Quarter life crisis. Need some advice

Bm3

Hi,
I'll try to keep this brief. I'm a 26 y/o male living in the west. I work a shift job that I don't really hate, so I've saved up for the past while and I'm leaving. I want to take some time to myself to try and figure out where my life is headed. Everything kinda feels disjointed to me at the moment. My life has no real routine due to working nights and weekends etc and all of my friends are moving away or in long term relationships, starting families etc. I'm at that point in my life where I'm still young enough to be partying and meeting new people(which I don't do much of anymore) but also feel like most of my peers are growing up and leaving all that behind them with me kinda caught in the middle.

My background is in design, but I'm out of college 4 years and having difficulty finding jobs that my degree would be useful in, and usually end up falling back on engineering jobs I'm not interested in. I've yet to do the whole travelling thing too, which I really want to do before I'm 30. I'm aware that leaving a job without having a new one lined up isn't the best idea, but for health reasons I think it's best. However Im definitely worried about being jobless, even short term and I'm really starting to look at the whole situation in a negative light, rather than the fact that it might just give me time to stop and think about what it is I really want to do with my life. My girlfriend lives in Dublin so I could move up there and meet new people and be closer to her, but all my family and friends are here. I'm independent though so I'm happy to strike out and do new things, I think it's just the fear of choosing the wrong thing that's holding me back.

Anyone out there have any inspiration on how to choose the best path, or what they did/wish they'd done when they were my age, or are currently doing to give me some motivation?

Thanks

lurker2000

You are in the classic 'rut' - tbh I don't see why you are staying where you are, you have a job you are lukewarm about, a girlfriend who doesn't live in the same area and no social life at all. If your friends are moving on and up, there is only family keeping you there and tbh, your family will always be there for you to gravitate back to at any time. You're still a young man and I think you need to shake it up, the idea to travel is a great one and you should def do that for a year. Don't worry about the 'good job', you'll always find something on your return.... I would seriously worry that your fears and concerns will keep you there and in twenty years time your life will have mostly passed you by in a grey haze of nothingness except a ground hog day existence. If travel to Australia or America seems too far, just do Europe for six months... or even the big smoke of Dublin might throw up job opportunities that have so far eluded you... get cracking young man while you still have time !!!

FitzElla

First off - you have a degree, a girlfriend, your youth, your health, and a family and friends in your locality that obviously mean a lot to you. Whatever paths you have chosen so far have worked out fairly well for you, so trust enough in yourself to choose your next step. Your quarter life crisis seems to be from seeing your friends moving on and a fear of being left behind. If nothing changes it is very easy to fall into a rut and the longer you stay there the harder it is to move. Most peoples biggest regret is not taking opportunities when they could so don't make the same mistake.

Why don't you start looking at job opportunities in Dublin and trying to arrange some interviews. You can keep working away in the meantime and at least you are aiming at a new job. If you want some time out from work and can afford it, travelling is a great idea, especially when you are young and don't have as many commitments.

What about your girlfriend - would she want to go travelling with you? How would she feel about you moving in with her in Dublin? These are big steps and if you are serious about your future together you should be talking this all over with her.

Don't base your life on what other people are doing. Your friends and family will still be your friends and family even if you move away or go travelling. I agree with the poster above - get cracking young man

Wesser

I would encourgae you to go. Get out of there.you are not missing out on anything in the west if you go.
If your friends all have babies etc and so friendship will be weakened by that for a few years. they will all be there when you get back. so will your family. in fact is
if you are away they are more likely to meet up with you when you return for the holidays so you will probably end up seeing more of them!
the only advice I would give you is to have a job set up in dublin before you go otherwise you will get stuck. but yeah i think you fo really need change. shift work is very hard and bad for your health esp mental health. best of luck.

Casualcontrol1

move to dublin or even move to australia or something with her! Trust me youll miss nothing in the west.. live now while you still young

Systemsdarken

Rural Ireland and small town Ireland is ****ed. It is no place for a young person who wants to experience life. Do what you want to utterly ruthlessly. Utterly. You owe no one explanations.