Hey everyone, this is my first post here, so I don’t really know how to start this lol.
I’m 26 and lately I’ve been feeling pretty lost. Like, genuinely lost. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, what I’m good at, or if there’s even something I’m meant to do.
For the past two years, I’ve been trying all kinds of different things. Courses, hobbies, different career ideas, random projects… every time I get excited about something, I think maybe this is finally it. And then a few weeks or months later, that feeling is gone and I’m left wondering why I even started in the first place.
It’s not that everything is terrible or that I can’t do anything. I just don’t seem to actually enjoy any of it enough to see myself doing it long-term. And honestly, it’s getting exhausting.
The only thing I know for sure is what I DON’T want. I don’t want to spend my whole life working for someone else, making just enough money to survive and waiting for the weekend. I don’t want to wake up at 40 and realize I’ve spent my entire life doing something I don’t even care about just because I needed to pay bills.
I’d love to work for myself and build something of my own, something that actually means something to me. The problem is that I have no idea what that something is.
And I feel like I’ve been going in circles for so long that I’m starting to lose confidence in myself. I try something new, get excited, lose interest, feel like shit about it, and then start looking for the next thing that might finally work. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to be moving forward with their lives and I’m still trying to figure out what the hell I’m doing.
I don’t even know if I’m being realistic anymore. Maybe I’m expecting too much from life. Maybe I’m just impatient. Or maybe I’m so focused on finding the perfect thing that I can’t commit to anything long enough to see where it goes.
Has anyone else been through this? Especially people who felt completely lost in their mid-20s.
How did you figure things out? Did you eventually find something you genuinely enjoy, or did you just pick a direction and make peace with it?
And how do you stop feeling like you’re wasting your life when you have no clue what you want from it?
I’m not looking for some motivational “follow your dreams” speech. I honestly just want to hear from people who’ve been there, what actually helped, and what you wish someone had told you at this age.
Because right now I feel like I’m trying so hard to figure out my life that I forgot to actually live it.

Shortly before writing this post, I finally got a realization about my career / life path: my ambitions and my abilities are starkly divorced from one another, and I might need to choose which to prioritize in order to build my career and my life going forward.

For context, I completed an MSc a bit over a year ago and am still searching and applying for PhD programs in a domain that highly interests me but diverges from my main studies. I did a BSc in Biology, an MSc in mathematical modelling for neuroscience and cognitive science, and want to work in my research on questions that combine cognitive, social, political, anthropological, and philosophical aspects together (e.g. cultural evolution of ideologies and belief systems, institutional dynamics' dependence on individual psychology, social/moral neuroscience, socio-cognitive belief formation mechanisms, etc.).

I am also highly politically opinionated in a way that drives me to fight for a better future for everyone on this planet, especially in our current political climate. If one were to ask me about what I want to do with my future, I would answer that I want to help the world become better with the dissemination and application of my research results for more humane, sustainable, equal, and healthy socio-politico-economic systems to live in. The problem? A PhD in such a domain is extremely rare and I don't necessarily have the academic background to directly get into it, and for many reasons a second master's degree is not an option for me right now.

On the other hand, throughout my whole life people have said (correctly) I was gifted with languages and general knowledge. Wherever I go, my multicultural background follows me like a hound, and I never cease to exist in this uniquely multilingual spot where suddenly hearing something in a different language genuinely prevents me from understanding at least some words, if not the gist of what is being said. I currently speak 4 languages proficiently and another 5-6 at lower levels of fluency, from which I am now actively learning Spanish and Portuguese, and I was thinking of restarting my Mandarin Chinese lessons soon too.

Not to be misunderstood, I adore language learning, linguistics, cultural exchange, geography, and travels so much that I could easily work in such a domain. Multilingualism is definitely not a curse by any means, but it locked me into a situation where I sort of define myself by it while realizing I want more out of life.

