Higher education, but no direction in life? Quarter Life Crisis is real, bro! Here's what psychologists say about Quarter Life Crisis

Have you heard it said that your 20s are the most exciting time: going to college, starting a job, gaining experience, falling in love, and becoming independent. But underneath it all, there are many who feel even more confused - “What do I really want to be?”, “How come my friends are already successful, while I'm still just like this?”, “Am I on the wrong path?”

If you've ever felt these questions, don't worry, you're not alone. You might be experiencing a Quarter Life Crisis - a phase of identity crisis that is very common in early adulthood.

This phenomenon is not just a youth drama, but a real psychological condition that needs to be understood. To find out more, let's hear [psychologist/resource] explain what Quarter Life Crisis is, why it happens, and how we can deal with it without feeling alone.

Quarter Life Crisis, which is a phase in life where people between the ages of 18 and 30 feel worried, confused, and don't know where to go due to uncertainty about the continuation of their lives and thinking too much about the future.

This is what I, a 22-year-old student who is studying in a field that is not of her own choice, feels.

“I feel insecure, and there is fear regarding my future. Moreover, the study that I am doing now is not my desire, ...” she said.

According to Dr. Andri, SpKJ, a psychiatrist from Omni Alam Sutera Hospital, QLC occurs when a person begins to question the direction of their life and feels left behind by their peers. (source: Kompas, 2023)

This remark refers to a phenomenon known as Quarter-Life Crisis or identity, emotional, and existential crisis that is often experienced by individuals in their 20s to early 30s.

According to Dr. Andri, QLC arises when a person begins to question various important aspects of his or her life, such as- “What do I want to be?”, “Is the major or job I'm taking the right one?”, “Why are other people already settled, while I'm still confused?”

These feelings are usually triggered by comparisons with others, especially peers who seem to be more 'advanced' or successful. For example, when you see your friends already having a steady job, getting married, owning their own business, or studying abroad, while you still feel like you're at a standstill - insecurity, fear of failure, or doubts about your own life choices arise.

The keywords from Dr. Andri's explanation are two main things:

Questioning one's life direction → meaning that one is unsure of one's current life choices, or doesn't know where one wants to go.

Feeling left behind by peers → feelings of inferiority, anxiety, and stress because they feel their life development is not as fast or 'good' as others at the same age.

In psychology, this can have an impact on mental health, with symptoms such as:

• Excessive anxiety
• Mood swing
• Loss of motivation
• Feeling like a failure, although not necessarily a failure.

To get out of the vortex of confusion and feeling left behind, the first step is to get to know yourself. According to experts, this process can start with something as simple as writing down and reflecting on what really matters to us.

“Spending some time journaling or going through a list of values to help you figure out what is most important to you can really help here. Getting some clarity on these things will help you make decisions going forward that align with your true self.”
— Carrie Howard (Verywell Mind, 2023)

Howard emphasizes the importance of self-reflection through journaling or a list of personal values to help individuals understand what is truly important to them. With this clarity, one can make decisions that align with their values and life goals.

So, if you feel like your life is a tangled mess right now - it's okay. Quarter Life Crisis is normal. It's not that you're failing, it's that this phase is real and full of question marks. And most importantly: there's no timeline you have to follow. One small step to get to know yourself today, can be a big step for your future. Slowly, but surely. You're not lost - you're just under construction.

14/05/25

Pendidikan Tinggi, Tapi Bingung Arah Hidup? Quarter Life Crisis Itu Nyata, Bro! Ini Kata Psikolog tentang Quarter Life Crisis

Pernah ga sih denger statement bahwa usia 20-an katanya masa yang paling seru: kuliah, mulai kerja, cari pengalaman, jatuh cinta, dan mulai mandiri. Tapi di balik semua itu, banyak juga yang malah ngerasa makin bingung — “Aku sebenernya mau jadi apa sih?”, “Kok teman-teman udah sukses, sedangkan aku masih gini-gini aja?”, “Apa aku salah jalan?”

Kalau kamu pernah ngerasain pertanyaan-pertanyaan itu, tenang, kamu nggak sendiri. Bisa jadi, kamu lagi mengalami yang namanya Quarter Life Crisis — fase krisis identitas yang umum banget dialami orang di usia awal dewasa.

