Being an Inbetweener 2.0

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. It’s 2008, the high street is full of short denim shorts and wet look leggings and Leona Lewis is cinched for her life in Dolce and Gabbana singing bleeding love. 2008 is also the year where E4 debuts a new show about four lovable but incredibly awkward teenage boys; Will, Simon, Jay and Neil who go on to win our hearts – and turn our stomachs.

The Inbetweeners gave us gags, innuendos and cringe-worthy moments and we couldn’t get enough of it. Maybe we also saw a bit of ourselves in the unfab four and could relate to their teenage struggles and longing to fit in and find a place in the world…Or sixth form. In 2008 I was 18 –18! And in my first year at university navigating student life in a new city. I remember living in halls where groups of us would watch back-to-back Inbetweeners episodes with snacks galore and endless rounds of tea.

Being an inbetweener in your mid-to-late 20s

I’m 27, soon to be 28 and regularly find myself swinging between two states of mind. On the one hand, I crave the freedom of my early 20s where it felt easier to jump ship and take risks because you didn’t worry so much about the future. But I then have days where I long to feel settled in my personal and professional life.

It’s difficult not to feel like you’re stuck in a rut when you see others going on to take the next step – buying a house or a flat, starting a business, getting married, starting a family. You also feel anxious about your own hesitation to take the plunge and jet off on travels or making a snap career change.

Roaring or snoring 20s?

There is a societal pressure to think of our 20s as the decade of action. But this brings a high risk of burnout and comparision to our peers. In truth, life would be incredibly boring if things truly peaked in our 20s. So let’s shake off that Inbetweener 2.0 feeling and remember that it’s ok if things don’t always pan as you expected. Sometimes you learn an enormous amount through setbacks or unforeseen circumstances and become stronger and more focused in the process.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post. Have you ever identified with the inbetweener feeling, in your 20s or otherwise?