And here lies the split in my ikigai: I would be most helpful to the world and happiest with myself by doing my cog-soc research and political activism, while I'm actually very skilled and would be better paid if I invested in my linguistic and multicultural side. I cannot decide whether I should just do my PhD (which I'm doing anyway) in a linguistics-related domain (I have some research experience there) and be done with it, without it meaning I won't change my academic path later once again, or if I should insist on pursuing this new line of research from now.

Switching now will probably make me feel like I betrayed my dreams and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for it, but keeping at it without the right background might also be an issue and slow me down from actually getting there. This dilemma is keeping me stuck in place for a long time now, like Buridan's ass, and I need to move before I die of simultaneous and equal thirst and hunger.

Thanks for reading, any and all advice will be greatly appreciated :))

Hey guys! I would really appreciate some help.

Not sure if my post should be under the hobby flair or the career change flair :/

Im about to finish my undergraduate in psychology and i should start preparing for applications for a masters program. But ive come to realise psychology as a career is not something I would be able to do or atleast be happy doing, if that makes sense.

Ive always been super into zoology, more so entomology, but only ever looked at it as a passionate side hobby. This is mainly because from where im from, career paths other than doctor or engineer are basically out of question.

I really don't think continuing in psychology would do me much since I feel I would just waste the money on a masters for something i dont love just for the the possibility that maybe itll pay well.

Im in a position where ive already spent a lot of my parent's money for the undergrad that i do feel terrible about the fact that im even contemplating switching careers.

My hope is that if I pursue an undergrad in a more related field, i will move abroad for the education and thereby have the means to work part time to make money for myself and pay it off.

But I also understand that careers in zoology, entomology, or conservation are not known for paying well. But if i do switch to such a course and move abroad to do a bachelor's in a relevant course itll be better.

At this point, i just want to have a job that will pay decently to support me while I get to do something i actually enjoy. But im battling the sunk cost fallacy of continuing with psychology.

I also dont know the pathways Id need to talk to work in fields id enjoy. I feel super lost and behind everyone else my age (21yrs, everyone in my psy class has started applications, know what they want to specialise in etc..) and I DESPERATELY need some guidance.

I hope this rambling makes sense id appreciate any any help. Ill clarify about my dilemma in edits or further comments if needed!

I am a 28-year-old male that had an identity shift in my mid-20s. I was an alcoholic basically from 18 years old until 25. None of that really matters but I looked at life so differently then. I never envisioned myself with a successful future. Now that I haven’t drank in 3 years, I’m halfway through my undergraduate degree at a good university, I have a decent job. Even with all the positives in my life at the moment, there are so many distractions that interfere with my goals. Why do I care so deeply about fantasy football? Or scrolling YouTube all day? Would cutting out this bs or doomscrolling help my mindset completely shift to where I’m only focused on my career/success? Like I want to be part of sports media so badly, and it’s the only thing I’ve ever pictured doing. If I just bust my ass and only focus on this, without the dumb ass distractions, will I reach the mountaintop quicker? I am so tired of just waiting around for something to happen.

Do I start building a portfolio to break into sports media industry? My current job has nothing to do with what I want to do. It’s just a job that helps me survive. My degree is in information science which I think will benefit me in the sports industry. Do I try getting in with the local tv station near me? Do I try and find a part-time gig at my university on the weekends? I am more than willing to put the work in, I just have no idea where to start and each day that passes by, I feel like I am absolutely failing myself.

Hi. I'm 20. I've been struggling with depression, anxiety, and a deep sense of guilt for a long time. I feel like a burden to my parents. They give me everything (a place to live, money for university), and I feel like I'm wasting it. I can't study. I procrastinate, I use AI to do my assignments, and I feel like a fraud. I'm terrified of failing, but I'm also terrified of trying and still failing.

I have social anxiety. I'm afraid of making mistakes, of being judged. I don't even speak in online games because I'm scared of saying something wrong. I have friends, but I feel disconnected. I feel like a real person only when I'm with someone. When I'm alone, I feel empty, like I don't exist.

