7 Shows to Quiet Down Your Anxiety in Your 20s
Pressure from family and relationships, expectations from self, and comparison to peers bring a lot of anxiety to us in our 20s and 30s. Social media and being overconnected to strangers on the internet do not help either. One moment you are scrolling through your feed on Tiktok or Instagram, and here comes Sarah or Jason, of your same age, but has their own family, house, and stable jobs. Suddenly you begin questioning your own achievements, your career, and eventually all your life decisions.
Times like this, call for a breather, a total shutdown, like binging any type of media for calming and self-conciliation. To help you feel better, here are seven shows that can make you understand your situation. It would allow you to hear your anxieties, and ultimately quiet down your inner crisis.
New Girl (2011-2018)
What better way to take your mind off of your current situation than watching the struggles of fictional 20-somethings? Our new girl, Jessica Day, starts her new life in her new apartment living with long-time friends, Nick, Schmidt, Winston, and Coach. All of them are dealing and utterly struggling with adulthood and relationships. New Girl, quite literally got it all, comedy, drama, complex relationships, friendships, and relatability.
Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
Starring Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, our main character, Parks and Recreation best itself in the genre of mockumentary. Following the department of Parks and Recreation in quest of making a better city out of Pawnee, Indiana. Although the whole show is satirical about government works, Knope sure will remind you to trample obstacles by heart. It reminds me of the importance of balancing life and work.
The Office (US, 2005-2013)
Another mockumentary, The Office, best exemplifies how the monotony of office work and subsequent life changes over time. As we laugh at them, we’ll also realize that there is so much to learn from the characters. Maximizing one’s potential is one thing.
Ted Lasso (2020-Present)
Being set up to failure is the main narrative of Ted Lasso. Titled after its protagonist, wherein Ted, an American football coach invited to coach British football. But, as cliché as it sounds, Ted, though slowly, rose to the occasion. Through his coping mechanism—overt positivity and kindness—and life slogan, “BELIEVE”
Chewing Gum (2015-2017)
This is Michaela Coel’s first renowned and celebrated creation before I May Destroy You. Chewing Gum, narrates her semi-autobiographical transition as Tracey Gordon from adolescence to womanhood. Finally, out of the constraints of her mother’s nest and religious belief and into her sexual exploration. Brilliant would be an understatement for its character narrative, growth, and genius comedy.
Fleabag (2016-2019)
Hailed as one of the modern classics, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag brings weight to this list. Though sprinkled with puns and cleverly written punchlines, it deals with various heavy subjects such as mental illness, dealing with grief, anxiety, and relationships. Here, we follow the journey to self-acceptance and forgiveness of its main protagonist, Fleabag.
Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020)
The challenge of fitting into a new society upon being forced to exit a lavish life isn’t relatable to many. This sitcom follows the struggles of the Rose family in adjusting to a new life. Their antics over simple issues come off hilarious, due to it being unreasonable. Despite this, they have to move forward. We sometimes do things out of desperation and learn in the process.
There are so many things that we cannot control on our own. This reason alone is enough to realize that it is normal to feel anxious. I hope we won’t get stuck in this pit and may these shows somehow provide a relief to your anxiety. Eventually, we’ll find a way out.
Let these shows and characters be your queue and signifier that, like everything, your quarter-life crisis, too, shall pass.
