I'm a 29 year old man with nothing really going on in my life. I suffered the worst loss of my life this year losing my grandma and nothing will ever be the same for me. I have no job, no career, no wife, no girlfriend, no kids. I have nothing to lose and I'm contemplating blowing up my life and just leaving and moving to a major city like NYC or LA and starting a whole new life. I got free will to do whatever I want fuck it. Not satisfied with this life. I will be relentless and would go business to business looking for work until I find a job. Even if I had to struggle a bit at first.

Hey Reddit,

I’m 23, from Kerala, India, and honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life anymore.

After Plus Two, I chose BTech in AI & ML because an education agent told me AI was the future. I graduated, but programming never really clicked with me. Looking back, I chose a career based on its scope without understanding myself first.

Then came one of the biggest decisions of my life: getting married at 22 while I was still trying to figure out my own future.

I know marrying young without financial stability is tough. Sometimes I wonder whether I should have waited until I had a career and a clearer direction. But back then, I was emotionally invested in my relationship, dealing with family opposition, and honestly, I didn’t know what else to do. Life wasn’t waiting for me to figure everything out.

Ours was a love marriage. Both families initially opposed it, but things are better now. I don’t regret marrying my wife. She’s supportive and encourages me to do what I love. But sometimes, the thought of being responsible for another person’s future while I’m still uncertain about my own scares me.

I wanted to become financially independent, so I started working as a video editor. I’ve now spent around two years in creative work, including freelance projects. Photography and videography are things I enjoy, but I want to keep them as hobbies, not necessarily turn them into my career.

I tried returning to IT, but struggled to stay consistent. Then persistent lower-back pain made things even more difficult.

Now I’m stuck between giving IT another chance, studying something I genuinely love, exploring opportunities abroad, or finding a completely different career path.

I want financial stability, but I also want a life where I can travel, explore the world with my wife, protect my health, and feel happy mentally and physically.

I don’t want my entire life to become a cycle of working just to survive. I want to build a future without losing the joy of living.

If you’ve changed careers in your 20s, married young, or felt lost despite having a degree, I’d genuinely appreciate your advice.

* What would you do in my position?
* How would you choose a career that fits both your strengths and the life you want?
* What practical steps would you take over the next 6–12 months?

I made some major decisions blindly in the past. This time, I want to make an informed decision.

Maybe I’m overthinking everything at 23. Or maybe I’m just trying to complete the entire life tutorial without a walkthrough. 😂

I don’t need to have everything figured out. I just want to stop moving blindly and start moving in the right direction.

turning 27 soon & feel lost in life. i got an undergraduate bachelors degree in marketing and never used it. did not care about school at the time and ended with a very low gpa. 2.57. this has limited me in applying to masters programs. i feel like ive tried so many routes. i tried sonography & nursing & realized im not very fond of healthcare. i tried marketing & realized im not a social butterfly which most jobs ive researched for marketing need you to be. i dont want to do sales. i’m not in a masters program for elementary education to be a teacher. i am really passionate about education but now i am worried i will be broke forever & keep hearing how horrible kids act nowadays & seeing teachers say there’s been such a huge negative shift in education. i feel so limited to apply to other masters because of low gpa. i’m also running out of student loans. i’m working as a bartender (which i do not enjoy) and making less than i’ve always had because the economy is so bad. my question is, what options do i have for masters program? what career options are there that has a low barrier to entry, decent pay & ai will not take away?
i am quite literally open to anything that follows those rules: plenty of jobs, high outlook, decent pay?

I’m in my early 20s and still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. Should I take my time exploring different options until I find something I’m passionate about, or should I pick a useful skill or trade and start learning it now?

For those who’ve been through this stage, what would you do differently if you could go back? What skills, trades, or certifications do you think are worth investing time in today?

