This isn’t how you pictured life in your 20s. You feel like you’re just going through the motions: going to work, trying to create some type of routine, and finding time to just exist outside of work. Nothing is really wrong but things don’t really feel right either. Making friends isn’t as easy as it was in school and the endless disappointment of dating apps is something you just aren’t sure you can do anymore.

It seems like every time you go on social media, another person you went to high school with is getting engaged, buying a house, moving abroad, or having a baby. Everyone seems to be moving forward and it’s hard not to compare. You see everybody hanging out together and feel like you’re the only person sitting home alone. Even though you have a few close friends, it still feels lonely. These feelings aren’t totally new but the pandemic really magnified the loneliness and disconnect. It’s not that you mind being single, not really, but sometimes it just feels like it would be nice to have someone to come home to, to share special moments with, to spend time with. While that all sounds nice, the idea of meeting people and trying to find someone who wants the same things feels overwhelming.  

Work is another story. You’re stressed, burned out, and not even sure you want to stay in this job. You don’t necessarily hate it but feel like there’s got to be more out there. The concept of work life balance is mythical at this point and you’re not fully convinced it’s a real thing. While having a life outside of work sounds great, the motivation to do anything other than binge Netflix after work is non-existent. Insert guilt. You feel like you should be doing more. Like you should be having adventures and making new friends and finding love. You get upset with yourself for not doing the things you want to do and it’s an internal battle between wanting to do it and actually having the motivation to get up and do it. You feel bad for not “enjoying your 20s” but it feels hard to do that when you are chasing the elusive balance, trying to make ends meet, creating and maintaining relationships, and generally just staying afloat. The idea of doing more is both appealing and overwhelming. You feel torn, unsure what direction to go, and frustrated at the lack of forward motion. Some days you feel totally stagnant and not sure if or when things will change. While you know you don’t have to have it all figured out by the time you turn 30, some days it really feels like that’s exactly what you need to do.

I work with 20-somethings trying to figure out what the hell they are supposed to do next. Together, we sort through the feeings of discontent, desire for more, and pure exhaustion that comes from not living the life you had intended. The last few years have been incredibly hard for everyone. As a 20-something just getting out of school or having entered the workplace within the last few years, the isolation of remote work and social distancing has really taken a toll. I would love to help you figure out what it is you really want, how to start taking steps in that direction, and where to go from there.