- Adulting as a Gen Z has become a challenging journey, with bills, unemployment, mental health struggles, education advancement, and the constant pressure to "have it all figured out", making it more burdensome than expected.
Growing up, we Gen Zs imagined adulthood as a life of independence, success, and freedom. Well, for some, reality has hit hard, and at some point, it has become unbearable.
For many Gen Zs, stepping into adulthood isn’t just about growing up; it’s about surviving, like the common phrase among Gen Zs on the internet: “Surviving is winning, Franklin.”
I remember being assured that hard work, good grades, and ambition would guarantee success in primary and high school.
However, in an era of high cost of living, economic instabilities, and high societal expectations, the reality of adulting is proving to be rather hard!
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z faces unique challenges (that a larger population of prior generations may not understand), which include digital burnout, economic instabilities, as well as social media pressure.
In most cases, businesses require over five years of experience when looking for employment, which can be unrealistic and difficult for fresh university graduates.
Financial responsibility is another challenge, with rising costs making it harder for young adults to move out, save money, or afford basic needs.
Many Gen Zs turn to side hustles, such as freelancing, content creation, and remote jobs, but these can lead to burnout and struggle to balance work, studies, and social lives.
The pressures of adulting can lead to anxiety, stress, confusion, lack of self-esteem, and self-doubt, leading to negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
Despite these challenges, many Gen Zs are rejecting traditional career paths, prioritizing mental health, and striving to find purpose, fulfilment, and peace in whatever they do.
They have adopted strategies like learning financial literacy, setting boundaries, creating online communities, planning mentorship programs, and finding purpose instead of chasing societal goals and expectations.
