As-salamu alaykum - I feel like I’ve lost 8 years, how do I begin again?
As-salamu alaykum. I’m 25 and a half, and I feel like I’ve wasted about 8 years doing almost nothing meaningful. Not just a few bad months - real years gone to procrastination, overthinking, fear, and the constant lie: “I’ll start tomorrow.” I’ve been without work for 2 years and 4 months. Most days I spend around 8 hours just scrolling on my phone - YouTube, TikTok, whatever - anything to avoid facing things. I’ve basically trained myself to be lazy. Sometimes I even shy away from job chances for no clear reason. It’s like I’m afraid to move forward, afraid of responsibility, afraid to try again. The hardest part is I know what I’m doing. I watch time slip by and still don’t act. I feel stuck in a loop. I want to fix my life, but the thought of obstacles and failing terrifies me. I keep asking: what if I start now and still don’t make it? What if I reach 35 or 40 and realize I wasted not 8 but 15 years? That idea crushes me. Every minute feels precious, and that pressure makes it even harder to begin. I put unrealistic pressure on myself to be perfect from the start, and that perfectionism paralyzes me. I’m not looking for cheesy motivational lines. I want real, practical advice from people who’ve been stuck for years and then managed to turn things around. How did you begin again after losing time? How did you face the fear and break the habit of laziness? Any honest, down-to-earth insight would mean a lot. JazakAllahu khairan.