Gen Z's 15 Biggest Struggles

This generation of college teenagers and young adults are in trouble. Gen Z has more access, more pressure, more comparison, and more noise than any before. Constant comparison, endless options, rising anxiety, and shrinking attention spans have created challenges that previous generations have never faced at this scale. But don't worry, we aren't doomed! We can take actions to fix the problems.

Below are 15 of the most common struggles of Gen Z and practical ways to push back against them.

Mental and Emotional Overload

1. Attention Spans

With every swipe while "doom scrolling" for hours, our brain melts more and more. Social media platforms are only adding to the problem with [secretly] making it addicting. Even children's shows today with bright colors and lots of movement are hurting us, and more specifically our attention spans. We no longer can sit in silence for a few minutes. We have forgotten what boredom is and how to "just go play outside".

To fix our attention spans, we have to build boredom back into our life. A simple way to do this is to give up your phone for 1 - 3 days. NO social media, NO games, NO online communication (unless for emergencies). Go for a run. Work out. Walk your dog. Clean your house. Go meet friends for lunch. Sorry if that means losing your 500 day wordle streak. Just get off your phone!

2. Stress

How many times have we heard someone say "I am so stressed right now?" How many times have we said that ourselves? What if I told you that is because of society. With everyone saying that their stressed, it stresses us out. The world seems to spin so fast and our days seem so full, you need to slow down and destress.

Some ways to destress are to take breaks in working, spend time outdoors and with others, watch a movie, or get a massage. Whatever it looks like, take actions to relieve stress. Slow down. Breathe.

3. Overcommitment

The day never seems long enough to do everything we need to do. The day will never get shorter, so the only thing able to change is your schedule. You are doing too much! You are overcommitting.

Some ways to fix overcommitment is first to be okay with saying no. You don't have to agree to do everything all the time. Try single-tasking instead of multitasking to focus on one action at a time. Block time for specific tasks so that you know how many commitments you can make. Often times, blocking out time will cause you to have fewer commitments, but will allow you to focus more on one task.

4. Laziness

Laziness comes with everything mentioned above. "Doom scrolling," busy schedules, and not having time to destress makes us tired, unmotivated, and lazy

To combat laziness, you have to redefine "productive" as progress and not exhaustion. That requires you to see work as a meaningful task instead of just another mundane thing that fills your day. And when you are tempted just to lay on the couch all weekend after a long week, don't fall into bad habits of wasting time. There are better ways to destress. Get up! Do something! I personally never have nothing to do. Take the 3 batches of laundry on my bed that need to be folded for example. With laziness also comes procrastination. To fix your poor time management, find motivation, and set deadlines earlier than the actual deadline. Often our procrastinated work builds up and we are up until 5 a.m. the day they are due completing everything. This isn't healthy.

Comparison & Identity Pressure

5. Life Comparison

With the reach of social media, it is easy to compare yourself, your lifestyle, and your standards to others we find online halfway around the world.

To fix falling into the trap of comparison and jealousy, limit your social media consumption and realize you are unique. There is only one of you. Don't be a copy of someone else. Be you. A few months ago, actor Gabriel Basso shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that he came across a photo of the summit of Mount Everest while "doom scrolling" and immediately deleted Instagram. He shared that the he didn't deserve to see that view without any effort. The same is for us. Go conquer the world.

6. Future Anxiety/Stress

Comparison and overcommitment come with anxiety and stress. We are constantly thinking we need to be better or further in our career. We become stressed with having enough money, buying a house, enjoying our job, reaching a peak of success, or having a family.

Stop worrying! You need to measure life by trajectory and not a position. Climb the mountain instead of crying when looking at how tall it is. Define success personally and not in comparison to others. So what I don't have a summer internship like my friend? So what I don't have a significant other right now? We can achieve our hopes and dreams if we just start climbing.

Relationships & Social skills

7. Friendships

After the invention of social media and virtually meeting, especially after COVID-19, the world has never recovered. We have forgotten how to just be a great friend.

To be more than a good friend, be kind, listen, and care about the other person. Invest in getting to know them and all they are doing. Building a friendship is easy, making it last is harder. Stay loyal. Talk through your problems rather than just leaving each other.

8. Romance

Why is cheating so common in today's culture. People are always looking for a better person than the one they fell in love with. This is so destructive to today's society.

