I’m 26 Years Old, and I Feel Like I’ve Lost the Plot of My Life—Here’s What I’m Doing to Get It Back

I am 26 years old,

writing this blog post from my childhood bedroom. I’m sitting at the desk I purchased for my work-from-home job that I dread logging in to every Monday at 8:30 am. Within the last five years, this room has been repainted from a lavender purple to sad greige and has had the contents of an entire one-bedroom apartment moved out and then back in.

This bedroom feels like a fitting representation of my 20s: marked by pure chaos; from graduating college virtually during the pandemic, exploring every career path under the sun (and quitting countless jobs along the way), going through heartbreak, losing loved ones, collecting mental health diagnoses like rare gemstones, moving into my first apartment, then moving back into my childhood home. Suffice to say, it’s been a ride.

I Think I’ve Lost the Plot.

As I type this, I’m forced to think back to the version of myself I was convinced I’d be when I entered this decade of life. I’m not reporting on hard-hitting investigative pieces on the local news (I’m creating low-level memes in Canva for my middle-aged social media clients). I’m no longer with the person I just knew I would marry (I’m with someone so much better for me). I’m not living in my dream apartment in Boston (I’m in the house I grew up in, in the city I swore I would leave, in debt). And with one month of 2025 under my belt, I just feel as though I’ve lost my grip on the plot of my life. Yes, I’m making myself the main character of my metaphorical novel. To cope.

But the good news is this: I think I’m at that point in every story where everything has to go wrong so that it can all turn out alright.

Truth is, I have no idea what I’m doing with my life. But I’ve decided I’m taking control of the narrative and getting the plot back. Here’s how I’m going to do it:

Things I’m Doing to Get Back on Track with My Best Self

• Curating a space that brings me peace and comfort
• Preparing my foods from scratch and prioritizing the ritual of cooking over convenience
• Making excess time for my hobbies
• Doing things my younger self would enjoy
• Going to therapy
• Honoring my body by moving it when I can and resting when I need to
• Gratitude journaling
• Spending intentional time with my loved ones
• Creating more than I’m consuming
• Accepting the stage of life I’m in rather than running from it

I know that feeling lost in your 20s isn’t unique, but it can feel incredibly isolating. I’d love to hear about your experience. Follow along for more raw glimpses into my journey, along with snippets of the things I’m passionate about—from nourishing recipes, skincare routines, product recommendations, wellness diaries, and more.

XO, Anina