Is This My Quarter-Life Crisis? Or Just Another Day as a Millennial? 🎙️

Is This My Quarter-Life Crisis? Or Just Another Day as a Millennial? 🎙️

🍋 Welcome back to One Happy Lime: Podcast, I am Jess Pye.

Today, I will talk about something I know a lot of us are feeling—because I am definitely feeling it. You know that moment when you’re standing in your kitchen, staring at the ceiling, asking, “What am I even doing with my life?” Yeah. That’s been me, like, every Tuesday.

Is this a quarter-life crisis, or is this just life now?

I know millennials aren’t the only ones feeling this. Gen X, you’ve been grinding for decades—some of you are finally done raising kids, only to wonder, Wait, what now? Gen Z, you’re coming into the workforce already exhausted, questioning why we’re all playing this impossible game. And honestly? I feel that.

So today, we’re talking about burnout, boundaries, and making every minute count—because humans were never meant to just work to death.

So, the big question: Am I having a quarter-life crisis, or is this just the standard millennial experience? Let’s talk about it.

The Professional Rut

Okay, let’s start with careers—because that’s where so many of these existential spirals begin. Let me ask you:

• Do you wake up excited to tackle the day, or are you snoozing five times before dragging yourself out of bed?

• Do you feel fulfilled in what you do, or are you just clocking in and out, surviving another day?

• When was the last time you clocked out?

• When was the last time you did something just because it brought you joy, not because it made you money or helped you climb the career ladder?

For me, it’s been a journey. I didn’t take the traditional path—no massive student loans, no fancy degree. I did a few years at community college (shout out to all my fellow CC warriors! 💪), then jumped into the service industry. The pay? It’s fine. The company? It’s fine. The feeling in my gut? Not fine.

It’s like I’m missing out on something bigger. But also… what even is that ‘something bigger’? How do we know when we’ve “made it” if the goalposts keep moving?

💡 Think about it: Are you in a job you love, or are you just existing in it? Let me know in the comments.

Segment 2: Am I experiencing Burn Out or Just a Millennial?

Now, let’s get into the burnout conversation. Because honestly, I can’t tell if I’m exhausted from work… or just from existing in this current reality.

We were raised  in  in the time of hustle culture. Work hard, grind harder, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll get a little piece of happiness. But is that even true? Or did we just inherit a system where no matter what we do, we still feel like we’re behind?

And let’s talk about that fun little identity crisis—the one where you suddenly realize you don’t even know what you like anymore. Do I have hobbies? Do I have passions? Or do I just have a collection of stressors disguised as “goals”?

If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling into this mess, trust me—you’re not alone.

Don’t get me wrong—I believe in doing a good job. In showing up, being responsible, and taking pride in our work. But I also believe in boundaries.

I want us to unlearn this idea that being “dedicated” means giving up our time, our health, and our happiness for a paycheck. A paycheck that, let’s be real, probably isn’t even covering the rent these days.

So let’s break this down: ✔️ Do your job well. Take pride in what you do. ✔️ Set boundaries. When you’re off the clock, be off the clock. Your free time is yours. ✔️ Develop the rest of your life. If work disappeared tomorrow, who would you be? What would you do?

Because we weren’t meant to just grind until we drop. We were meant to have community, good food, hobbies, experiences, and work. Not only work.

Segment 3: Work vs. Life—The Eternal Battle

So here’s the real debate: Should work be our priority, or should we be living more?

Are you the type to call in sick for a mental health day, or are you pushing through, no matter how much you need a break? Have you ever skipped out on something fun because work got in the way?

Because I’ve been there—working late nights, missing out on moments I should be enjoying, all in the name of “responsibility.” And now I’m stepping back and asking: Why? What’s the point of working ourselves into exhaustion if we’re not actually living?

Maybe this is just how it is. Maybe this is just a millennial thing. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s time for a major reset.

Segment 4: Making Every Minute Count

So, how do we actually live outside of work? Here’s what I’m focusing on:

1️⃣ Quality Time Over Grind Time. Instead of answering emails after dinner, spend that time with your family, call a friend, or just sit outside and enjoy the damn sunset.

2️⃣ Finding Joy Outside of Productivity. Not everything has to be monetized. You can have a hobby just for fun! Read, paint, take a dance class, garden—do something that makes you feel alive.

3️⃣ Building a Life, Not Just a Resume. Your job title is not your identity. Who are you outside of work? If you don’t know, it’s time to find out.

And yes, I fully understand the struggle. In this economy, most of us are just trying to survive. But even in survival mode, we can still carve out moments of joy, moments of peace, moments of life. Because we deserve that.

Closing Thoughts

Here’s where I’m at. I am done settling. I don’t know exactly what’s next, but I do know I’m ready to explore new things, take some risks, and finally, actually start living.

And I want to hear from you! Are you going through this too? Do you love your job? Hate it? Feel completely indifferent? Drop a comment, send me a DM—let’s chat about it!

And before you go…

• Make sure to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode! Check out my blog at onehappylime.com

• And tell me—what topic should we cover next? What’s on your mind? What’s stressing you out? Let me know, and we can break it down together.

Until next time—stay happy and remember: It’s okay to question everything. That’s how we grow.