A quarter of Brits spend an hour a week worrying about life’s milestones

New research by Confused.com Life Insurance has revealed the milestones that cause the most anxiety and the ones that people are most excited about.

One in 5 (20%) UK adults claim that thinking about starting a family causes them anxiety and that family expectations play a part in this.
Meanwhile, more than half (52%) of people are most excited about meeting their future partner.
Dr. Ravi Gill, Practitioner Psychologist, shares 7 tips for managing stress associated with key life events.
Tom Vaughan, life insurance expert at Confused.com, explains why life milestones can bring a shift in priorities and why it’s important to reassess your lifestyle and financial protection along the way.

Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) people spend up to an hour each week stressing over hitting key life milestones, on average, new research reveals.

From buying a house, to getting married, hitting major life milestones can be a source of both joy and pressure. And new research by Confused.com life insurance experts reveals just how much time people spend worrying, or getting excited about them, each week.

According to the research, starting a family came out on top as the life moment people worry the most about hitting. 1 in 5 (20%) UK adults claim hitting this milestone causes them anxiety. The pressure to be emotionally and financially ‘ready’ can weigh heavily, especially as societal expectations around timing and parenthood continue to shift.

Just behind was moving out of the family home, with almost 1 in 5 (19%) saying this transition brings anxiety. The rising cost of rent, coupled with wage stagnation and a tough property market, likely contributes to this concern, particularly among younger adults.

Here’s the full list of the milestones causing us the most worry

Milestone	% of people who feel anxious when thinking of particular milestones
Starting a family	20%
Moving out of family home	19%
Buying my first home	17%
Getting Married	13%
Finding and progressing in my dream job	11%

Buying a first home has also caused worry for around 1 in 6 (17%) adults. This milestone blends financial strain with long-term commitment and logistical pressure, especially for first-time buyers navigating mortgages, deposits, and fluctuating housing prices.

Getting married and going to university were tied, with just over 1 in 10 (13%) of respondents naming these as anxiety-inducing milestones.

Finally, finding and progressing in a dream job triggered worry in 1 in 10 ( 11%) of people. In an increasingly competitive job market, the idea of not just landing a role, but thriving in it, adds to the emotional load.

While pressure around life events has always been an emotion to navigate, some life milestones are exciting for many. The following milestones are on the list of things Brits look forward to.

Milestone	% of people who feel excited when thinking of particular milestones
Meeting my partner	52%
Visiting a bucket list destination	51%
Getting my first pet	48%
Getting engaged	47%
Buying my first home	43%

Meeting a partner topped the list of most exciting life milestones, with over half of respondents (52%) saying it fills them with joy and anticipation. Close behind was visiting a bucket list destination (51%), highlighting how once-in-a-lifetime experiences are at the heart of what people look forward to most.

Other major feel-good milestones included getting a first pet (48%) and getting engaged (47%), suggesting that both companionship and commitment bring significant emotional highs. Buying a first home also made the list (43%), showing that for many, achieving security and independence is as thrilling as it is daunting.

The research also compared when individuals expected to hit these milestones versus when they actually did, uncovering a gap between perception and reality.

Starting a family

When it comes to starting a family, almost half (47%) of people say they feel anxiety, pressure and stress around this milestone. And almost 2 in 5 (39%) admit that expectations from their family contribute to this pressure. A further 1 in 4 (26%) say societal and cultural expectations play a role in making them feel overwhelmed by the idea of starting a family. Despite these pressures, 2 in 5 (40%) say they’re excited to start a family.

While 57% of respondents originally thought they would start a family between the ages of 18 and 30, only 39% actually did so. A further 20% thought they’d begin a family between 31 and 40, with 17% achieving this in reality.

These findings reflect a wider national trend. According to ONS data2, the average age at which women in England and Wales have their first baby has been steadily rising for decades. It rose from 23 in 1970 to 29.2 in 2022.

Jessica Silva, Life Coach at The Restless, explains, “For most people, starting a family is the biggest change we go through in life. It shifts our priorities and responsibilities, and our sense of self. Taking on the new identity of ‘parent’ is huge and something most of us never truly feel ready for and it isn’t something we get a practice run at. It requires a shift in both how we see ourselves and in how we behave and this can be a difficult transition.”

Moving out of the family home

Almost 1 in 4 (24%) people feel pressured by family expectations to move out of the family home. According to the research, the majority (79%) of respondents thought they would move out of their family home between the ages of 18 and 30. While in reality, 72% of people did.

While there is certainly pressure around this milestone, more than a third (36%) of people feel excited about moving out of their family home.

ONS data3 shows that young people are moving out of the family home later than in the past. The age that more than half of people did not live with their parents increased from 21 years in 2011 to 24 years in 2021.

