Last Tuesday, I had a full breakdown in Target because I couldn't decide which laundry detergent to buy.

Not my finest moment.

But here's the thing - I'm 26, have a degree I'm not using, live with two roommates I found on Facebook, and honestly have no idea what I'm doing with my life. Sound familiar?

Welcome to the quarter-life crisis club. Population: literally everyone in their twenties right now.

Wait, Is This Actually Normal?

So I was scrolling through TikTok at 2am (as one does when avoiding life decisions), and came across this video that made me feel so seen:

Right?!

Turns out, feeling completely lost in your twenties isn't just normal - it's basically a rite of passage now. We're the generation that was told we could be anything, and now we're paralyzed by too many choices.

Fun times.

The Friendship Crisis Nobody Warns You About

Can we talk about how hard it is to maintain friendships after college?

Everyone's busy. Everyone's tired. And suddenly, the friends you saw every single day are people you text "we should hang out soon!" to... and then don't see for six months.

I've learned that making friends as an adult requires actual effort. Like, calendar invites and group chats that actually plan things instead of just sending memes.

Which brings me to another point - if your group chat dynamics are stressing you out more than helping, that's a whole separate crisis we need to address.

Career Confusion Is Peak Quarter-Life Energy

Okay, real talk.

I spent four years and thousands of dollars on a degree, and now I'm working a job that has nothing to do with my major. And you know what? Most of my friends are in the same boat.

We were sold this idea that we'd graduate, get our dream job, and everything would just... click into place.

Spoiler alert: it doesn't work like that.

Some days I look at successful people's morning routines and wonder if waking up at 5am would magically fix my life. (It wouldn't. I tried. I was just tired AND confused.)

The Comparison Trap Is Real

Instagram makes everything worse.

There. I said it.

You're scrolling through your feed seeing engagement announcements, promotions, exotic vacations, and perfect apartment tours. Meanwhile, you're eating cereal for dinner and wondering if you should text your ex.

(Don't text your ex.)

But seriously - everyone's posting their highlight reel while you're living your behind-the-scenes mess. It's not a fair comparison.

Dating While Crisis-ing

Oh boy.

Trying to date when you barely have your own life together? That's a whole adventure.

You're supposed to be confident and have your life figured out, but also be vulnerable and authentic. Make the first move, but don't seem desperate. Have standards, but don't be too picky.

It's exhausting.

I've spent way too many hours analyzing whether someone's text means they're interested or just being polite. And don't even get me started on dating app conversations - it's like playing a game where nobody knows the rules.

The Money Thing We All Avoid Talking About

Let's get uncomfortable for a second.

Student loans. Credit card debt. Rent that takes half your paycheck. The constant guilt about not saving enough.

I have friends getting married, and I'm over here trying to figure out if I can afford both groceries AND going to their bachelorette party. (Seriously, have you seen how much being a bridesmaid costs these days?)

Nobody prepared us for the financial reality of adulting. We learned calculus but not how to do taxes. Cool. Very helpful.

What Actually Helps (From Someone Still Figuring It Out)

Here's what I've learned so far:

Stop comparing your chapter 3 to someone else's chapter 20. Seriously. Everyone's on a different timeline, and that's okay.

Your career path doesn't have to be linear. It can zigzag. It can loop back. It can change completely. That's normal now.

It's okay to not have all the answers. In fact, anyone who claims to have everything figured out in their twenties is probably lying or selling something.

Small steps count. You don't need to overhaul your entire life. Sometimes progress is just... getting out of bed, going to therapy, or finally making that dentist appointment you've been avoiding for six months.

The Messy Middle Is Where We Live

Here's the thing nobody tells you about your twenties - it's supposed to be messy.

This is the decade for trying things, failing at things, changing your mind seventeen times, and slowly figuring out who you actually are versus who you thought you'd be.

I'm learning to be okay with the uncertainty. Some days I feel like I'm totally nailing this whole adult thing. Other days I call my mom asking how long chicken can stay in the fridge.

Both versions are valid.

Your quarter-life crisis isn't a sign that you're failing. It's a sign that you're growing, questioning, and refusing to settle for a life that doesn't feel right.

And honestly?

That takes guts.

So yeah, we might not have it all figured out. We might still be confused about career paths and relationships and whether we should invest in a 401k or just accept that we'll work forever.

But we're doing it. We're showing up. We're trying.

And some days, that's enough.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Target run to make. And this time, I'm just grabbing whatever laundry detergent is on sale and calling it a day.

Baby steps, right?