Quarter Life Crises

What is happening to American millennials? Being overworked and underpaid has lead to the new life crises: quarter life crisis. Being stressed, depressed, not well dressed is not enough for the modern day millennial.

I hear it all the time from employed friends; "I'm busy with work right now", "I gotta finish this presentation my boss wants it by tomorrow" (on a Friday night), "I'm only free at this time so this is when I go grocery shopping". Like calm down and tell your boss to chill (or not, IDK how the corporate world works). Other than working all around the clock there is also this judgment among millennials if they don't also go to the gym and eat out. No time to do anything but no ones wants to be judged for not being healthy enough. The fact that some people are going to the gym BEFORE work is insane, especially if they work from home so their hours are limitless. I have a friend who does her job at home on a treadmill because she simply "can't sit around and not do anything". Make it make sense.

Apartment is a mess, dog is hungry, no food in the fridge, working hours are nonstop since working from home, life has changed for everyone but millennials are making it worse for themselves. Young people don't seem to have a simple job anymore. It's all about the hustle, the grind, the act of being overworked. Breakdowns and burnouts are now a norm within this age group, which makes sense because this generation does more than the previous. If a millennial has a part time job they're probably looking for another part time and yoga studio to stay fit in. If a full time job is accepted then working overtime is expected from them. I don't know anyone who only works 40 hour weeks. Nevermind I lied, one person. She's also a full time student getting her Master's. Yea, millennials are not normal people and yet wonder why so many are having quarter life crisis. Breaking down and being affected by stress and anxiety and even depression.

Juggling bills, excess hours, staying healthy, and sometimes families who don't understand that being overworked is more than the job. Being overworked can include also going to school and keeping good grades, being a parent and raising a child or more while working, or simply dealing with mental and emotional issues that are exhausting. Being alone can be exhausting too. I wonder how many millennials are so busy with work, school, and life that at the end of the day they go to bed lonely. That's mentally and emotionally exhausting and also plays a toll on the human body and mind.

Keeping up with social medias, friends, co-workers, family, and life in general adds to the pressure of just living life. Something that past generations seem to forget. This might be the most overworked generation so far. People in their 20's are expressing how tired they are and how, not only overworked by their hours, blind their bosses can be. Jobs love to give office parties and free parking but refuse to raise wages. What's the point of working 60-80 hours if you can only make $13 an hour with a Bachelor's. Why do companies look at bachelor's degrees and years of experience and say "yes, $16 is enough"? Being underpaid seems like a main component in the quarter life crisis.

Will I ever move up in this company? Why haven't I received a raised yet? What more do I have to prove? maybe that's the foundation to the crisis, the longing to prove something at such a young age. Prove that you can get a Bachelor's or Master's and work and volunteer, and be fun, and stay healthy, and help the family, and and and. Are we not allowing ourselves to breathe or is our breath limited and we blame ourselves for it?