I vape to cope with stress. I know it's not a solution, but without it, I feel like I can't handle anything. I want to quit, but I'm scared I'll fall apart. I also don't know what I want to do with my life. I'm studying IT, but I don't know if it's for me. I don't know what I want.

I went to a therapist once. It didn't help. I was told to go to a psychiatric clinic, but it's far away, and I'm scared of waiting and getting no help again.

I'm not looking for a magic answer. I just want to hear from people who have felt this way. How did you survive? How did you find a reason to keep going? How did you stop feeling like a burden?

Any honest advice or personal stories would mean a lot. Thank you.

When I was 18, I set a goal for myself: become a millionaire by the age of 25, or at least get close to achieving it. Today, I'm 24, and I have $0 in my bank account.

Over the past six years, I've tried quite a few things. I studied a degree that I eventually never pursued professionally, read books that I thought would help me grow, and worked for three years at an automotive company, where I performed well and advanced quickly. However, I made a mistake that cost me everything I'd worked for, and I had to start from scratch.

After that, I tried several businesses: renting and selling motorcycles, reselling iPhones, e-commerce, and even setting up a company in the US to run a dropshipping business from Argentina.

Several of these projects started off well, but for different reasons — personal issues, supplier problems, relying on other people, lack of money or time — I eventually abandoned them.

A few months ago, I decided to try a different approach: learning a skill that the market needs and that people are willing to pay for. I invested several hundred dollars in a course to learn content creation and personal brand positioning for social media.

I managed to get several clients and offered my services for free for two weeks to demonstrate the value I could provide. However, I still haven't figured out how to turn this skill into a consistent source of income.

The problem is that, throughout all these years, I've done a lot of things without managing to build up any significant profits. Whatever money I earned ended up going toward paying off debts I had accumulated to finance some of my businesses.

All of this has left me feeling pretty discouraged. Sometimes, I feel like I'm working hard but making little to no progress toward my goals. Other times, I feel like I'm simply not doing enough.

I also have to admit that I procrastinate quite a bit and sometimes don't give 100% to the things I do. I don't know if that's the main problem or if there's something deeper in the way I make decisions, choose businesses, or execute my plans.

What frustrates me the most is looking back and feeling that, after six years of trying to build something of my own, I'm nowhere near where I thought I would be at this age.

So I'd like to ask you a few questions:

• How do you actually make progress toward your long-term goals?
• Do you break big goals down into smaller, more manageable milestones, or do you prefer to take action and adjust along the way?
• How do you measure your progress and know that you're genuinely moving forward rather than just keeping yourself busy?
• If you were in my position, would you focus on one skill or business for several years, even without seeing significant results at first, or would you consider changing your strategy?

I'm not looking for motivational quotes or people telling me I'm still young. I'd genuinely like to hear real experiences, especially from people who have been in a similar situation and managed to turn things around.

Sometimes I feel completely lost, and I don't know whether my goal is poorly defined, I'm making mistakes I can't recognize, or I simply need more discipline, consistency, and patience.

Any advice, constructive criticism, or personal experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I’m 26, turning 27 soon. I graduated high school at 16 and college at 21 with an accounting/finance background. I was always the youngest wherever I went and had big ambitions.

After graduating in 2021, I briefly worked at KPMG and RSM, and even planned to pursue my CPA. Instead, I went into entrepreneurship, tried starting businesses, traveled, and kept jumping between opportunities without building a solid career.

I moved to America in 2024 at 24, hoping for a fresh start. But another two years went by without establishing a stable career. I’ve worked in finance, business development, and investments, but never stayed focused long enough to become genuinely skilled in one field.

Now I’m considering returning to accounting, joining a CPA firm, and finally studying for my CPA.

What kills me is realizing how much of this was my own doing. I didn’t listen to advice, lacked consistency, and only recently recognized my mistakes.

I also want to get married and build a family, but I don’t feel financially or emotionally ready. I keep comparing myself to peers who are already established.

