Gen Z Is Not Doomed: Common Struggles and Practical Ways Forward

This generation of teenagers and young adults faces more access, pressure, comparison, and noise than any generation before it. Constant connection, endless options, rising stress, and shrinking attention spans have created challenges that previous generations did not experience at this scale.

But we are not doomed. We can recognize the problems, change our habits, and take practical steps toward healthier lives.

Below are some of the most common struggles facing Gen Z—and a few ways we can begin pushing back against them.This generation of teenagers and young adults faces more access, pressure, comparison, and noise than any generation before it. Constant connection, endless options, rising stress, and shrinking attention spans have created challenges that previous generations did not experience at this scale.

Mental and Emotional Overload

How many times have you heard someone say, “I am so stressed right now”? How many times have you said it yourself?

College, work, relationships, finances, and constant communication can make life feel as though it never slows down. We cannot eliminate every source of stress, but we can learn to respond to it more intentionally.

Take breaks while working. Spend time outdoors. Exercise. Watch a movie. Talk with friends. Schedule time to rest instead of waiting until you are completely exhausted. Slow down. Breathe.

Overcommitment

The day never seems long enough to accomplish everything on our lists. The length of the day will not change, which means our schedules sometimes must.

It is okay to say no. You do not have to accept every invitation, assignment, leadership role, or opportunity.

Try single-tasking instead of multitasking. Block out time for important responsibilities, and be realistic about how much you can complete. A shorter commitment list may allow you to be more present and effective in the things you choose to do.

Low Motivation and Procrastination

Doomscrolling, packed schedules, poor sleep, and constant stress can leave us tired and unmotivated.

Instead of defining productivity as exhaustion, define it as progress. Completing one meaningful task is better than avoiding five because the entire list feels overwhelming.

Start small. Fold the laundry. Write the first paragraph. Spend ten minutes organizing your space. Set personal deadlines before the actual deadline so that unfinished work does not pile up until five o’clock in the morning.

Comparison & Identity Pressure

Life Comparison

Social media makes it easy to compare our lives, appearances, relationships, careers, and accomplishments with people around the world.

What we see online is rarely the complete picture. Limit the amount of content that consistently makes you feel inadequate, jealous, or discouraged.

There is only one version of you. Learn from other people without feeling pressured to copy their lives.

Actor Gabriel Basso once described seeing a photograph from the summit of Mount Everest while scrolling online and realizing that he had received the view without doing any of the work required to reach it. His response was to delete Instagram.

The lesson is simple: Stop watching everyone else climb. Start climbing your own mountain.

Future Anxiety

Comparison can create pressure to reach every milestone immediately.

We worry about internships, careers, money, relationships, homeownership, success, and whether we are falling behind. Instead of measuring your life only by your current position, consider your direction.

Define success for yourself. Your friend’s internship, relationship, salary, or timeline does not determine whether you are doing well.

You do not have to reach the summit today. You only have to take the next step.

Relationships & Social Skills

Friendships

Social media and virtual communication make it easier to stay connected, but they do not automatically create strong friendships.

Be kind. Listen. Ask questions. Pay attention to what is happening in another person’s life.

Starting a friendship may be easy. Maintaining one requires effort, honesty, loyalty, and the willingness to work through disagreements instead of disappearing when things become uncomfortable.

Romantic Relationships

Healthy relationships require more than attraction or strong feelings. They require honesty, communication, trust, respect, and commitment.

Do not treat people as temporary options while constantly searching for someone better. Be clear about your expectations, communicate openly, and recognize when a relationship is unhealthy or no longer right for either person.

Love is partly a feeling, but healthy love is also demonstrated through choices and actions.

Disagreeing Peacefully

Why do different opinions automatically have to end friendships?

People have different experiences, beliefs, values, and preferences. Disagreement does not require disrespect.

Listen before responding. Ask questions. Avoid turning every discussion into a competition that someone must win. Sometimes the healthiest outcome is simply acknowledging that you see the issue differently.

Judgment

Judgment is everywhere, particularly online. It is easy to criticize another person while ignoring our own habits and flaws.

Your friend may look different, think differently, or eat eggs with ketchup. That does not make your friend less deserving of kindness.

People do not need to be exactly like us to be valued, respected, or loved.

Respecting Leadership and Authority

Previous generations often treated respect for parents, teachers, coaches, employers, elected officials, and other authority figures as automatic. Many members of Gen Z believe that trust and respect must also be demonstrated through leadership.

Both ideas can be true.

Treat people in positions of authority respectfully, but recognize that respectful questions and constructive disagreement are not the same as disobedience. Listen carefully, communicate professionally, and hold yourself and others to reasonable standards.

Courage and Social Confidence

The pandemic, virtual communication, and increased reliance on social media affected how many young people interact face-to-face.

Building confidence requires practice.

Say hello. Introduce yourself. Attend the event. Apply for the position. Try the activity even when you are not certain you will be good at it.

A simple “Hello, how are you?” can brighten someone’s day and begin a real relationship. Courage does not mean being fearless. It means taking action even when you feel nervous.

Responsibility & Growth

Accountability

Everyone makes mistakes. The difficult part is admitting them.

Avoiding responsibility may feel easier in the moment, but dishonesty usually creates more stress and more problems.

Be willing to say, “I was wrong,” “I am sorry,” or “I need help fixing this.” Accountability is not weakness. It is a sign of maturity and character.

Self-Diagnosis and Mental Health Misinformation

Social media has increased conversations about ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Greater awareness can help people recognize when they need support, but short videos and online checklists cannot replace a qualified professional.

Do not diagnose yourself—or dismiss someone else’s diagnosis—based on social media content.

When concerns are affecting your daily life, academic performance, relationships, or well-being, speak with a licensed medical or mental health professional.

Handling Criticism

It is easy to feel personally attacked when someone criticizes your work, ideas, or performance.

As an architecture student, I have learned that constructive criticism is part of improving. Feedback does not necessarily mean that I am bad at what I do. It may show me where I can grow.

Consider the source and purpose of the criticism. Use helpful feedback, and release comments that are meant only to hurt or embarrass you.

Sometimes your siblings will give you the brutally honest answer. Your mom may tell you exactly what you want to hear. A true friend may give you a little of both.

Compulsive Habits and Addiction

Addiction and compulsive behavior can involve alcohol, drugs, vaping, social media, gaming, gambling, pornography, or other activities that begin interfering with daily life.

These behaviors may offer temporary escape, but they do not resolve the stress, anxiety, loneliness, or pain underneath them.

Learning more about a behavior and its effects can be an important first step. So can identifying a personal reason to make a change. People may find motivation through faith, personal values, family, friendships, health goals, or their hopes for the future.

Trying to change alone can be difficult. Talk with someone you trust, seek professional support, and create a system of accountability.

We Are Not Doomed

I promise you: Our generation is not doomed.

There is hope, but progress starts with small decisions. Put down the phone. Speak to someone new. Take responsibility for a mistake. Say no to an unnecessary commitment. Ask for help.

Healthy living is not achieved through one dramatic transformation. It is built through the choices we make every day.

For additional education and support, explore the Wellness section of the Recreation and Wellness website.

Be well, Auburn.