Midlife Panic? Quarter-Life Spiral? Here’s How to Survive an Existential Crisis (Without Shaving Your Head or Moving to Peru)

You wake up wondering what day it is, what you’re doing with your life, and whether eating cereal at 3pm counts as progress. Welcome to your existential crisis era, where your career feels pointless, your relationships feel confusing, and your inner voice sounds like a sarcastic life coach with no plan.

And no, it’s not just you. This is a full-blown identity wobble. But it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re overdue for a re-navigation.

TL;DR – How to Know If You’re in an Existential Spiral

• You’re questioning every decision you’ve ever made

• Nothing feels exciting, just mildly exhausting

• You’ve googled “how to find purpose” more than you’ve cooked dinner

• Your brain is one big “what if” loop

• You think you might start a podcast or move countries (again)

This isn’t a breakdown. It’s a clarity tantrum.

What Even Is an Existential Crisis?

It’s not just lying in bed questioning your job. It’s your brain yelling:

“Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “Is this it?”

An existential crisis is your internal GPS yelling “recalculating” after years of following someone else’s directions. It’s common during quarter-life, midlife, post-breakup, post-burnout, or Tuesday.

Why It Happens (Spoiler: You’ve Been On Autopilot)

You’ve hit all the life milestones. Got the job. Paid the rent. Maybe even married the person or bought the plant. But your soul? Still buffering.

That’s because you’ve been following external checklists instead of internal cues. Now your brain’s throwing an existential tantrum because it wants something real, meaning, connection, joy, alignment, not just more to-do lists.

Signs You’re Mid-Existential Mayhem

• You feel stuck but can’t explain why

• You secretly envy people who live in vans or make pottery

• You’re obsessed with finding “your purpose”

• You bounce between apathy and urgency

• You crave change but fear it will ruin everything

This is life confusion with a spiritual edge. And it’s normal.

What Not to Do

• Don’t quit your job today because a blog told you to

• Don’t rebrand your whole life on a whim

• Don’t compare your crisis to Karen on Instagram who “found herself” in Bali

Panic-rebrands lead to chaos. Pause first.

What to Actually Do

1. Question the Right Questions
Instead of “What am I doing with my life?” try:

• What energises me lately?

• When do I feel most like myself?

• What am I craving that I’ve been ignoring?

2. Drop the Pressure to Find One Big Purpose
Your purpose isn’t one thing. It’s not hiding under a rock in Greece. It’s layered. Evolving. Human.

You’re not late. You’re just in a season of shifting.

3. Do Something Small That Feels True
Make the playlist. Book the solo lunch. Say no to the thing that drains you. Small choices build clarity.

4. Write the Chaos Down
Brain dump. Rant in a journal. Scribble nonsense. Your brain is overloaded, make space.

5. Read a Book That Doesn’t Pretend to Have It All Figured Out
Enter: What the Duck Am I Doing With My Life?

It’s not a polished life plan. It’s a messy, honest, funny guide to figuring things out while you’re falling apart in the cereal aisle.