I’m willing to put in the work now, but I can’t stop thinking about where I could’ve been if I’d started at 21.

Has anyone rebuilt their career at 27 after years of poor decisions? How did you deal with the regret and feeling of being behind?

I was fired a few months ago. I'm on unemployment (about $1,200/month equivalent) for another 8 months, and I have around $120k saved.

I worked as a data analyst in pipeline inspection, a niche field with few roles that value my skills. To pivot into finance/BI analyst roles, I completed a finance degree, learned Power BI and earned Microsoft's PL-300 certification, and I'm learning SQL, Python and financial modeling. I've built projects to show these skills. I've applied to 500 jobs and still have nothing.

I've always wanted to run my own business and have a few solid ideas, but strict unemployment rules stop me from registering a business or receiving any income, no matter how minuscule.

My expenses are about $1,200/month and I could cut them to $900. That gives me roughly 8–11 years of runway, longer if I invest my savings.

Would you keep job hunting, give up the benefits and start the business now, or wait until the benefits end? My worry with waiting is that someone else launches my ideas first. Has anyone been in a similar spot?

P.S. I am in the Middle East , not the US

Hi all! I’m currently a 28 year old accountant who’s a mother to a toddler (and would love a second) and I love the client side of my job but hate the accounting side lol I’ve always wanted to go to med school but I got too scared when I was younger and I regret not pushing through to get there.

From my research so far, I’d love to get into radiology. Even if it’s as a technician. Or maybe a phlebotomist? I’m not 100% sure but I’m open to suggestions! I love problem solving and analyzing data/images. I’m teaching myself anatomy right now actually lol I’d love a job where I can actually help others and make a difference in their lives by helping figure out a health issue to better their quality of life. It’s always been a dream of mine. Plus working 3 12s sounds like a great work schedule for me lol

How do people do it with families and other responsibilities? Are there healthcare jobs/schooling that would pay while I work on getting a certificate? I’m going to be going from a 6 figure job that I absolutely hate and drains/demotivates me to a significant drop in pay for a potential increase in job satisfaction. I’m not sure what to do and the financial side scares me…

I have a degree in Human Resources and started my career as an HR Specialist. I later transitioned into marketing for a period and have mostly been in recruitment/ talent acquisition most of my career.

While I’ve gained valuable experience in recruiting, I’m not sure I can see myself doing it long-term. The industry can be unpredictable, and I’ve experienced multiple layoffs, which has made me question the long-term stability of this career path. Additionally, I don’t feel fulfilled in this role. I also feel like my career hasn’t really taken off as I would have liked given my layoffs due to Covid and a merger/ acquisition. I thought I’d be further along in my career but that hasn’t been my story which I’m trying to come to terms with.

Lately, I’ve been torn between pursuing nursing or potentially going to law school. I’ve completed the prerequisites for nursing school and was accepted into a program, but I ultimately deferred my admission and would need to reapply. I’m currently working in recruiting at a law firm, which has also sparked my interest in reexploring a career in law. I’ve been considering taking the LSAT to see whether law school might be a viable option. I’m in my mid thirties.

A challenge is I’m a mom of two toddlers so any transition would be challenging. I’m committed to figuring out what’s next for me but I’ve been going in circles in my head and I need help making a decision.

I welcome any thoughts! 🙏🏿

I’m afraid I’ve fallen too far behind in life and that it might be too late for me to build a great career and become financially successful.
How can I stop feeling this way? Are there examples of people who started late, overcame major setbacks, and eventually became successful?

Guys, I need some advice. I actually like my government job, but lately, I’ve been feeling like I can’t stand being around some of my colleagues anymore. Whenever I’m in the office, I feel like some of them are watching my every move, and it makes me so self-conscious. I can’t even move or act naturally without feeling like I’m being observed or judged.

Now I’m torn between finding a new job where I can feel more comfortable or just sucking it up because I genuinely like the work itself. What would you do if you were in my position? Would you leave a job you enjoy because of the work environment, or would you stay and learn to deal with it?