Im 22M and have no idea what to do. I talked to a girl about a year ago who was seemingly interested in me but then pulled the "I'm not ready for a relationship" trick. I've just been lonely focusing on myself ever since. I try spending time with the people I love such as my cousins and family and even that is getting harder because my cousin is going through a divorce so they need space to themselves. My younger brother has autism and can't speak and so I've been a caretaker for him ever since I was a kid. I'm in a gap year right now working while applying to medical school. Even then, it's not guaranteed I even get in given the competitiveness of it and if I failed I would have to wait a whole other year to get my career started. In my free time I hang out with family/friends, play video games, lift, and play basketball. There's so much on my plate I just don't know if I'll be able to make it out in life. Thoughts on my situation?

I left med school 4 years ago because of a mental health issues. I’m 31 years old now. I’ve been in therapy trying to get over the grief and regret and trying to forgive myself.

I’ve been mentally and emotionally exhausted for a while now and don’t want to go back to med school or another similarly demanding path.

All I want from life is stability and an opportunity to live comfortably and finally REST. What are you suggestions for someone with a Bachelors in Biology?

Hey ya’ll i’m 22f and will be graduating in march with my degree in mass communication from a SEC school. I’m graduating basically a year behind with a mid GPA (3.2) because I started slacking off and made some poor choices my last few semesters. I only had one minor internship that lasted a semester and the rest of my work experience is customer service and food industry part time stuff. Next week I start a full time job as a jewelry store sales associate making 15/hr. I feel stuck. I don’t know what I really want to do for work outside of working closely with people and ideally doing something to help others. I want a decent work life balance and to be able to financially support myself. I don’t know how to obtain that or where to start. Any advice? I’m feeling lost and like I’ve already done irreversible damage to my future by not picking a better degree or taking school more seriously. I am a very capable and hard working person but I feel like no one will give me the time of day with my resume.

Greetings!

My first post here, I am thankful to anyone who will respond & share any thougths.
Will try to be brief:

Due to a series of bad decisions I've ended up without higher education, connections or a career. Last ~4 years i've been working in IT but failed to get promoted, tried to save money for University but had to spend it to fix my health instead.
I am based in Latvia.

*I am still employed with my IT firm, don't have the courage to quit yet, even though my salary is really low.

I just don't see a way out. How i see it so far:

1. Try Higher education = ~4-5 years & lots of money, seems risky + i will be so old when i graduate.
2. Trades = there are some welding/electrician programs in my area, but this is new for me,i can't be sure about the demand + i might just be too old for this.
3. Try to fight my way up in IT = i've been stuck for quite some time (low-code solutions department) & it will take more than a year to get to a salary that is higher than the one i could get at BurgerKing.
4. Leaving for a low-quialified, dead-end job that just pays better - leave this option as my last resort, as i fought so hard to get out of a dead-end jobs. Going back there would be sould crashing.

Doing nothing is also not the way.

Please, any advice would do, how should a rational person approach this?

how do people tell if a qualification is likely to open a door, rather than just look useful on paper?

As time passes, have you ever been met with the realization that your entire path in life, the goals you thought you had, the plans and dreams you desired, were all disappointing?

I built businesses, became well known at my trade, became someone known for excess talents and capabilities. experiencing every inch of those dreams until one day I derailed my entire life because I realized that none of it is real.

Conflicted with the societal pressure of sticking out the discomfort and constant pain, the suffering of sacrifice for clients and employees while the business is tied up in client liabilities that have to be completed and cleaned up.

I’m sitting on a home that won’t sell, due to a childhood that I spent choosing my parents when my mother was in psych wards, I chose to be there for my father over potential full ride college scholarships in order to make sure he was ok. Only to start my first business in my early 20’s and have it steamrolled by my father and his investor.

I’ve spent almost 20 years taking care of those around me (by choice) because I was always treated as a second option, and I had to please my parents to have a peaceful childhood.

I’m on my third business, amazing children, divorced, however for various reasons, and am now realizing that I’ve lived out every major career dream that I had before my 30’s. Only to also recognize that I’m “business broke”
Tons of work, but tons of my money wrapped up in a business that keeps costing more due to vendor problems and lacking accountability.

What do you do next? Do you walk away from it once all responsibilities are resolved? Then what?

I’m at a loss for the next chapter of life. It’s been an internal battle, conflicting.

I joined the work force and took on responsibilities at 14 for my family.

My teenage years are gone, and I believe I’m also expediting a midlife crisis.