Show commitment. Loving someone is more than a feeling, it's a choice.

9. Disagreeing Peacefully

Why is it that if someone's opinions are different from ours, we automatically can't be friends? It's nonsense. Everyone has their ideas, views, and tastes. Who are we to judge or condemn them.

Treat others as people too and respect their opinions. Often times that means disagreeing peacefully rather than arguing. Don't stir the pot. Agree to disagree.

10. Judgement

With social media and today's "cancel culture" judgement is everywhere. We all have problems. More often than not, our pride blinds us from seeing our own.

Even if your friend has a weird looking nose or eats his eggs with ketchup, you still need to love him. You still need to be his friend.

11. Respecting Authorities

Previous generations respected anyone in a higher position than themselves such as their bosses, parents, pastors, presidents, teachers, or coaches, but with this generation people must earn their respect through how they act and how they lead. Why must authorities prove themselves more than showing their title? Additionally, why is it now "cool" to disrespect authorities? I think it's time to go back to when respecting authorities was a given.

The simplest way to do so is to listen. Stop talking, and listen. Stop judging and listen. Stop questioning and listen. Say "yes sir" and "yes ma'am." Be kind. Obey. Listen.

12. Lack of Courage

Why is this generation scared of living? Why are we not social? In part, it is because of COVID-19 and the months of quarantine with limited human interaction. With the pandemic and social media, Gen Z is "anti-social."

Be bold. You only live once! Go on adventures rather than "doom-scrolling." Simply say "hello." You have no idea how far a "hello, how are you doing?" can go to brighten someone's day and build a relationship. Bones heal, relationships can be fixed. Be bold.

Responsibility & Growth

13. Lack of Accountability

Even when everyone makes mistakes, people simply don't own up to their own mistakes in fear of judgement or discipline.

We must be vulnerable and we must be bold. Secrets will always be revealed and lying will only get you deeper into trouble. Life gets less stressful when we start confessing and asking for forgiveness after messing up.

14. Too Many Diagnoses

Why does it seem like everyone has ADHD or is dyslexic? My question is how many of these diagnoses are real and how many are not. Additionally, how many of those who are not are convinced they are? Is it just an excuse to get special treatment, attention, or lessen authority on your life? Is it in something chemically grown in a lab that we eat or in the social media we consume telling us we are messed up? If you do in fact have a legit diagnoses, this is in no way me calling out that you are faking it. I just can't help but notice the rising cases of mental disorders.

If you do believe you have a mental disorder of any kind, contact a medical professional. I am nowhere near qualified to help.

15. Easily Offended

Being easily offended comes with the time of increased judgement, criticism, and "cancel culture."

Something I have learned throughout my major of Architecture is constructive criticism in that my perspective of when someone criticizes my work isn't because I am bad at it, but that I can get better. I can only grow by knowing my mistakes. Outside of constructive criticism, don't care what others think. What do you think? Often times we let negative things that other people say get to our heads and it affects our mental health. If you ever need an honest opinion, ask your siblings. If you need to hear what you want to hear, ask your mom. If you want a mix of both, ask your true friends.

BONUS

16. Addiction

While not in my initial list of 15, something that was brought to my attention is the problem with addiction. Addiction to social media, drinking, drugs, vaping, sexual arousal, and even playing video games. THEY ARE KILLING US. They all give short dopamine hits that ultimately act as poison. Mental health crisis and anxiety are causing teenagers and young adults to search for anything to make them feel better, but are often looking in the wrong place.

Coaching how to get free of addiction is something I would need to write a whole other blog about. The only advice I can give in this limited time is to find a new perspective. Research how dangerous what you are consuming really is. Research how it affects your brain. Find a motivation to quit. For me, I found my motivation in religion and more specifically in the Christian God. Romans 6:23 says that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" I may be lost, but I have been forgiven. I may be broken but have been redeemed. Lastly, trying to quit on your own will almost never work. Talk to your friends, create a system of accountability. Find a new motivation and find accountability.

For more resources, visit the wellness tab on recwellness.auburn.edu to learn more about or schedule an appointment for addiction prevention or building healthy relationships.

I promise you, our generation is NOT doomed. There is hope, but it starts with all of us taking little steps such as the ones outlined to get back to a place of healthy living.

Be well, Auburn.