It feels like my life has lost all meaning...

[Malcolm]

I dunno what I'm doing with my life anymore. I'm 26, I got no friends(outside the internet), no jobs(believe me, I've tried but nobody ever calls back), I still live at home with my parents, don't have enough money for college, no girlfriend. I feel so... empty and direction-less. I often wonder to myself why I even bother waking up in the morning when there's really nothing to look forward to: Every day, wake up, eat, look at job listings to find that I'm not qualified for anything listed, watch TV, play a few games, eat again, and aimlessly browse the internet all day until it's time to go to bed. I should be doing something much more with my life, but it just doesn't feel like I can.

What's wrong with me?

[khyledeen]

Feb 12, 2013 15:25:50 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

I dunno what I'm doing with my life anymore. I'm 26, I got no friends(outside the internet), no jobs(believe me, I've tried but nobody ever calls back), I still live at home with my parents, don't have enough money for college, no girlfriend. I feel so... empty and direction-less. I often wonder to myself why I even bother waking up in the morning when there's really nothing to look forward to: Every day, wake up, eat, look at job listings to find that I'm not qualified for anything listed, watch TV, play a few games, eat again, and aimlessly browse the internet all day until it's time to go to bed. I should be doing something much more with my life, but it just doesn't feel like I can.

What's wrong with me?

Hey mate, I'm the same, only 20 and in England, I feel shitty too, my phone has been cut off, big debt, no money to pay it, money I get from the government, my mum takes off me for living expenses.

I also feel quite lifeless, although the government has put me on a training course to get job vacancies tailored to what I want (office work) and stuff so i guess i have SOMETHING to do, but it's still awful.

What are you looking to get into?, can't keep feeling like this mate, you've just gotta pick yourself up, something will come along, are you looking for the right jobs?, are you in the US?, do they have services for unemployed people there?, like, do you get money to live on?, and a local place to look for vacancies, what about paid internships?, consider everything!

UK climate is terrible when it comes to the unemployed, a whole lot needs to be done, big changes need to be made, but until then, I'm left to mostly fend for myself.

Chin up mate, keep the faith.

Feel better soon, it'll be worth it in the end, try and enjoy your current circumstances as best as you can, That's what I'm doing, hard at times, but I'm alive and am surrounded by people that love me (family) I'm pretty much friendless too, which will change once I'm gainfully employed.

[Dat Dude]

Ever thought about joining the military?

[dav]

Ever thought about going out and volunteering in a Charity shop? Can make a lot of friends and keep yourself active doing that.

[Talent Name]

Honestly I know how you feel 26, still live at home I have four college degrees yet I work a dead end job. No girlfriend our friends outside of the internet. I support my family because they can't support themselves. I finally realized I did have a problem and got help, if you do need anyone to talk to I am here for you. I also broke my ribs at work so I have been doing nothing but sitting home so I know how that feels as well

[Hawk Hart]

...there's two Hawkeyes?

[Deleted]

And this is the reason why I took my brother's offer to move in with him.

[Malcolm]

Feb 12, 2013 16:05:05 GMT -5 dav said:

Ever thought about going out and volunteering in a Charity shop? Can make a lot of friends and keep yourself active doing that.

I always have considered doing volunteer work, but I often keep telling myself I'd rather do something that would get me paid instead, so I keep looking for jobs that apparently don't exist... It's like a vicious cycle.

[Deleted]

That feel I know

[TK The Friendly Robot]

Feb 12, 2013 16:14:42 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

Feb 12, 2013 16:05:05 GMT -5 dav said:

Ever thought about going out and volunteering in a Charity shop? Can make a lot of friends and keep yourself active doing that.

I always have considered doing volunteer work, but I often keep telling myself I'd rather do something that would get me paid instead, so I keep looking for jobs that apparently don't exist... It's like a vicious cycle.

If you have a great passion for something then think of all the ways you could make that into a job and earn money from it. If there is a way you can do it independently for example putting some effort into a blog and then monetizing it, go for it. Popularity online can lead to so many opportunities to get out there and do things in the real world. Find something you love and run with it The orthodox way of making money is not the only way and making money and expressing yourself tends to open up lots of other paths for you to take.