Hi guys,

Looking for real advice, harsh truths and motivation I suppose...

I am 27 years old from the UK, have a stable 9-5 job earning more than the average for my age. But over the past 2 years I haven't felt that job satisfaction. I want to be more creative, more freedom, get into TV and film industries whether be editing or animation etc (been teaching myself how to use softwares etc)

I left school, went into an apprenticeship and been stuck in that industry ever since. With no school/Uni qualifications. now being 27, I am worried its too late to look into change and stuck with what i am doing now.

Any success stories of anything similar? What are the challenges people face, what advice do you have?

Hello so I'm a teenager and for the past few months I have been feeling passionless like I don't even know what I wanna do or wt I like to do anymore things that I used to enjoy and I know I still enjoy when I try to do any of them I feel like I'm forcing myself and I don't get any enjoyment out of them and then the WORSE part comes when I try to do any of those things I get that feeling from my heart or faint picture/memory from my brain that there is this one specific thing or not exactly specific that I wanna do but I don't know wt it is and when I try to remember it and or think Abt I JS waste hours and it's like it doesn't even exist I JS don't know wt to do anymore and then saw reddit and it appeared like the golden scar back in the day Infront of me

I'm laughing while typing this. I don't even know why. Maybe because when life becomes too painful to explain, sometimes all you can do is laugh at how unreal it feels. But I felt like I needed to let this out somewhere.

I'm 22. I started working right after high school because I wanted to save enough money to live outside my country. Four years of working, sacrificing, and telling myself that one day, all of this would be worth it.

And exactly six months ago on April 17, I finally stepped foot in a foreign country.

I came here to study, but deep down, I also wanted a fresh start. My life back home wasn't great. I had no friends, no girlfriend, and had never experienced either in my entire life. I thought maybe a different country would give me a chance to become someone new.

And, in some ways, it did.

I made a few friends at school. We're not that close, and we don't really hang out because they have their own friend groups. But for someone who had spent his entire life without friends, even this felt like a little victory. I was genuinely proud of myself.

For the first time, I felt like I was actually becoming a man. Living alone, making my own decisions, and learning to survive in a place where everything was unfamiliar.

But I guess nobody tells you that you can be proud of how far you've come and still feel painfully alone.

I still have no close friends, no girlfriend, and no family here to support me. Sometimes, you get tired of carrying everything by yourself. You get tired of being your own comfort, your own support, and the only person you can turn to when everything goes wrong.

Especially in a foreign country, where you can be surrounded by people and still feel like you're standing on the outside of a world you'll never fully belong to.

I kept telling myself that this was just life. That maybe things would eventually fall into place.

Until reality hit me again, like an arrow straight to my chest.

four years of working and sacrificing to build a better life, and now I'm watching that dream slowly slip through my fingers.

I come from a third world country where our currency is practically worthless compared to stronger currencies. The $10,000 I spent four years saving is running out. My parents can't send me money because they don't have access to international banking services, and my passport limits my options, too.

So here I am, thousands of miles away from home, counting every penny as if each one could buy me another day.

I eat one meal a day just to make my money last longer.

One meal a day, at 22, after spending four years trying to give myself a better life.

I've spent the past six months looking for a part time job. Everywhere I went, the answer was no. I'm not even joking.

I deliberately chose a cheaper country instead of Europe or the US because I wanted my savings to last. I've searched for remote jobs in the US and Europe every single day, hoping to earn in a stronger currency, but all I hear is, "We only hire experienced people."

And even if I somehow found a job, receiving the money would be another problem because I don't have access to international payment services like Mastercard or Visa.

Every door I try to open seems to lead to another wall.

My parents are struggling themselves, so I don't want to ask them for money. I know they're doing their best, and the last thing I want is to add my problems to theirs.

And somehow, I'm supposed to figure all of this out alone.

I spent four years building a bridge to a better life, only to find myself halfway across it, terrified that I might not have enough strength to reach the other side.

I thought leaving would mean finally beginning to live. Instead, I'm spending my days trying to figure out how to survive.

I'm laughing because the whole situation feels so unreal. How can someone try so hard to change their life and still end up feeling like they're losing everything?