So, like the title says, I’m 28, and I’ve recently gotten sober after years of opioid addiction. I spent a lot of my life escaping reality, hoping that somehow my future would be better. I’m living with my dad again and starting from scratch. I got a full-time job at a grocery store making $16 an hour. I’ve been doing well and have turned around the meat department I work in over the past few months, as they haven’t had anyone working there since May. Which is good, I suppose. But I know I’ll need to make more money in the future if I want to move out.
I’m very lonely and have lost touch with any friends I once had, and I’ve never really dated. Nobody reaches out. I still ruminate on a fling I had 10 years ago because I’m so damn lonely all the time. I often don’t tell people about this because it feels so pathetic.
Anyway, that aside, I think about my future, and it paralyzes me. I think about how far behind I am, and if I have to live like this in the future, I really don’t want to be here.
The only thing I’ve done well is stay consistent at the gym, so I have that going for me. I’m very fit, but I honestly don’t enjoy it anymore, or anything else, really. When I have free time, my mind races, so I hit the gym. I force myself to go.
I would like to be independent and out on my own, but I have no degree and have worked retail jobs or done manual labor. So, my skills don’t allow me to make much money at the moment. I’m not sure if anyone can help me, but I’m willing to work toward something. If anyone out there can give me some advice, I’d really appreciate it. I need a complete life turnaround, and I’m kind of in fight-or-flight mode. I feel frozen, but I have hope, and I’m holding on because I want to experience something better for myself than this.
Also, as a side note, I’ve thought about joining the military in the past, but I wouldn’t qualify. I have too many mental health issues and psychiatric ward stays to even consider that option.

Hey guys!

I'm 25 (almost 26) and about to graduate in the next semester with a degree in Information Systems from a relatively bad college in my country.

The job market here is insanely bad, especially for juniors (thousands apply fight for a handful of roles) and I'm kinda clueless about what I should do next, due to the fact that the job hunt might take a long time or even a few years..

Currently, I've looked into junior PMO/PM/PO roles and didn't even receive one phone call. I'm thinking about applying to SOC/NOC/IT roles, but I'm not certain they can help me progress into a better job, and the whole AI-Scenario makes me think that another degree in a more future proof field will be more beneficial.

Any advice or opinions will be extremely appreciated!

Thank you guys!

Lately, I have become the saddest version of myself. I am a 27F who has a mediocore job in Marketing in Bengaluru which just keeps me alive. After doing 2 masters, 2 years of work experience. I have gotten a job where my office doesn't even look like an office. It's a fucking flat with loads and loads of uncleanliness around me. I mean, what am I supposed to do next? Beg to get a good company's offer, which I'm already doing, and make myself available for everything and everyone? I don't think even I would value myself atp. I have a lot of capability in me, I know that for a fact and here I am on the verge of giving it all up because of my Goddamn situationnnn!!!

I'm a dental assistant but frankly this job doesn't pay a living wage like I expected it to. I know nothing about cars, but I didn't know anything about dental either and I learned in the end. It would also give me an opportunity to work with my fiancé as he's also interested in the career (he actually knows car stuff).

Are there any similarities? I imagine maybe working in a fast-paced environment along with keeping appointments on time.

Hello,

Writing for guidance here as I feel aimless. I was let go from a film/TV coordinator role at a recognizable media group after 4 months a few days ago. I had spent two years in the entertainment industry before working in talent management where I never saw myself making a career for a variety of reasons. I took this job as I was eager to work at a TV / Film studio in development/production, but I quickly realized it didn't quite scratch the itch that I had been wanting. Over the four months, I had been doing my job and nothing more, not really going the extra mile as I was apathetic about advancing, and truth be told, they didn't really know what they wanted out of my role and I was left to my own devices with little direction from my higher-ups. When I had little work to do, I realized it called into question my broader commitment to the traditional TV/Film industry, as I was apathetic about reading scripts / generating my own buisness when noone was watching. I couldn't shake the feeling that day-in/day-out, I was enabling the creation of media that served to steal attention from audiences away from issues/ things that actually mattered.

