omg this is EXACTLY how I felt at 27-28. the not knowing what's being built part really got me

I think it took like... 8 months? before things started clicking. hang in there honestly it's worth it on the other side

What you're describing is really classic saturn return territory - and yes, it's genuinely hard, not just metaphorically hard.

Saturn takes about 29.5 years to return to its natal position. During that transit, it essentially demands a reckoning. Whatever structures in your life aren't built on solid ground - relationships, careers, living situations - they get pressure-tested. Sometimes they hold. Sometimes they don't.

The 'foundation building' language can feel frustrating when you're in the middle of it because you're right: you can't see the foundation while it's being poured. That comes later.

A few things that might help: look at what sign your natal Saturn is in - that tells you a lot about WHERE the lessons show up. Capricorn or Scorpio Saturn will feel very different from a Libra or Gemini Saturn.

Also: the transit usually lasts 2-3 years, but the most intense pressure tends to come in waves, not continuously. You likely won't feel this level of upheaval the entire time.