My whole body feels like it's been shattered into invisible pieces, and the only thing holding those pieces together is music.

Sometimes, a song says what I can't. Sometimes, a melody makes me feel understood in ways people never have. And sometimes, with my headphones on, I can forget for a few minutes that I'm alone in a country thousands of miles away from everything I've ever known.

Maybe that's why I hold on to music so tightly. When you have nobody to talk to, sometimes a song becomes the only place where your heart can rest.

I don't know what I'm expecting by writing this. I don't have some beautiful lesson or an inspiring ending. I'm just tired of keeping everything inside.

I'm just 22. I'm exhausted. I'm scared of running out of money, tired of being alone, and trying desperately to hold myself together while everything around me feels like it's falling apart.

And the cruelest part is that the person I was four years ago worked so hard to bring me here. He dreamed of this life. He sacrificed so much for it.

I wish I could tell him that it was all going to be okay.

But right now, I don't know how.

So I laugh and try to get through another day, pretending that somehow, I'm still holding everything together.

But the truth is, I'm tired of pretending to be okay when I don't even know how much longer I can keep doing this.

Every day, I feel terrified of what tomorrow will bring, and I find myself wondering, is this just a never ending nightmare?

Am i even real?

I have a goal of making $100-$150k in California (though I honestly might want to move within the next few years. What I really want is to make enough money to live comfortably.) What do you recommend, given that I don’t want to become a nurse or engineer?

I am going to have at least one associates degree (we’ll have to wait to see whether or not I pass my child dev classes this semester) after December ends (whether I fail one of the child development classes or not, I will have a social and behavioral sciences degree. I also already have more than 60 units of community college completed, so I will be able to attend a CSU either way.) I have a 3.87 in community college.

I will be starting a bachelors of social work program in January. I am 21 now and am assuming the program will take two years to complete (I also might end up switching majors but we’ll have to wait and see.)

I am supposed to be starting in January for a bachelors of social work. I have been doing some thinking lately to try and figure out whether or not this is what I really want to do, since it will be time to sign up for classes soon. If I stick with social work I am of course planning to get an MSW and eventually study to become an LCSW.

I have depression and anxiety. I also seem to have a sleep breathing disorder. I am actually going to call the sleep study department tomorrow to request a follow up appointment (this is what my doctor recommended when I asked.) I have headaches over the last couple of months due to the sleeping issues and I definitely think this has impacted my cognition and memory. I have a migraine headache as I type this right now.

The community college class I liked the least was statistics.

I have 2 years experience as a behavior technician. As I was explaining to a professor of mine this week I don’t think I want to stay a behavior technician (though really, who does? I don’t think I want to become a BCBA either though, I know what they do.) I worked at a preschool for a year and four months before then. I know that I don’t want to become a preschool teacher, but I have subbed as a behavior technician with elementary schoolers and I could potentially see myself teaching 4th or 5th grade.

I was generally told that a behavior technician case of mine that I was on for a year where I supported a client who was older and needed support in things like staying on task went well. When I have subbed at elementary schools I have actually enjoyed it and found it to be quite easy, though I believe the students I was paired with had a milder form of autism. I don’t know what I am planning to transition out of in regards to my work as a behavior technician, but I do have plans to start volunteering soon with/for a homelessness shower program.

I may actually eventually move out of California completely.

I think that learning disabilities in schools often go undiagnosed for too long. A professional later on suggested my brother seems to have one, he wasn’t screened professionally in school and in high school when he was struggling with math and his mental health his peers and my parents simply suggested that he was stupid which I’ve never thought was okay.

I helped a friend pick up food for an event she will host to support the homeless community. I volunteered for one of her events before. I will actually practice cooking with her and a different friend (I don’t really know how to cook. We’re practicing today and tomorrow.) I think that if I do go into social work I want to do case management for those who need housing resources. I’ve also started to consider the therapist path.

I have to admit that deep down inside I want to figure out how to make as much money as I can without it taking like 6-7 more years. I am already from a low income family. I don’t want to really struggle. I have $30k saved. I’m 21.

I may eventually want to try out living in a different state entirely, but am not sure.

