10 Ways to Breathe Easier When Life Makes No Sense

Little things that can help when life feels a bit too much…

Aug 17, 2025

It’s a psychological pandemic.

Too many of us are in that phase of life where it feels like we’re just floating in an abyss. Like we’re alive, but not living. Breathing, but not being.

It doesn’t even feel like “just existing.” I don’t have a word for it, but it’s definitely worse than merely existing.

And the most annoying part? It’s a recurring craziness.

Today, you’re feeling on top of the world. Tomorrow, it feels like the world is crushing you into dust.

And I’ve been seeing this in teenagers too, which makes me question what exactly is happening that even kids can no longer be kids in peace.

So if you’re stuck in this meh space where you don’t know what your next move should be, here are a few things that might help.

This isn’t going to change your life in a day, or a week, or a month, or even in a year.

Many factors determine that change you’re looking for.

I’m just here to share stuff I do that stops me from sinking further into that abyss of existential dread whenever I find myself already in it.

I hope some of them help.

1. Take a Break

Sometimes the best thing you can do is absolutely nothing. Pause. Step back. Breathe. Take a break from working, from job hunting, from beating yourself up about where you should be by now. Doesn’t really make much sense but I’m learning that sometimes the only way to move forward is to stop moving for a while.

2. Binge Something

I especially do this with books and sitcoms. At this point, I avoid sad books and movies that remind me that life sucks. Once, I fell into the trap of reading a very, very depressing self-help book during a period of existential crisis. Just don’t try it at home. Puh-lease!

3. Explore New Music

Just like they say that you are what you eat, you are also what you listen to. It’s easy for song lyrics to become our internal monologue, so if your favorite songs have negative or depressing lyrics, then know that that’s a major part of your internal crisis. Now you know what to do from here.

4. Do a Makeover

You might think you are going through something dreadful when all you need to do is get a new haircut or hairstyle. Or dress nicely for once. Or just spray some cologne. Or wax. This is especially for those who look in the mirror and gag at their reflection. Trust me, you aren’t ugly—you just need to trim your eyebrows a little.

5. Move Your Body

Yes, I know, this is not the time for that. You’re better off lying flat on your back and staring at the ceiling, waiting for something—or nothing—to happen. But all it might take is just a walk or a dance or an exercise session to trick your brain into thinking that life’s actually not as bad as you think it is.

6. Learn a New Language

Not necessarily because you’ll use it, but because it forces your brain to focus on something other than the how overwhelming life currently feels. And you don’t have to take it too seriously. It’s just something to do to pass time in a meaningful way. So yeah, go revisit Duolingo and apologize for ghosting him for two years.

7. Declutter Your Space

I once saw a quote that said: external clutter is internal clutter on display. So whenever I can, I get rid of stuff, delete things, mute, block, or unfollow people, rearrange places. Whatever. It’s always nice, because the less chaos there is on the outside, the less there’ll be on the inside.

8. Take Personality Tests

Ah, this is one of my favorite things to do. I’ve done the temperament test, MBTI, Carl Jung’s archetypes, multiple intelligences, Greek letter archetypes, and some others with no official name. The results give me words for things I couldn’t explain about myself. And that alone makes life a little less confusing.

9. Stay Off the Internet

You see that thing called the internet? It’s both a gift and a curse. It’s good. And also diabolical. I don’t know how I’m going to convince you on this but if you ever want to feel better about anything, just go offline for a couple of hours or days or even weeks. You’ll definitely come back as a renewed soul.

10. Find Solitude and Silence

Not loneliness or isolation, just intentional, peaceful space. I’m learning to sit by myself without my phone. Sometimes I cry, sometimes I pray. Sometimes I just stare at the ceiling and allow myself to think and feel. You never know, the quiet might be where you hear the answers you’ve been chasing all along.

At the end of the day, you don’t have to know exactly what to do with life. You just have to do… something.

Because action—even tiny, seemingly random action—is often the bridge between being lost and finding oneself.

And remember that these aren’t all-around solutions, just a handful of things that might help you breathe a little easier while you’re figuring life out.

Sometimes you just need to distract your brain long enough for the fog to lift.

Recommendation

If you’re looking for a place to start, I’d say this week, try taking a few personality tests.

They don’t fix your life, but they give you words for things you’ve always felt but couldn’t explain.

Here are a few I’ve tried (and loved):

Temperament Test – The classic “sanguine, melancholic, choleric, phlegmatic” types. Old school, but surprisingly accurate.

MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) – The one with the four letters (like INFP, ESTJ, etc.) that makes you feel both seen and called out.

Carl Jung’s Archetypes – More about your core personality patterns and how you interact with the world.

Multiple Intelligences – Shows you where your strengths lie (linguistic, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, etc.) instead of just IQ.

Greek Letter Archetypes – Not as official, but fun to explore personality roles through Greek letters like Alpha, Beta, Sigma.

Just Google any of these and you’ll find plenty of free versions online. Take one or two, or go all out and try them all.

The goal isn’t to box yourself in. It’s just to learn a little more about who you are right now—because sometimes, knowing yourself is the first step to not feeling so lost.

And maybe that’s the point: you don’t have to solve your quarter-life or mid-life crisis in one sitting.

You just need small, intentional actions that keep you afloat while the answers unfold on their own.

P.S. If you found this helpful, send it to someone you know who’s kinda going through some form of life crisis. Hopefully, it’ll help them too.🫶✨