Why Your Mid-20s Are the Most Awkward Years in Your Life

1/12 You got your first “big kid” job, but you’re the youngest one in your office by at least five years. You've done it. You got the job and it's paying you real money! Aaaaand suddenly you're aware of how young you are when you realise the co-worker who is closest in age to you is almost 30. This results in awkward small talk, where co-workers bring up their husband or kids and you attempt to bond by talking about something you think they might be able to relate to...uhhh car troubles?? Pets?? Photo: iStock

2/12 Sleep and streaming TV shows are your new (old) best friends. Crawling into bed before 11 pm and curling up with your laptop to catch an episode or two of “Friends” before passing out is now the ideal end to every weeknight. So long, Thirsty Thursdays. Hello, full sleep cycle. Photo: iStock

3/12 All your friends are posting engagement announcements on Facebook while you’re just trying to find a decent match on Tinder who doesn’t seem like a total freak. You’re torn between wanting to have a devoted, loving significant other and wanting to do what you want all the time. Enjoy being single. Despite what you think, you’re not that old and you really do have the rest of your life to settle down. Photo: iStock

4/12 Your wardrobe consists of very few work-appropriate items. Because 'uni-you' didn’t realise buying 20 crop tops wasn’t a sound investment for your future office-job attire. Photo: iStock

5/12 Making friends is suddenly awkward and hard. Friends were so abundant and plentiful at uni that you probably thought it was hilarious to chant “no new friends!” and laugh because who wants new friends? Post-uni you do, that’s who. Most of your friends are probably hundreds of miles away by now, which means you actually have to go out of your way to socialise and make friends where you’re living, which is awkward and weird. But, hey, at least you’re trying. Photo: iStock

6/12 You get excited about splurging on home decor items. Buying beautiful things for your home is now like going to Disney World for you. You never knew there were so many cute bookshelves, storage units and random pieces of artwork with which you could decorate your first apartment. Now, you save up to get that nightstand or mirror you eyed in the latest catalog instead of buying booze every night. Photo: iStock

7/12 Looking at the total amount you owe in student loans makes you want to cry, but making the monthly payments on time feels good. It's really concerning to see your pay and then see how much of it is going towards paying off your student loan...but then there is that little bit of satisfaction when you slowly see it going down...slowly... Photo: iStock

8/12 You have your very own kitchen, but only know how to cook pasta. When did everyone else learn how to cook these magnificent meals? The only things you have down are frozen pizza, pasta and the occasional scrambled eggs for breakfast, when you’re feeling fancy. Photo: iStock

9/12 You’re being paid more money than ever before, but still have a savings account with a grand total of $0. Budgeting is a concept you can't master. It costs a lot to be an adult! Reality sucks, but nothing beats how it feels to be financially independent when so many of your friends still rely on Mummy and Daddy to pay their bills. Photo: iStock

10/12 You miss uni but refuse to frequent uni bars or your old campus and be “that” person. It’s easy to feel nostalgic for the days you spent living next door to all your best friends and having a party to go to every night, but you know there are even better things ahead. And, the last thing you want is to be “that” post-grad who still parties on campus every weekend trying to relive the glory days. Photo: iStock

11/12 You’re finally independent and living on your own, but still call your mom to ask how to get stains out of your clothes and various other pressing life questions. Because let’s face it: There’s a bunch of stuff you still have no idea how to do and even though you now call yourself an adult, you know you’d be lost without your mom’s sage advice and guidance. Photo: iStock

12/12 You suffer from daily panic attacks about everyone else having their sh*t together, but really no one actually does. Seriously. No one knows what to do, where to go or how to get there. Everyone’s just pretending. So, don’t waste your time or energy comparing yourself to other people. Instead, enjoy this awkward transitional phase, and revel in the fact that you haven’t yet fully succumbed to adulthood. Photo: iStock