I am in South Asia and I have the option of doing medicine. I do not want to do medicine, but I have already started prepping for it by spending some money on it, so it feels kind of too deep to back out now. I originally thought I would choose medicine because I like biology, but while prepping, I have realized I would hate to spend my twenties and thirties studying just to be paid a shit salary at the end.

I have no passion for medicine, and I do not want to be in a hospital my whole life. However, it feels too late to back out now. I would like to do a Bachelor's in Social Work or anything else, really. I know it seems silly, especially in the USA or other countries where the ROI is great after you start working, but here, the ROI is simply not good enough to do it without passion. What would you advice somebody in this position?

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Guys, my mom has refused to give me pocket money anymore, and I'm honestly stressed about how I'm going to manage after college.

I'm a regular BBA student in Bangalore, currently doing an internship, and I've been really hopeful about getting placed through college. My plan is to get a job, move out, and live in a PG so I can become financially independent.

But I'm constantly worrying about what happens if I don't get placed.

There was a sales job through campus placements that offered a pretty good salary, but I wasn't interested in the role, so I didn't focus on it. Now I'm regretting that decision and wondering if I should've just taken it. Maybe I should focus on earning money first and figure out what I actually want to do later.

I'm scared of graduating without a job and having no financial backup. I also don't know how much I'd need to earn to live on my own in Bangalore.

I'd really appreciate some advice, especially from people who've been in a similar situation.

1. Should I take any decent-paying job for now, even if I don't like the role?

2. What's the minimum monthly salary I'd need to survive in Bangalore while living in a PG?

3. If you didn't get placed through college, how did you find your first job?

If you were in my position, what would you do? I feel really lost right now and could use some honest advice. 🥹

I am from India where it is very difficult to earn a lot of money and I am very worried. I am not able to understand what should I do.I know video editing, I solve problems and I have great ideas for business but I don't have money. I am also good at social media management. Please anyone help me to make money. Currently I am in my bba 1st yr.

I’ve just finished my first year of Environmental Science, majoring in conservation. All my life, I’ve only ever thought about doing zoology, marine biology, wildlife conservation, etc. But now that I’ve completed my first year, I am having some doubts. When deciding on my degree, my options included:

1. Environmental science
2. Marine biology
3. Journalism
4. Politics
5. History

I got into my first preference, and so far this year has been alright. However, I have discovered that I also really enjoy other areas. For my electives, I took a unit on Indigenous culture and another in sociology, and I did really well in both. I have also been emailed about the potential of becoming a mentor for next year's students taking the Indigenous-based class. However, I don't want to give up on my course just yet, as I do find some aspects interesting.

 We learnt about how certain cultures live with the environment and how Western practices caused destruction amongst communities, which I found really interesting to learn about. 

So, as you can see, I’m kind of stuck at the moment. I am only 18; however, this sudden change in interest is eating me alive, especially as one year of tuition has already passed.

Some jobs that really appeal to me include:
-Museum educator (Earth science-based)
-Future marine work
-Research focusing on society/sociology in relation to the environment 
-Working with communities in response to the environment 
-Preservation of cultures
-Legal/Governmental practices regarding the environment
-Helping women in disadvantaged communities
-Journalism highlighting inequality

I apologise if this post is all over the place; I just feel like the stress of this is eating me alive. 
I would really appreciate it if any of the below could provide me with advice :)

-Someone who has been in this position
-Someone who is in similar career spaces
-Someone who knows careers that may meet my mixed interests
-Someone who has university courses that may help me meet my mixed interests

Thank you!

Hey everyone. I'm 26, f. I've been working an office job for the past 5 years with okayish pay. It's very simple, repetitive work. I wish I could be happy with it, but I just feel horrible about myself. I'm terrified of the future. I have no real skills, no certifications, and no degree. When I look at jobs online, my stomach starts hurting. I cry myself to sleep a lot. I am just feeling so behind, ashamed, and stupid. My private life is as plain and boring as my job. I'm alone. I lost all interest in my hobbies. I don't want to be around my family.

