Both my parents had mid-life crises, and I saw the effects firsthand while I was in college. My dad wanted to be young again, so he started hitting the gym, eating salads, and possibly even had a fling. Meanwhile, my mom felt unfulfilled and went back to school to become a paralegal. They both made it through their crises and are now enjoying their post-children years.

However, as a 20-something, I am currently experiencing what some people call a quarter-life crisis. It came out of nowhere, and I didn’t even know such a phenomenon existed. I can relate to many of the symptoms listed below.

1. You’re Turning at Least 25 This Year

Hitting 25 can be intimidating. It’s a milestone that is halfway to 30, a time when people start expecting you to settle down, get married, and buy a house. It can be challenging to accept that aging is a natural part of life.

2. You’re Wrestling With the Meaning of Adulthood

As you approach the mid-point of your 20s, you may start to question what it truly means to be an adult. The idea of growing up can be daunting, sometimes making you wish to relive your college days again. But you must also balance this with adult responsibilities, which can be a difficult feat.

3. You’re Fudging on Your Age

When you tell people you’re 22 instead of 25, it’s easy to dismiss it as a harmless lie. It’s natural to want to be perceived as youthful by others, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are fast approaching 30 and need to start taking things more seriously.

4. You’re Not Relating to Your Favorite Songs Anymore

As you grow older, so do your tastes. Lyrics that once spoke to you are no longer relevant, and you start to wonder if you’ve lost touch with younger generations.

5. Your Mirror is Rebelling When You Drink

Hangovers become harsher as you age, making you look older and feel even worse. Your youthful ability to party hard and feel fine the next morning seems to be a thing of the past.

6. You’re Seeing an Early Sun on Saturday Morning

Early mornings are no longer a rarity. You spend them doing chores, errands, and other tasks that suddenly seem more important than having fun.

7. Your Mind Allows the Dreaded “M” Word to Creep In

It’s normal to start thinking about relationships and future plans as you age. The thought of long-term commitment and marriage can be terrifying, but it’s a natural step to take.

8. You’re Skipping the Frozen Food Aisles

Eating healthy, fresh foods becomes more critical as you age. You might even start using pots and pans and a stove.

9. You’re Beginning to Think and Sound Like Your Parents

You find yourself sounding more like your parents and judging the actions of younger generations, which can be a sobering thought.

10. You’re Beginning to Worry About What the Neighbors Think

You may be more concerned about your place in the broader community, taking on responsibilities such as yard work and responsible pet ownership.

11. You’re Beginning to Use Adult Language and Standards

You start to prefer activities that seemed boring to you when you were younger, such as networking and budgeting.

12. You’re Beginning to Let Comfort Trump Style

You’re no longer interested in shoes that hurt your feet or cute tops that leave you shivering in the cold. Instead, you prioritize practicality and comfort.

13. You’re Beginning to See New Meaning in Dr. Seuss

The whimsical books that once delighted you now take on a new meaning that you’re becoming more aware of.

14. Your Purchases are Beginning to Change

You may begin to make more mature purchases, such as household items or appliances, rather than new clothes or accessories.

15. You’re Dreading Some of Those Family Holidays

Holidays with your family become less joyous and more intimidating. All those prying questions from relatives about when you’ll settle down start to weigh heavily.

16. You’re Losing Your Spontaneity

You may begin to avoid risky or unpredictable activities, even though they may have once excited you.

17. You’re Developing an Appreciation for Your Parents

As you mature, you develop a newfound appreciation for how challenging it was to raise you. You may also realize just how much you took them for granted.

18. You’re No Longer Allowed to be Helpless

You realize that if you want to be taken seriously, you have to start taking responsibility for your life and stop relying on others to do things for you.

19. You’re on Your Own with the IRS

Navigating taxes, investments and other grown-up tasks becomes more real, and you can no longer depend on someone else to do it for you.

20. You’re Worrying More About Those Incisors

You may start to become more conscious of your dental health, and going to the dentist regularly becomes a greater priority.

21. You’re Making Decisions Like Adults Do

The days of making rash decisions without thinking of the consequences are over. You realize that certain actions can have long-lasting effects and take steps to consider your decisions more carefully.

22. You’re Worried When You are Overdrawn

Budgeting becomes more important, and you learn how to be responsible with your money, even though that personal finance course wasn’t a priority in college.

23. You’re Actually Checking Your Credit Card Balance

You become more responsible about your spending habits, opting to avoid impulse purchases and cutting down on unnecessary expenses.

24. You’re Losing the Old Gang

Friends start to move away, and you begin to realize just how much you miss them. You also begin to grow apart from people you once felt close to.

25. You’re Taking Work Seriously

Start taking work more seriously, looking at it more as a career than just a temporary job to pay the bills.

26. You’re Resenting the Freedom Others Have

You start to compare your life to your friends who are still adventuring around the world, and start resenting their freedom.

27. You’re Becoming the Boring One

You start feeling old when you prefer quiet nights in over wild nights out.

28. You’re Thrilled to Get “Carded”

You’re no longer getting carded when buying alcohol, which makes you feel old.

29. You’re Avoiding Birthday Celebrations

You may start to dread your birthdays, yearning for a more low-key celebration rather than a wild night out.

In conclusion, experiencing a quarter-life crisis is a natural part of growing up. It’s easy to look back at the younger, carefree days with nostalgia, but it’s important to embrace the present and the person you are becoming. With age comes maturity, and it’s up to us to set the tone for how we want to approach our adult lives.