[Bone Daddy]

Gotta try and find some volunteer stuff. Not only will you be helping out it will build your resume, help you meet people and best of all get you out of the damn house. I'm 26, unemployed and living with my dad. I know it hurts, but it'll get better if you work at it.

[Sam Punk]

The best thing is to keep focus and not to lose hope. Things can turn around in an instant. I wish you good luck, my friend.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

I can empathize man. I'm 26 no girlfriend, shitty job, never see my friends etc. right now I'm going to school and I hope it works out for me, but who knows in this economy. all I can say is, don't let not having a job right now get you down because there's a lot of people our age who are in the same situation. between the problems with the economy, older workers clinging to their jobs for dear life (and I can't blame them, most pension plans are terrible) and the internet overturning the labour market in ways that nobody prepared for properly, it's just the way it is. they say 30 is the new 20 but I think 40 is the new 20 is going to be more accurate, at least in terms of careers.

[twiggy101]

Feb 12, 2013 16:14:42 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

Feb 12, 2013 16:05:05 GMT -5 dav said:

Ever thought about going out and volunteering in a Charity shop? Can make a lot of friends and keep yourself active doing that.

I always have considered doing volunteer work, but I often keep telling myself I'd rather do something that would get me paid instead, so I keep looking for jobs that apparently don't exist... It's like a vicious cycle.

I think doing volunteer work is an excellent idea because at least you're likely to build new skills and it looks good on your resume. It could even open doors for a job. Sure, you're not getting paid but it's more productive than staying at home playing video games.

[Deleted]

Do something to make yourself qualified for jobs.

[salsashark]

You need to find a hobby or something that gives your life meaning. Pinpointing that item or action is something only you can do.

[dav]

Feb 12, 2013 18:02:16 GMT -5 twiggy101 said:

Feb 12, 2013 16:14:42 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

I always have considered doing volunteer work, but I often keep telling myself I'd rather do something that would get me paid instead, so I keep looking for jobs that apparently don't exist... It's like a vicious cycle.

I think doing volunteer work is an excellent idea because at least you're likely to build new skills and it looks good on your resume. It could even open doors for a job. Sure, you're not getting paid but it's more productive than staying at home playing video games.

Exactly. I've managed to get jobs due to people being impressed with my volunteer work and it gets you out and about and making friends. There's no strings attatched, you only go in when you can and the manager I've worked with these last few years has been very supportive of me going out and getting work.

[Allie Kitsune]

Hint : Life doesn't have any meaning. Life just _is_.

[Square]

You know why your life feels like it has no meaning? You haven't given yourself one! You can sit around and mope and go "oh woe is me my life has no meaning. I'm just going to sit here and do the exact same thing until something falls in from the sky" OR you can get up tomorrow go "TODAY IS THE DAY IT CHANGES!" print off 100 copies of your resume, walk down to the center of whatever town you live in and go into every shop, cafe, resturant, bar, casino whatever you find and ask about any jobs, and even if they don't give them a damn copy to show that you are prepared to work.

Also you want to do something else in your life apart from the list you wrote out. GO DO IT! Get a pair of trainers on and run a block, go down to the library and pick up a book about a topic you know nothing about. Go look at the local rec centre for activities that you would be intrested in doing, go learn how to cook or a new language or a martial art. DO SOMETHING!

You don't like how you are feeling at the moment, otherwise you wouldn't have posted this, so make THIS the turning point. Make sure you NEVER feel like this again by doing something about it! Will everything change overnight no. But it'll start!

You ain't the sub on the bench waiting for the coach to call you up to play, you're already the star damn player so play ball! Give your life meaning, don't wait for someone else to.

And if you even THINK about reading this and going "sounds too hard" or something to that effect then let me make this plain and simple. LIFE IS HARD. Life is not plain sailing all the time, you have to work hard to get what you want in life and never take no for an answer. DO SOMETHING!

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Honestly, everything you described to me sounds like it's what people commonly call 'the mid 20s.'