Jessica explains that moving out of the family home may cause stress “due to feeling ill at ease around moving from what is familiar to us.” She says, “At home routines are established and predictable. Moving disrupts this predictability, triggering our brain's threat response system. Suddenly we will be responsible for lots of new things and we worry whether we’ll be able to do them. While it’s usually really positive, it can also cause us to doubt ourselves.”

Buying my first home

Almost a third (30%) of people agree that any pressure they feel around this milestone comes from personal expectations. According to the research, 65% of people thought they would buy their first home between the ages of 18 to 30. But the survey revealed only (52%) bought their first home between this age range.

While more than 2 in 5 (43%) people are excited about this milestone, just under a third (32%) haven’t reached this milestone yet.

According to ONS data3, more than half of people owned their own home (either with a mortgage or outright) by age 36 years in 2022.

Getting Married

More than 1 in 3 (35%) people feel anxiety, stress and pressure when thinking about meeting the milestone of marriage.Nearly 3 in 4 (73%) people agree they feel pressure to get married due to family, societal and cultural expectations.

When it comes to getting married, 63% of people thought they would get married between the ages of 18 and 30. However in reality, only 46% of people said they got married between these ages.

However, despite the pressures that Brits feel about getting married, 41% of people feel excited to get married. But 17% of people are happy not making the big commitment in their lifetime.

Jessica says, “There are lots of sources of pressure when it comes to getting married. Some of these are very tangible such as financial costs of the big day.Others are internal mental challenges such as worrying if we’re really ready to be married or if this is definitely the right person. Add to that stresses about the big day such as family dynamics, and the planning logistics. It’s not surprising that getting married is one of the most stressful things that we can do.”

ONS data3 shows that for opposite sex couples married in 2020, the median age for first time marriage was 32 years for men and 30 years for women. For those entering into same-sex marriage, the median age was older, at 36 years for men and 32 years for women.

Finding and progressing in my dream job

When it comes to finding and progressing in a dream job, expectation versus reality shows quite the difference. Over half (57%) of people thought they would find their dream job between the ages of 18 to 30 while only 27% actually did.

Almost two thirds (58%) of people said that they had not found their dream job and another 21% didn't want to find their dream job.

The pressures around this milestone come from different areas, as more than 1 in 4 (26%) people feel that personal expectations make them feel pressure. A further 1 in 5 (20%) say that economic pressures have an impact. Despite this, more than a fifth (21%) of people feel confidence when thinking about finding and progressing in a dream job.

But what can we do to ease some of the pressures we feel around milestones?

Confused.com Life Insurance spoke to Practitioner Psychologist, Dr. Ravi Gill, who shared her top tips for dealing with milestone pressure:

1. Challenge the “social clock” narrative

Ravi says, “Recognise that timelines for life events are socially constructed, not absolute. People develop at different rates, and there is no universally “correct” timeline for career success, marriage, or parenthood3. Reframing these expectations can reduce internalised pressure.”

2. Limit social media exposure

Ravi explains, “Since social media often intensifies comparison and unrealistic expectations, taking breaks or curating feeds to follow people who share authentic, diverse life paths can reduce feelings of inadequacy4.”

3. Practice self-compassion

Ravi says, “Being kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned reduces stress and increases resilience. Dr. Kristin Neff's research on self-compassion shows that treating yourself with the same understanding you'd offer a friend can significantly reduce anxiety and perfectionism.”

4. Focus on intrinsic goals

Ravi advises, “Shift attention from socially approved milestones (external goals) to personal fulfilment (internal goals), such as growth, learning, and relationships. According to Self-Determination Theory5, intrinsic goals lead to greater well-being and motivation.”

5. Mindfulness and present-focus

Ravi explains, “Mindfulness practices can help people become more aware of their present experiences and reduce fixation on future timelines. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s work shows that mindfulness reduces anxiety by promoting acceptance and presence over worry about what "should be" happening.”

6. Set flexible goals

Ravi says, “It’s healthy to have aspirations, but goals should be flexible, not rigid. Allowing space for detours, mistakes, and personal pacing can reduce pressure and improve long-term outcomes.”

7. Talk about it

Ravi explains that, “Discussing these feelings with friends, therapists, or support groups can normalise the experience and help reframe what success and progress really mean.”

Tom Vaughan, life insurance expert at Confused.com comments, “Life’s big moments, whether it’s getting married, buying your first home, starting a family or even changing careers, all come with a shift in priorities. Each milestone marks a new chapter, and with it, new responsibilities that can shape your lifestyle in ways you might not expect.

“These changes can be really exciting, but it’s also a time to pause and take stock of what’s important. With every new step, your lifestyle can look and feel very different, whether that’s emotionally, financially or practically.

“Being aware of how your circumstances evolve means you can make informed decisions that support your current way of living.From how you manage your time and money, to how you plan for the future. It’s also a good opportunity to think about key financial steps, for example, when to buy life insurance. That way you can make sure the protection you have in place reflects the life you’re living now, not the one you had before.”