Found yourself in a Quarter Life Crisis? It’s time to Adult.

You’re reading this article right now because you Googled: “Quarter Life Crisis?” Because these words, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life”, are too familiar and because you look at your pet while getting ready for work with envy.

So you’ve been on earth for a quarter of a century and you’re feeling that existential emptiness in your heart. Feeling too young for funeral insurance, too old to play on the swings. Don’t worry, it’s not only you. It’s most of us odd 20-year-olds, and when I say most of us, sing hallelujah. Because unless you’re not a little envious of the lives of your friends who are traveling the world (at the expense of their parent’s bank accounts) and are embracing the gypsy-boho life, then you actually shouldn’t be reading this article.

My goals? Let’s see… a thigh gap, my credit cards paid off, my car payments are paid off (my car insurance premiums are in line with my lifestyle), a small studio apartment like Carrie Bradshaw’s in Sex and the City, where I get to write about fashion in front of a window sipping on a cosmo. Oh, and a closet full of Manalo Blahnik’s would be great too. Yes, that’s what I want…

And yet here you are, puffing on that cigarette (which you were supposed to give up) after a long day at work trying to get your life in order.

I’m career focused, I know what I want, I just don’t know how I’m gonna get there… Yet.

Okay, I’ll marry rich… Wow, of course, all problems solved. Oh wait but I don’t have a boyfriend. We’ll add that goal to the list… Must get engaged by the age of 28… That leaves me with three years to find a boyfriend, get engaged and married. Not so hard.

Hello 25, it’s nice to meet you.

Luckily you not alone, and while most of us can barely keep an orchid alive, let alone manage a tiny human. It’s not the end of your life like you think. You just need a little pat on the back and some inspiration to get back on into those heels.

So here you got it, although a little tough love is needed:

Firstly, spending your weekdays on Pinterest, clock watching and living for the weekend isn’t going to cut it. You were born with a brain, so use it, and if your excuse is that you are bored at work, find another job.

Your job isn’t just a job. It’s who you are. The harder you work at something, the greater you’ll feel once you have achieved it.

Stop rushing. There’s plenty of time, and there will be enough time left to enjoy everything you have worked so hard for.

Take control of your own life now. If you wake up one day and realize your life has essentially gone to dog poop. It’s your own fault.

Marrying rich isn’t the answer. Yes, as much as I’m a feminist and believe the first date should be paid for, your entire life doesn’t need to be looked after by a man. Do you really want a monthly allowance at 35?

Change. Sorry darling sometimes change is required and if you about to say, “you are who you are, and won’t change for anyone”, then stay in the slump that you’re in. Use this as a wake-up call. Look at your life, figure out what is making you miserable and cut it out, then look at yourself and change what you don’t like.

You don’t have time. Make time, this really isn’t an excuse. How much time is it actually going to take out of your 24 hour day? These are your selfish years, and if you can’t see that, you’re going nowhere.

You want to travel. Travelling is expensive unless you willing to backpack (which still isn’t as cheap as you think) or become a tea girl. Wait to travel until you can properly afford to. You don’t have to do everything right now.

Make patience your new best friend, you’re most likely losing a lot of friends anyway. This is probably, if not the most important thing to remember. Trust the timing of your life, don’t take the first thing that comes along and don’t settle for what you don’t want. Life has a way of working itself out.

Crying, while we all need a good cry once in a while. Like, Cameron Diaz said, “Cry like a winner” – stop, breathe and cry if you must.

Still, have fear? Of course, you do, and one article isn’t going to change your life. You are. Being scared means you’re about to do something really brave. Remember: Things happen the way they are supposed to, to bring you to a certain place you’re eventually supposed to be, when you at a certain age, when you are old enough.

Someday you’ll live that lavish life, not be as broke as a joke, and own a dishwasher that isn’t your two hands, you just need a little patience with a touch of (very) hard work.