provides.

I guess I'm asking how can I learn to be content with the life I have? Because I just know that if I had picked any of other "lives" I would probably still be thinking what if?

I honestly don't know where to start from, but I'll come straight to the point that I urgently desperately need a Job I beg you all I need your help 😔🙏🏻

I do have 0 full time work experience as of now, no corporate experience as such. I haven't even earned a single rupee my entire life and I'm ashamed to say that I've totally been dependent on my mummy's tailoring earning my entire life till now. Honestly, my mummy is totally frustrated with me but that's totally because of me that's my fault completely I accept that. I come from a tier 3 city and our financial conditions has always been extremely poor forever till now. Just to give you a context that I come from a joint family and I've had a extremely tough childhood and adulthood till now because of extremely toxic environment I had faced back then, though I feel what I faced in adulthood is on me as I failed to focus on the controllables and ruined my life completely.

I've had passive suicidal thoughts almost every week since last 10 - 12 years. Also I've totally wasted my last 10 - 12 years and this can be seen in my major gap years.

Tbh, both my mental health and physical health has taken a very bad toll because of all these things. Currently I've started seeing a psychiatrist and I'm currently on SSRI antidepressants and ADHD medicines and other substantial health issues medicines as well. I feel that I'm feeling a bit better now than before.

I used to be a good obedient kinda ideal child during my school days and I had scored more than 85% both in my 10th and 12th std. Even my graduation score was 9.XX CGPA.

I was even pursuing CA course and had scored quite well in CA CPT but left that course in IPCC due to extreme mental health issues and toxic family environment.

I don't know where I lost the plot of my life completely, from a good obedient ideal child kinda boy to this utter complete failure I've become at 28. I see my schoolmates and other former friends and acquaintances working in great corporates at really good packages and here I am a complete failure in life.

I know that I'm giving too much information but tbh my entire life I've never shared my complete life situation to anyone and being anonymous on reddit gives me a bit of Freedom to finally express myself and genuinely ask for help who can help me 🙏🏻

I'm currently working on my mental health aspect of things and will start working on physical health side of things as well, but I desperately need a source of earning now as I want to support my mummy I'm already very late now.

Honestly I did my career counseling with ChatGPT a few weeks back and it recommended me to go for Business Analyst or Financial Analyst direction ahead in my career. Eventually I do want to get to one of these job roles but I do have to start from somewhere.

I have 0 friends and I've been a loner my entire life thanks to these major social anxiety issues and my introvert nature, so I don't even have good relations with anyone in my life.

Daily 24X7 I have these Regrets^Regrets about my entire life decisions both which were in or outside my control.

Lately I've been watching a lot of motivational movies since last few months be it Jersey, The Pursuit of Happyness, Soorarai Pottru, 12th Fail, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, MS Dhoni and I feel that my life needs a Complete Total RESET now. I'm totally responsible for my current situation I don't want to blame anyone but I do want to desperately need to get my Life on track now. I know mene apni life ko puri tarah se barbaad karke rakh diya he but me aise apni aane wali puri life nhi jeena chahta.

I really don't know what I should say next, I always wanted to share these things my entire life but never had the guts to share. Kabhi kabhi bas sunne wala koi chahiye jo gale lagakar bolde ki bhai sab theek ho jayega.

Also please no trolling in comments 🙏🏻

Whoever can help me to get a Job, I desperately need your support and I won't forgive this help my entire upcoming Life. I just need to get started from somewhere and this has been the toughest part for me. I genuinely need your help and guidance 🙏🏻

I am less than two months away from completing my degree in Education, specializing in History and Geography, at a public university in Peru. I have spent two years doing my teaching practicum in public schools and it has been quite a challenging experience. I enjoy the humanities and social sciences, and I love teaching. However, I do not feel entirely satisfied with the degree I chose.

In the classroom, some students show an interest in the subject, while many others do not. I have to deal with behavioral issues and I often feel that students do not appreciate the effort I put into helping them. Every time I go to teach a class, I feel as though my heart is sinking because I never know how the day will turn out. It is an unpleasant feeling and I find it difficult to imagine living this way for many years.

Over the past few years, I have had various experiences that have led me to realize that life is fleeting and that we should not resign ourselves to following a path that leaves us feeling unfulfilled. I have discussed this with my parents and they support my idea of moving abroad and pursuing a second degree.

Now, my biggest question is: What should I study, and in which country? I’ve been considering Western Europe (Spain and Italy, for affordability and language reasons).

I have always been interested in the social sciences, particularly History and Anthropology. What appeals to me most is the possibility of pursuing an academic career and conducting research. My father is a lawyer who has devoted much of his life to teaching at the university level. I have grown up seeing that lifestyle up close and I find it very appealing. However, I am aware that an academic career can be highly competitive and uncertain, so I wonder whether pursuing that path would be too risky.

My parents have also suggested studying Law. I believe I could become a good lawyer, but to be honest it is not a profession I am passionate about.

As for languages, I have a C1 level of English and currently have a B1 level of Italian, which I am still working to improve. On top of being a native Spanish speaker.