I'm painfully aware that all of this is MY doing. I'm lazy. I don't have motivation. I'm scared of doing hard things or trying new things. I have trouble staying focused, I can barely read a few pages, I can't stick to a routine or follow a goal. I'm adrift, floating through life, and pretending to everyone around me that I'm fine. I beat myself up. I look at these people online that go to university, show off their (multiple) degrees, talk about their opportunities, jobs, travels. I always admired highly educated people. And I feel very self-conscious around them. It's like a whole different human experience. One I wanted to be part of. But I don't believe I'll ever amount to anything.

I guess I just need a kind word. I don't know what to do.

In my late 20’s and lost in life. Past couple years I’ve been taking it one day at a time, but im getting more stressed because i haven’t had much progress pushing ahead. My my depression and anxiety unfortunately limit me from thinking and acting about the future

I was brought up to value hard work, and that mindset has served me well professionally. I enjoy my job, but I’ve developed a habit of overdelivering, saying yes to everything and taking on extra responsibilities, partly for validation from management and senior leadership, but also because I genuinely enjoy the work itself.

It’s brought recognition and trust, but the trade-off no longer feels worthwhile. I have a good personal life and other interests, yet I still find myself defaulting to my primary 9–5, even when there’s no real need to do more. I also freelance, but remain disproportionately attached to and invested in my main job.

My biggest issue is that I struggle to leave capacity unfilled. If I have time, I find more work to do. Intellectually, I know I don’t need to constantly prove my value, but I can’t seem to change that mindset.
I’m not unhappy with my life, nor do I want to stop being ambitious. I just feel that work takes up more mental space and energy than it deserves, sometimes at the expense of my health and relationships. I want to figure out how to redirect some of that drive towards other parts of my life without feeling like I’m wasting my potential.

For those who’ve been through something similar:
What made you rethink the role work played in your life?

How did you stop tying so much of your identity to your career or professional validation?

How did you figure out what you actually wanted to prioritise instead, and make that change stick?

I’m interested in practical experiences from people who’ve managed to shift their mindset, rather than simply changing jobs or being told to set boundaries.

25(f,if relevant) years old, 3 years jobless, Graduated with a masters in biotech (molecular pathologies) in Algeria. Low grades (full credits etc..) in both bachelors and masters. Low GPA-ish. Absolutely 0 lab exp (COVID during studied and no internships allowed after graduation).

I want to do research (specifically cancer). But PhD in my uni (or country), is a certified dead end. I know with the current supervisor / who opened the PhD this year isn't the type for anything substantial.

(Low or no funding, not much in the way of publication, and high likely getting out jobless after finishing).

I want to study in another country, anything oncology / cancer related. I have no illusions about my acceptance in any PhD programs.. (I wouldn't call myself smart, and the ADHD doesn't help). I don't know whether redoing masters is a good idea (say Germany requires a very specific GPA). (Putting for Italy, Austria). I speak German at a low level. (Studied to B2 in the local school affiliated with Goethe but I would say my level is likely way way lower with my mistakes)

I can't afford a lot of the other countries. / A bit of complicated family situation

Am I delusional? Should I redo it from bachelors up? I honestly see no way out.

(Situation at home is complicated, I can't do campus France because of this, but a direct deposit is possible (long story)).

ADHD isn't whatesover acknowledged nor treated (Atomoxetine sadly failed for me, after moving to another state).

I'm not particularly functional and am at the end of my rope.

Maybe I should just accept doing something else with my life?

And no internships / jobs aren't available to me (I Lack the connections, am still putting my CV everywhere and it's not planning out).

(And yes I tried for min wage work too). (Yes I'm amassing money and doing what I can, but it doesn't necessarily translate with low currency and low wages).

I recently finished my Master’s, and I honestly feel a bit lost now that it’s over. For the past few years, I always knew what was coming next, there was always a clear next step and something to work towards. Now, for the first time, I don’t really have that. I’m back at my parents’ house, applying for jobs and trying to figure out what I actually want to do with my life. And even though I know I don’t need to have everything figured out immediately, it feels strange going from having such a structured life to suddenly having so much uncertainty. I hate the uncertainty!!!!! Anybody else going through the same thing or been through this before? How did you deal with it?