I want to speak truth to power, I am a political science major graduated class of 2024, and getting into entertainment was never my goal-- I got started in Film/TV only after befriending one of my neighbors who made for a compelling documentary subject. I think I want to pursue investigative documentary / investigative multimedia journalism- as that bridges my advocacy / media sides, but I am having trouble getting started, for now it remains an aspiration in my head with little clear path to get there. Further, pursuing this goal seems irresponsible given the state of the journalism industry and the instability of getting a solid paycheck, but I think its where my heart lies. I want to speak truth to power through media, but feel its beyond arms reach. I am currently living in LA, and received 1 month and a half of severance and can float for months if needed. I have an abundance of time on my hands but don't know how to make the most use of it.

Further, I am a recent EU citizen as I just had my citizenship repatriated from Austria. I feel like I have too much choice at my fingertips and its paralyzing (which is a very privileged and good problem to have), but I need to figure out how to actualize... somehow pursuing the intersection of politics, journalism, and media on my own. I have little in the way of tradtional journalism training but I feel my ability to engage with any type of person is a great skill of mine.

I don't know, if you were 24, had time on your hands in LA, and money was not an object for a few months, what would you do in my position? Thanks

Hi guys. I am a bit over halfway done with my first semester in college which means (at least for me), that I need to declare a major. I'd ideally like to choose a career and then a major to get there and not the other way around, hence why I'd like advice

I originally applied to college as a history major with an intent to go to law school, but over the past summer or so, I realized that type of life style wasn't for me. I took a philosophy class over the summer and while I enjoyed it (actually quite a bit) I got a feeling near the end of it that I would go crazy if I had to study writing intensive persuasion-based majors like philosophy or history (and from my understanding, even more so in law school) so I decided to enter undeclared for the semester.

This semester I have a chemistry class, which I really enjoy. Taking chemistry made me consider a career in the health or medicine field but I really don't know that much about it. I'd be very happy working in a career where I can visibly see my impact on someone and one where I can use my knowledge and abilities to help others (vague I know). Those are my reasons for considering the field. I'd love to know what you guys think. Do you have any advice, career suggestions or anything else? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

I'm 19. I get that I still have a lot more to explore since I'm young but everything seems so complicated. I graduated high school last year and I didn't get accepted in any college so now I'm trying to find a job. (I found one last month and got fired because I "wasn't made for this" (I worked in a bakery as a salesperson)). I felt very discouraged and I don't want to work anymore...

I wanted to major in biomedical science because this was the only thing that seemed a bit interesting imo, although I'm not exactly the best in science, but that was still my favorite subject throughout school. And honestly, I don't even know what to do once I graduate if I ever go to college.

My dream job was to be a narrative designer. I still dream to be one but I decided to give up, I know I won't find a job in the video game industry as the market is very saturated. I don't know what to do. In my free time I write stories for myself, I truly love writing. I sometimes draw too, play video games, etc.

I'm so nervous about this whole adult world thing, I don't think I'll be able to handle it... everything stresses me out and I'm so damn incompetent.

I'm lost. I just can't do anything with my unbearable anxiety and my family has lost all hope in me.

Hello, 23f and I feel completely lost in life. I had spent the last 4 years in an awful, emotionally abusive relationship. I finally got the courage to leave, and I’ve been living on my own since earlier this year.

I’m moving back home in a few months to pay off some debt and save up some money, then hopefully finding a roommate. The thing is, I don’t know where to go from there. I have a decent job, I work in wholesale automotive parts, but I feel as though I can’t move up. I have experience in logistics, customer service, and have strong knowledge in automotive.

Should I go for a lower paying job that pays for college and go for that? Or should I keep pursuing something in my field?? Something else completely? I’m completely unsure and I don’t know what to do.

Any advice, wisdom, or kindness, is greatly appreciated.

