I love love love this. I turned 25 last month and have been feeling the same way. I thought it was my prefrontal cortex developing but maybe it’s just us discovering who we are?? It’s scary yet so exciting..
As a millennial (I'm 32) who remembers what it was like before the internet, and coming of age when the internet was not an extension of ourselves, simply something fun we can access from a big box in a specific room, I really feel for your gen who didn't have the luxury of remembering "the before times." but I think it's a really brave thing to come to terms with this issue and i'm happy more young people are facing it head-on and reconnecting with who they really are. I recently read about a study (link below) where people blocked *mobile* internet for 2 weeks, and it resulted in healthier well-being, improved mental health, and increased attention spans. the tidbit that really jumped out at me (as someone who has been on five different antidepressant medications in my life): "The average degree of improvement in symptoms of depression was larger than that reported in multiple studies of antidepressant medications." Imagine how humanity could reconnect and what we could accomplish as a society if everyone did this!
I had the exact same conversation at work this week, could we go 24 hours without our phones. Lots of discussions, its so interesting isn't it!!! I am so much happier when I have offline days but blessed I can contact people at a drop of a hat. Thank you so much for commenting, the article was so interesting.
I turned 25 last December and I cried the entire week leading up to it, and on the day. I was in a deep depressive slumber. I have never felt more vulnerable and lost. At the same time, between 24-25 I learned to wholeheartedly accept my mind and body as it is. I think 25 for me has been the stage of acceptance. Acceptance of flaws. Acceptance of lost relationships. Acceptance of what you will and won’t tolerate moving forward. It’s terrifying but at the same time I feel okay , I think. I really enjoyed your read!
amazing post, thank you :) really enjoyed reading it. the truth is, after 25 time flies even faster , so live it to your fullest and use every opportunity. things will become more clear, trust me.
This amazing! Yes I feel the same as I'm in the last few months of being 24 but oh boy! What a joy to feel such a way and to have people feel the same way.
"This newfound clarity I have at 25? I want to use it. I want to rediscover what it means to live, to be free, to feel things without second-guessing. I want to make new friends. I want to fall in love, experience life with fresh eyes. I want to see the world in a way I never have before. I refuse to make work my only focus anymore." Yesssss
Just writing this and connecting with people that feel the same way has been joyous, we're not alone, we've never experienced an original thought ever haha, we're all in this together
I have turned 25 six months ago and I have never felt more lost actually. Same feeling led me to Substack though, I felt like I needed a creative outlet in my life to get back my long lost creative side.
how are you finding substack?? I'm still new to it (this was my first day when I wrote this post so i've been on it for 2 months or so) and its so nice that is just creation, no ads, no forced content! I LOVE planning my posts, but I've also gone back to childhood hobbies like colouring, reading etc sounds so silly but it is is a happier life
I love it so far 🥹 It was just what I needed actually, I was getting really overwhelmed and anxious with Instagram and even though content creators inspire me I couldn’t handle anymore. This is best of the both worlds for me, slow but inspiring. 🦦
I feel this so deeply! I just turned 25 yesterday and the days leading up to it were some of my worst days. Because I was so scared of 25. But journaling yesterday morning brought clarity on priorities, joy for the journey and peace for my troubled heart.
I started journalling in december and its changed my life!! I don't write much but its so nice going back and seeing what emotions I was feeling. In the moment it feels like life is over on a bad day but since journaling I can see how far i've come. I hope you find it the same!!!
25 was the year of my quarter-life crisis (or at least the beginning). I've only got a year on you, but there was something about finally turning 26 that calmed a lot of the existential chaos that I was going through. I'd like to believe it's all part of the learning process, we'll come out stronger on the other side (whatever that may be, if there even is some "other side" to speak of).
I think i'm just about coming out of my quarter life crisis but gosh why is everything so emotional! i'm glad it gets better and to hear it from the other side - thank you for taking to the time to write back x
the clarity you feel at 25 is so real. i’ve also been waiting for things to fall into place, but now i feel the pressure to take action to make the most out of the rest of my 20s
I read something about the only person who has your back is you, you are the common thread in every memory so make sure you make it good. It changed the way I think of things and has really helped xx
im in my last months of 24 and i have been feeling a sort of clarity but have been weary that it might just be momentary until life throws another curveball
its the frontal lobe being fully developed!! But life will throw curveballs and you'll either get hit or miss it, but most importantly its what we want to do and learn from it, not what others want! I think you'll enjoy 25 so much
I love love love this. I turned 25 last month and have been feeling the same way. I thought it was my prefrontal cortex developing but maybe it’s just us discovering who we are?? It’s scary yet so exciting..
