If you are a millennial who’s suddenly feeling the weight of adulthood, you are far from alone. A short TikTok video from New York comedian Michael Mancusi has gone viral for putting that creeping “Is this it?” feeling into everyday language. Instead of treating a midlife crisis like a meltdown or a punchline, he frames it as something many people are quietly carrying right now.
Mancusi is 35, and he told Newsweek he keeps hearing the same worries from friends and peers. Money stress is constant, job security can feel fragile, and the search for meaning does not magically disappear once you have a degree or a steady routine. For a lot of people, the anxiety isn’t about one dramatic event. It’s the slow realization that life is moving, expectations are shifting, and the old roadmap no longer feels reliable.
He also points out that the classic version of a midlife crisis does not fit millennials the way it fit earlier generations. The stereotype includes splurging on something flashy, like a new car, to drown out existential dread. Mancusi jokes that many millennials don’t have the spare cash for that kind of retail therapy, so they’re forced to find other ways to steady themselves. In his view, this moment is not only about aging. It’s also about a collective wake-up call that some of the promises people grew up with now seem out of sync with reality.
His main suggestion is refreshingly practical. Find meaning outside your job, even if your job is fine on paper. That can be a hobby, a creative project, a sport, or any activity that feels genuinely fun and absorbing, without needing to turn into a side hustle. The goal is to have something that feels like yours, especially when work takes up so much time and mental space.
@mikemancusi Here’s a message for my fellow millennial midlife crisisers #millennial #millennials #millennialsoftiktok #crisis #midlifecrisis ♬ original sound – Mike Mancusi
Mancusi says he lives this balance himself. During the day he works a retail job that covers the bills, and in his free time he performs stand-up comedy. He describes that split as a trade many people understand, one role supports your bank account while the other supports your spirit. It’s a reminder that fulfillment doesn’t have to come from the same place as your paycheck.
He also argues that your thirties can be a surprisingly common time to feel this kind of crisis. You’re no longer the new graduate who gets a pass for mistakes, and suddenly the decisions feel heavier and more permanent. The “sand timer” feeling becomes less abstract, and the pressure to adapt can be exhausting, especially when it feels like the rules for success have changed mid-game.
What’s your go-to activity that helps you feel grounded when life starts to feel too loud? Share your thoughts in the comments.
