7 Ways Young Adults Can Move from Languishing to Flourishing

Mental health isn’t simply “good” or “bad”—it’s a spectrum that encompasses a wide range of experiences and symptoms. On one end of that spectrum is depression, characterized by feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. On the other end is flourishing: a sense of connection, purpose, and meaning. And in the middle is what’s known as languishing—when we’re neither depressed nor flourishing, but just getting by.

The concepts of languishing and flourishing came into the public consciousness in connection with the mental health impact of COVID-19. Mental health challenges among all ages increased at that time, but especially among young adults—and they haven’t recovered since then. According to the just-released Global Flourishing Study, young adults (ages 18–29) experience the lowest rates of flourishing around the world. And the gap between flourishing rates in younger and older adults is larger in the United States than in any other country.

What You’ll Learn

• What is languishing vs. flourishing?
• How can you tell if you’re languishing?
• Does languishing increase the risk of depression?
• What are some ways to experience greater flourishing?

What Is Languishing and Why Are So Many Young Adults Feeling It?

As defined by researcher Corey Keyes in his 2002 study, languishing is “the absence of mental health.” What does that mean, exactly? Keyes described it like this: “a state in which an individual is devoid of positive emotion toward life, and is not functioning well either psychologically or socially, and has not been depressed during the past year. In short, languishers are neither mentally ill nor mentally healthy.”

The Global Flourishing Study, published in April 2025 in the journal Nature, found that young adults’ top challenges are:

• Problems with their physical and/or mental health
• Negative perceptions of themselves
• Difficulty finding meaning in life
• Relationship problems
• Worries about their financial security

In addition, young adults struggle with loneliness, perfectionism, and fears about the future of the planet and our political system.

How to Tell If You’re Languishing

Researchers measure languishing, depression, and flourishing mental health using industry-approved assessment tools. However, languishing isn’t always easy to recognize, because the signs aren’t as severe as symptoms of depression or other mental health disorders. In fact, young people who are languishing and at high risk for depression may not get the support they need until their symptoms become clinically significant.

The following emotions and states of mind are indicators that an individual may be in a state of languishing. Young adults and their family members may be able to recognize these signs in themselves or their loved ones.

• Lack of motivation
• Foggy thinking, feeling unfocused
• Low enthusiasm about life in general
• Feelings of emptiness
• Dullness and ennui
• Not highly engaged or passionate about work or school
• Working toward goals in order to avoid something negative rather than achieve something positive

Languishing Increases Depression Risk

Languishing isn’t a mental health disorder, but its symptoms resemble those of depression. However, the difference is in the acuity of the emotions—that is, the level of distress associated with them. While someone who is depressed will often feel intense sadness and loss of hope, the symptoms of languishing aren’t as extreme.

Instead of strong emotions, languishing is characterized by that “meh” or “blah” feeling—neither great nor terrible. A person can languish while also being able to function in everyday life. But over time, languishing makes people vulnerable to worse states of mental health. For example, Keyes found that the risk of a major depressive episode is twice as likely for people who are languishing vs. those with moderate mental health.

7 Ways to Increase Flourishing

Positive psychologists and researchers have determined that certain habits and behaviors, practiced regularly over time, will reliably improve well-being and move us from languishing toward flourishing.

1. Practice Mindfulness

Whether practiced in the form of yoga, walks in nature, meditation, or conscious breathing exercises, mindfulness has been shown to improve state of mind, mood, and life satisfaction. These practices help us bring our attention to the present moment, rather than focusing on regrets from the past or fears about the future.

2. Find Flow

Flow is the experience of being completely immersed in an activity, and it enhances well-being by activating our skills, focus, and creativity. Making art, singing, rock climbing, surfing, or writing can bring us into a state of flow. Academic and workplace projects catalyze flow when we feel that our abilities are perfectly matched to the task we are undertaking.

3. Prioritize Connection

Relationships provide the most consistent source of meaning for those who are languishing, as well as those who are flourishing. That doesn’t typically include online connection, however: One study found that increased online socializing was associated with languishing.

4. Achieve a Small Goal Every Day

Getting something done every day can help elevate languishing to flourishing mental health, by cultivating feelings of meaning, accomplishment, and self-worth. Simply rearranging your room or cleaning out your closet can produce positive emotions and a sense of satisfaction.

5. Savor Your Experiences

Noticing moments of pleasure, awe, and connection reinforces our tendency to focus on the positive. The human brain has what’s known as a negativity bias. That is, we are wired to perceive danger and threats in order to survive. So, we need to consciously work to retrain the mind to appreciate what’s goo. And the more we do so, the easier it becomes to maintain that positive focus.

6. Change Your Environment

It might not be feasible for you to book a flight to the Caribbean on a whim, but you can discover new things closer to home. That might mean taking a day trip, trying a new restaurant, or hiking somewhere you’ve never been. If you need support, consider a hiking group or volunteer activities—that way, you’ll meet new people as well as seeing new places.

7. Do Good for Others

Research shows that people with flourishing mental health are more focused on the well-being of others and their greater community, while those who languish are focused more on personal well-being. Self-care is certainly just as important, if not more important, than caring for others. However, since contributing to the greater good is proven to enhance our happiness levels, we can actually do both at once.

Treatment to Transform Languishing Before It Becomes Depression

While languishing isn’t a mental health disorder, it increases the risk of depression. Therefore, if feelings of languishing are getting worse or just not getting better, it may be time to seek help from a clinical professional.

At Newport Institute, our clinical model not only heals trauma, depression, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders, it also enhances young adults’ well-being, motivation, self-worth, and sense of purpose and meaning. Contact us today to find out more about how our integrated treatment helps young people create flourishing in their lives and relationships—with peers, family, self, and community. 

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