The Quiet In-Between That No One Talks About
There’s this weird phase that not many people really talk about. It’s not failure, but it’s not winning either. You’re not at your lowest, but you’re not at your best, either. It’s like being stuck somewhere in the middle. Just… existing. As a student, I feel this a lot. I wake up, attend college, talk to people, act fine, scroll endlessly through reels or others’ stories, and laugh at memes. On the outside, it looks okay. But inside, there’s this strange heaviness, not like heartbreak or anything dramatic, but just something that sits there quietly.
It’s not even something I can fully explain. And the strangest part is, sometimes I can’t even cry. Nothing bad happened. Life is just going on. But still, it feels like something is slightly off, like a missing puzzle piece I can’t find. I remember some evenings, sitting alone in my hostel room, staring at the ceiling and asking myself, “Is this how it’s going to be?” Same routine, same walls, same thoughts repeating. And then I tell myself, okay, maybe it’s not forever. It’s just right now.
The Pressure Beneath the Surface
Honestly, a big part of this stuck feeling isn’t even our fault. It’s expectations. It’s society. It’s family. Growing up, we kept hearing things like “follow your passion”, and then the same people say “be practical.” It’s confusing. One moment, I get so excited about doing something creative, like writing or content or art, and the next moment, someone reminds me, “That won’t give you a stable income.” Slowly, these kinds of comments make you shrink. You stop talking about the things you actually want to do because explaining yourself again and again gets exhausting. And then you pick the safer path, the more acceptable one. You keep going, but somewhere inside, that spark feels dimmer.
And I know it’s not just me. LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Index (2023) said that around 45% of young professionals in India feel stuck in their careers because of financial pressure and expectations. Deloitte’s 2023 Gen Z survey said 46% of Gen Z feel stressed or anxious most of the time, a lot of it is because of future uncertainty. So yeah, this isn’t just some personal “phase.” Many of us are in the same boat, but nobody really admits it openly.
When “Tired” Doesn’t Mean Lazy
This part is tricky. There’s a kind of tiredness that has nothing to do with sleep. It’s the tiredness of repeating the same cycle every day.
In college, it shows up between exams, assignments, and everyone is constantly chasing something. People are applying for internships, doing extra courses, and figuring out their lives. And if you’re not in that mode, it suddenly feels like you’re behind. But feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re lazy. Psychologist Dr Andrea Bonior says these “in-between” feelings usually happen when what we want inside doesn’t match with our current life outside. It’s like wanting to run fast, but you’re still figuring out where the road even is.
What’s Helped Me (A Little Bit)
I don’t have a perfect solution. I’m figuring it out like everyone else. But a few small things helped me a bit.
1. Doing tiny, real things.
Not the big changes. Just small stuff. Write one paragraph. Cleaning a folder. Finishing a small task. Taking a random picture that made me smile. It doesn’t change my whole life, obviously, but it reminds me I’m not completely stuck. I’m moving, even if it’s slow.
2. Being honest, even if it sounds messy.
Some days, I just write everything down in my notes, without caring how it sounds. Other days, I talk to someone close and say, “Yeah, I’m not okay today.” Every time I do that, it feels lighter. Like letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
3. Stopping the silent race.
College can feel like one giant race. Everyone seems ahead. Internships, plans, goals. But everyone’s timeline is different. Some peak early, some later. Some change tracks completely. Reminding myself of this again and again helps me stop panicking.
4. Accepting that stuck isn’t finished.
This one is hard. But just because this part feels slow doesn’t mean the story is over. Maybe this quiet phase is where something is building up silently. Not every chapter is loud.
If you’re in this in-between space right now, honestly, it’s okay. You’re not broken. You’re not lazy. You’re just tired. And tired people deserve rest, not guilt. One day, this weird, confusing phase will make sense. All these quiet days will become part of your story. Maybe this is the chapter that’s building resilience or patience, or just showing you your strength even when nothing “big” is happening. For now, just keep taking small steps. Write something. Watch the sky for a minute. Dream a bit. It counts. Being stuck doesn’t mean it’s over. It just means the next chapter is loading. And maybe it’s going to surprise you.
References