SO EXCITING! we have our whole lives ahead of us and its now clearer? feels nice
As a millennial (I'm 32) who remembers what it was like before the internet, and coming of age when the internet was not an extension of ourselves, simply something fun we can access from a big box in a specific room, I really feel for your gen who didn't have the luxury of remembering "the before times." but I think it's a really brave thing to come to terms with this issue and i'm happy more young people are facing it head-on and reconnecting with who they really are. I recently read about a study (link below) where people blocked *mobile* internet for 2 weeks, and it resulted in healthier well-being, improved mental health, and increased attention spans. the tidbit that really jumped out at me (as someone who has been on five different antidepressant medications in my life): "The average degree of improvement in symptoms of depression was larger than that reported in multiple studies of antidepressant medications." Imagine how humanity could reconnect and what we could accomplish as a society if everyone did this!
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250219/Blocking-mobile-internet-for-two-weeks-improves-mental-health-and-well-being.aspx
I had the exact same conversation at work this week, could we go 24 hours without our phones. Lots of discussions, its so interesting isn't it!!! I am so much happier when I have offline days but blessed I can contact people at a drop of a hat. Thank you so much for commenting, the article was so interesting.
Same!!!!
I turned 25 last December and I cried the entire week leading up to it, and on the day. I was in a deep depressive slumber. I have never felt more vulnerable and lost. At the same time, between 24-25 I learned to wholeheartedly accept my mind and body as it is. I think 25 for me has been the stage of acceptance. Acceptance of flaws. Acceptance of lost relationships. Acceptance of what you will and won’t tolerate moving forward. It’s terrifying but at the same time I feel okay , I think. I really enjoyed your read!
amazing post, thank you :) really enjoyed reading it. the truth is, after 25 time flies even faster , so live it to your fullest and use every opportunity. things will become more clear, trust me.
Thank you so much for the reassurance, its been scary having the mindshift but I am so excited for the rest of my life
This amazing! Yes I feel the same as I'm in the last few months of being 24 but oh boy! What a joy to feel such a way and to have people feel the same way.
"This newfound clarity I have at 25? I want to use it. I want to rediscover what it means to live, to be free, to feel things without second-guessing. I want to make new friends. I want to fall in love, experience life with fresh eyes. I want to see the world in a way I never have before. I refuse to make work my only focus anymore." Yesssss
Just writing this and connecting with people that feel the same way has been joyous, we're not alone, we've never experienced an original thought ever haha, we're all in this together
If you really enjoyed this post, you may like the book Fully Alive by Elizabeth Oldfield 🫶🏾
Ooo Thankyou! I’ll give it ago
I have turned 25 six months ago and I have never felt more lost actually. Same feeling led me to Substack though, I felt like I needed a creative outlet in my life to get back my long lost creative side.
how are you finding substack?? I'm still new to it (this was my first day when I wrote this post so i've been on it for 2 months or so) and its so nice that is just creation, no ads, no forced content! I LOVE planning my posts, but I've also gone back to childhood hobbies like colouring, reading etc sounds so silly but it is is a happier life
I love it so far 🥹 It was just what I needed actually, I was getting really overwhelmed and anxious with Instagram and even though content creators inspire me I couldn’t handle anymore. This is best of the both worlds for me, slow but inspiring. 🦦
I feel this so deeply! I just turned 25 yesterday and the days leading up to it were some of my worst days. Because I was so scared of 25. But journaling yesterday morning brought clarity on priorities, joy for the journey and peace for my troubled heart.
I started journalling in december and its changed my life!! I don't write much but its so nice going back and seeing what emotions I was feeling. In the moment it feels like life is over on a bad day but since journaling I can see how far i've come. I hope you find it the same!!!
25 was the year of my quarter-life crisis (or at least the beginning). I've only got a year on you, but there was something about finally turning 26 that calmed a lot of the existential chaos that I was going through. I'd like to believe it's all part of the learning process, we'll come out stronger on the other side (whatever that may be, if there even is some "other side" to speak of).
I think i'm just about coming out of my quarter life crisis but gosh why is everything so emotional! i'm glad it gets better and to hear it from the other side - thank you for taking to the time to write back x
This was comforting and such a relatable read. I turn 24 next week and feel like it’s already starting to shift towards that clarity
So glad I'm not the only one!!! Its odd how we all feel this way, But I hope you are loving 24
Love this! I started my Substack the week I turned 25, welcome✨✨
Ahh welcome to you too, isn't substack so nice compared to everything else, feels like a nice secret that i want to keep forever
the clarity you feel at 25 is so real. i’ve also been waiting for things to fall into place, but now i feel the pressure to take action to make the most out of the rest of my 20s
I read something about the only person who has your back is you, you are the common thread in every memory so make sure you make it good. It changed the way I think of things and has really helped xx
Wait for your 30s. It gets even better 🥰.
Ahh i'm not on countdown but everyone saying their 30's was their best makes me so excited
im in my last months of 24 and i have been feeling a sort of clarity but have been weary that it might just be momentary until life throws another curveball
its the frontal lobe being fully developed!! But life will throw curveballs and you'll either get hit or miss it, but most importantly its what we want to do and learn from it, not what others want! I think you'll enjoy 25 so much
I'm turning 24 this year and nowhere close to understanding myself in any way. But this was so relatable in so many ways. Love your writing!
Thank you so much! We all have the rest of our lives to work it out which is reassuring