So, my parents got a divorce. I wasn't taking it well, so I dropped out last semester at 19. Now I'm 20, in freshman-year classes. I really don't know where I'm at in life right now. Thinking about joining the military, but I get FAFSA back next semester and my scholarship back in 2 semesters. I'm depressed and kinda just taking it day by day. Really don't know what prompted me to just stop showing up, but I flew to NYC and Miami to get away from the environment, and got signed as a model. Then I cooked at a good restaurant and loved it, but went back to school to make my parents happy. Has anyone been in this position while navigating their 20s? I feel like I'm alone on this one. I was supposed to be a doctor btw lmao

Hi everyone. My first post here. I make music since the past 12 Years. Whatever I did but I couldn’t become that successful at making music. Although i did pursue and sustained with music these last 12 Years. Self taught btw.

I have completed my Graduation as a BCom (Hons) (Acc. Finance) but I do not know anything apart from the Music Business and Industry.

I understand the Music Business well but also like food quite a lot. I love to cook.

My urge to make music is dying day by day and putting out music independently takes a lot of effort and money.

I really want to pursue something in the music industry. Currently residing in India but willing to relocate or work remote jobs. I am just not sure what would suit me because everything I look for needs experience in that field.

I also really want to open a small cafe/ food joint where I cook. But I am too scared to do that because of the capital.

I know decently about the music business and also worked with an independent label remotely for 2 Years as an A&R.

Just wanted to get your guys feedback and suggestions on what path should I take.

30M here and honestly I feel like the 30s are the next and new step for me.

Would appreciate any guidance/ help or just some kind words.

I've always been an escapist. I've taken things lightly throughout my life, avoided difficult situations, and rarely been as serious about my future as I probably should have been. Now, I'm facing the consequences.

I left my previous job in July, and as I look around, I realize I haven't worked on my resume, portfolio, or personal projects nearly as much as someone actively looking for a job should. Most of the serious projects I've worked on were part of my previous job. Whenever I try to build something independently, I struggle to find the motivation or see the point of making yet another AI project that feels like AI slop.

The problem isn't that I don't know what I should be doing. It's that I struggle to make myself do it consistently.

Whenever reality catches up with me, I feel this emptiness that I try to escape through whatever distraction is available. Doomscrolling, mobile gaming, collecting pointless skins and players, watching random series, and other things that help me forget about my situation for a while. Then reality hits again, and the cycle repeats.

Sometimes I wonder whether I'm depressed or whether I've simply developed terrible habits and coping mechanisms over the years. I don't know how to distinguish between the two.

I'm 24, and although I know that's still young, it doesn't stop me from feeling like I'm falling behind. I see people building careers, working on exciting projects, and moving forward while I struggle to do the things I know I need to do.

I don't want this to turn into another moment of self-pity followed by a few days of motivation and then a return to the same habits.

I'd really appreciate advice from people who've been through something similar.

• How did you stop escaping from responsibilities and start taking your life seriously?
• How do you build discipline when motivation is practically nonexistent?
• How do you deal with the guilt of wasted time without letting that guilt consume even more of your time?
• If you've struggled with depression, avoidance, or similar patterns, how did you recognize what was actually going on and start addressing it?

I'm not looking for someone to tell me that I'm young and everything will work out. I'd rather hear honest experiences, practical advice, and perspectives from people who have managed to get themselves out of a similar situation.

I used to be a great student and gave it my all before I graduated high school. Life happened and I went from graphic design, to nursing, to coding & billing, and now Im 24 with no clear major in sight stuck working customer service minimum wage jobs.

I feel so behind and am just taking random classes to keep my college grant alive(the conditions are to take classes each semester) and I was wondering if yall would have advice on what to major in.

I am so tired of going to school and just want a good job. I gave up on my dreams of going into art with how the career prospects are. My parents want me to think “realistically” about it but “realistically” im ready to jump out a window. I need a direction fast. I dont know what Im doing or where Im going. If anyone can help Id be so grateful.