The Quarter-Life Crisis
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This refers to the phenomenon where 20-somethings (and I think 30-somethings too
) get frustrated and jaded with the Rat Race and opt not to be part of it altogether, aiming for a more relaxed lifestyle and bumming around.
It's considered odd because these folks have just completed their studies and are just starting out in their careers but they get frustrated with the long hours spent at work and feel that life is more meaningful than just work.
This phrase was coined in 1988 and it refers to a period of confusion, self-doubt and insecurity in the 20's. They question meaning of life and ironically, having too many choices in their lives in this day and age means overwheling pressures to deal with all aspects of life.
Unflatteringly, some folks would call these people 'bums' because they usually don't hold a permanent job and prefer, instead, to work on an ad-hoc or project basis and spend the rest of their time doing what they like to do.
This topic was just discussed in 'What Women Want', hosted by Diana Ser and I feel it's a very thread-worthy topic!
OK, hands-up... who wants to be a bum??
I know I do! 
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U called?
Full Fledged Bum Prepared to Share Weal And Woe to have that Moment of Couch+Football+Food Magic -
i don't wanna bum around but i wanna do something i want to do.
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The Quarter-Life Crisis, as defined by Wikipedia :
"The quarter-life crisis is a term, coined circa November 1998 in Toronto, applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the ages of 17-23. The term is named by analogy with mid-life crisis."
Emotional aspects
Characteristics of this crisis are:
-confusion of identity
-insecurity regarding the near future
-insecurity regarding present accomplishments
-re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
-disappointment with one's job
-nostalgia for college life
-tendency to hold stronger opinions
-boredom with social interactions
-financially-rooted stress
-loneliness
These emotions and insecurities are not uncommon at this age, nor at any age in adult life. In the context of the quarter-life crisis, however, they occur shortly after a young person, usually an educated professional, in this context, enters the "real world". After the initial excitement of adult life and its responsibilities wears off, some individuals find themselves in a world of career stagnation and extreme insecurity.
As the emotional ups-and-downs of adolesence and college life subside, many in the quarter-life crisis experience a "graying" of emotion. While emotional interactions may be intense in a high school or college environment, where everyone is roughly the same age and hormones are highly active, these interactions become subtler and more private in adult life.
Furthermore, a contributing factor to this crisis may be the difficulty in adapting to a workplace environment. In college, professors' expectations are clearly given and students receive frequent feedback on their performance in their courses. By contrast, in a workplace environment, a person may be, for some time, completely unaware of a boss's displeasure with his performance, or of his colleagues' dislike for his personality. Office politics require interpersonal skills that are largely unnecessary for success in an educational setting. Emerging adults eventually learn these social skills, but this process, sometimes compared to learning another language, is often highly stressful.
For more, click here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter-life_crisis -
You're better than me!Originally posted by kopiosatu:i don't wanna bum around but i wanna do something i want to do.
I wish I was one of those folks who own property and live on the rental income alone!
And yes, unashamedly, if I DO have a choice, I'd love to bum around and do stuff that I like to do everyday!
Gym, Spa, Pure Yoga, High Tea, Shopping, Manicure & Pedicure, ... Yippeeee!! Can do a lotta lotta Chicky stuff! -
been there. done that.
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i wanna b a bum
i wanna b a bum
i wanna b a bum!!!!! -
.......I think I'm having a quarter life crisis!!! -
yea rightOriginally posted by bladez87:been there. done that.
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Sorry, ah... we don't know you so your brevity does NOT tell us where and what and yada-yada!Originally posted by bladez87:been there. done that. -
i skipped sec school for 3 months during sec4. that was like my quarter life crisis?
until i woke up and realised. damn my life is going down the drain...was really a bum, wake up, play game, chat online watch tv. getting my parents angry. having home visits by teacher . called down to principal's office. -
that is not quarter life crisis.Originally posted by bladez87:i skipped sec school for 3 months during sec4. that was like my quarter life crisis?
until i woke up and realised. damn my life is going down the drain...
that's just called a teenager bumming around -
i dont want to continue the rat race ma. as if getting O level cert, then get Dip and go out work.Originally posted by kopiosatu:that is not quarter life crisis.
that's just called a teenager bumming around
it fits the definition right? -
Yikes... dats me.. quarter-life crisis!Originally posted by Rhonda:Characteristics of this crisis are:
-confusion of identity
-insecurity regarding the near future
-insecurity regarding present accomplishments
-re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
-disappointment with one's job
-nostalgia for college life
-tendency to hold stronger opinions
-boredom with social interactions
-financially-rooted stress
-loneliness
3 yrs ago if u ask me.. i would love to bum ard do nothing but eat, rot & sleep
now ah... think i'll rust & die if u ask me to zoh bo..
which also means.. i'll have to slog till i die... cannot be tai tai... strike toto also cannot. -
sounds more like growing pains.. don't wanna study.. wanna work earn $ & wanna haf fun with frens everyday..Originally posted by bladez87:i dont want to continue the rat race ma. as if getting O level cert, then get Dip and go out work.
it fits the definition right?
i've been thru dat phrase too.
Now history repeats.. my younger sis is a headache.. -
you haven't even experience the rat race to warrant you the experience to decide to be out of it.Originally posted by bladez87:i dont want to continue the rat race ma. as if getting O level cert, then get Dip and go out work.
it fits the definition right? -
dont want to work. just want to live day by dayOriginally posted by Camellias4me:sounds more like growing pains.. don't wanna study.. wanna work earn $ & wanna haf fun with frens everyday..
i've been thru dat phrase too.
Now history repeats.. my younger sis is a headache.. -
have u ever wondered you will get sick of buming around and doing those chicky stuff after a while?Originally posted by Rhonda:You're better than me!
I wish I was one of those folks who own property and live on the rental income alone!
And yes, unashamedly, if I DO have a choice, I'd love to bum around and do stuff that I like to do everyday! Gym, Spa, Pure Yoga, High Tea, Shopping, Manicure & Pedicure, ... Yippeeee!! Can do a lotta lotta Chicky stuff! 
i used to enjoy lazing around doing nothing except going to beaches, reservoirs and parks everyday to enjoy the breeze and scenaries. after a while, i got bored and then i went on to try other buming activities and i will get bored one by one, until i found my passion. -
if i can, i wish all i need to do is go to gym everyday...haha...
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I also having a quarter life crisis but I just can't gave up this rat race yet....Life sucks....
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I wanna be a bum too!
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Originally posted by bladez87:i dont want to continue the rat race ma. as if getting O level cert, then get Dip and go out work.
it fits the definition right? WHAT rat race? You haven't even started yet leh! 
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passion.. which is...?Originally posted by sherling22:have u ever wondered you will get sick of buming around and doing those chicky stuff after a while?
i used to enjoy lazing around doing nothing except going to beaches, reservoirs and parks everyday to enjoy the breeze and scenaries. after a while, i got bored and then i went on to try other buming activities and i will get bored one by one, until i found my passion. -
u all wanna race with me isit?
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was i considered one? i quit in aug last year cos i got sick of my job, then went japan tour for abt a month... that one month was so relaxing... was hoping to be able to find a job there... but my japanese sucks major...
and i just got a perm job recently after bumming for erm... 4 mths... but i still dunno if this job is what i want in the long term...
sometimes i wonder if i'm the only one ard at this age who still dunno what i want to do...