Fenomena ini bukan sekadar drama anak muda, tapi kondisi psikologis yang nyata dan perlu dipahami. Untuk tahu lebih dalam, yuk simak penjelasan dari [psikolog/narasumber] tentang apa itu Quarter Life Crisis, kenapa bisa terjadi, dan gimana cara kita menghadapinya tanpa merasa sendirian.

Quarter Life Crisis, yang dalam bahasa Indonesia berarti krisis seperempat abad, adalah fase dalam hidup di mana orang-orang berusia antara 18 dan 30 tahun merasa khawatir, bingung, dan tidak tahu ke mana harus pergi karena ketidakpastian tentang kelanjutan hidup mereka dan berpikir terlalu banyak tentang masa depan.

Hal ini seperti yang dirasain oleh I, mahasiswi 22 tahun yang sedang menempuh studi di bidang yang bukan pilihannya sendiri.

“Aku ngerasa insecure, dan ada rasa takut terkait masa depan aku gimana. Apalagi studi yang aku tempuh sekarang bukan keinginan aku, ...” ungkapnya.

Menurut Dr. Andri, SpKJ, seorang psikiater dari RS Omni Alam Sutera, QLC terjadi saat seseorang mulai mempertanyakan arah hidupnya dan merasa tertinggal dari teman sebaya. (sumber: Kompas, 2023)

Ucapan ini merujuk pada fenomena yang dikenal sebagai Quarter-Life Crisis atau krisis identitas, emosi, dan eksistensial yang sering dialami oleh individu usia 20-an hingga awal 30-an.

Menurut Dr. Andri, QLC muncul ketika seseorang mulai mempertanyakan berbagai aspek penting dalam hidupnya, seperti- “Aku mau jadi apa sebenarnya?”, “Apa jurusan atau pekerjaan yang aku ambil ini bener?”, “Kenapa orang lain udah settle, sedangkan aku masih bingung?”

Perasaan-perasaan ini biasanya dipicu oleh perbandingan dengan orang lain, terutama teman sebaya yang terlihat sudah lebih ‘maju’ atau sukses. Misalnya, ketika melihat teman sudah punya pekerjaan tetap, menikah, punya bisnis sendiri, atau kuliah ke luar negeri, sementara diri sendiri masih merasa jalan di tempat — muncullah rasa insecure, takut gagal, atau meragukan pilihan hidup sendiri.

Kata kunci dari penjelasan Dr. Andri adalah dua hal utama:

1. Mempertanyakan arah hidup → artinya seseorang merasa belum yakin dengan pilihan hidupnya sekarang, atau tidak tahu ke mana dia mau melangkah.

2. Merasa tertinggal dari teman sebaya → munculnya perasaan minder, cemas, dan stres karena merasa perkembangan hidupnya tidak secepat atau ‘sebagus’ orang lain di usia yang sama.

Dalam psikologi, ini bisa berdampak pada kesehatan mental, seperti munculnya gejala:

• Cemas berlebih
• Mood swing
• Kehilangan motivasi
• Merasa gagal, walau belum tentu benar-benar gagal.

Untuk bisa keluar dari pusaran kebingungan dan perasaan tertinggal, langkah pertama yang perlu dilakukan adalah mengenal diri sendiri. Menurut para ahli, proses ini bisa dimulai dari hal sederhana, seperti menulis dan merefleksikan apa yang benar-benar penting bagi kita.

"Spending some time journaling or going through a list of values to help you figure out what is most important to you can really help here. Getting some clarity on these things will help you make decisions going forward that ... ."Verywell Mind

Howard menekankan pentingnya refleksi diri melalui jurnal atau daftar nilai-nilai pribadi untuk membantu individu memahami apa yang benar-benar penting bagi mereka. Dengan kejelasan ini, seseorang dapat membuat keputusan yang selaras dengan nilai-nilai dan tujuan hidup mereka.

Jadi, kalau sekarang kamu lagi ngerasa hidup kayak benang kusut — it's okay. Quarter Life Crisis itu wajar. Bukan kamu yang gagal, tapi emang fase ini tuh real dan penuh tanda tanya. Dan yang paling penting: nggak ada timeline hidup yang harus kamu ikutin. Satu langkah kecil buat kenal diri kamu hari ini, bisa jadi pijakan besar buat masa depanmu nanti. Pelan-pelan, tapi pasti. You're not lost — you're just under construction.

14/05/25