Rebelling Against Burnout Culture

Do you feel overworked? Does school, work, and every moment of your life feel rushed? Well, you are not alone! In today’s era, working hard is honoured while taking it slow and resting is seen as inefficient. Specifically for Gen Z, the struggle in hustling 24/7 has brought several concerns which have not been addressed in the past. In this article, we will address the concerns of Burnout and look through a new perspective, which may inspire you to try something new.

Issue:

Burnout is an umbrella term for all the pressure faced by youth and working individuals in society. In reality, burnout is a combination of constant external pressure, stress, anxiety and no time to relax. Frequently, the media tells us to learn time management; however, the real issue lies in the struggle we face to keep up despite organizing our time. When you don’t do your work or take time to relax, they say, “you are lazy or a procrastinator”. The idea of being busy and productive has been treasured, and while it is important to be efficient and effective, life should not feel like you are running on a treadmill until you retire.

Impact:

CNN, supported by research from the Harvard Graduate School of ECD, surveyed to find “81% of teens ages 13 through 17 feel pressure that leaves them feeling badly about their game plans, achievements, appearances, social lives, friendships and/or how informed they are about issues”. Considering that this issue is only rising in severity, there needs to be action taken by society to modify the toxicity of expectations placed on young generations. As we move into adulthood, there is increased stress in meeting deadlines, sustaining well-paying jobs, and working to our full potential. The change we need to make is to redefine a slow life as an intentional way to balance life and limit stress.

A Maclean’s article by Stephanie Bai, a Gen Z Canadian, expresses the reality of how Gen Z is being judged for wanting work-life balance. The article highlights how high school is increasingly competitive, while getting accepted into university feels like a rat race. On top of that, getting a job as a new grad is nearly impossible, considering the amount of experience required for entry-level jobs. Altogether, the issue of not succeeding among the hustle forces youth to constantly grind to secure a spot in the busy economy.

The key takeaway from the research and opinions of youth experiencing burnout is that work has become the center of one’s life, in which there is no time and space to balance. This crisis traps the young and makes people like us question how we will be able to experience the beauty of life beyond working endless hours to keep up.

Advocacy for High School Students:

While the issue of burnout is spread across all young generations, the hustle starts in high school, where students today experience excessive stress of juggling extracurriculars and academics to increase the possibility of getting into post-secondary education. Despite high school being the hustle phase, we can still promote rest and balance with well-being strategies.

• Get Sleep!
  • While it is easier said than done, building a habit of going to sleep at the same time every day can help train your brain to finish all work before that time. Getting sleep helps refresh students, especially when their minds are stressed about deadlines and upcoming events all day long.
    • The Harvard Graduate School of Education surveyed students on self-care care and among them 45% did not meet the minimum 7-hour sleep threshold
• Communicate with Teachers:
  • If you cannot meet deadlines, ask for extensions and explain your situation instead of pulling all-nighters. Clear communication can reduce the burden. We must normalize expressing our opinions and situations instead of suffering in silence.
• Reduce Social Media Usage when Stressed:
  • Viewing the highlight reels of other people only makes you feel less confident of your situation. Never compare yourself with others because only you can understand the effort you have put forth.

Slow Living:

We must promote slow living as a way of refreshing our minds consistently between our busy lives. Promoting slow as a way to boost efficiency and maintain balance will help set a new trend in the overwhelming expectations of work culture today. Even though the change will take time, we can always start by implementing it ourselves. For instance, instead of working nonstop for an entire week, organize your calendar to have one evening where you do something that makes you happy. Whether it be watching a movie, catching up with friends, or taking the time to read your favourite book. Prioritize your breaks in the same way you prioritize work. Building in time for yourselves is extremely hard, especially when there is a lot on your plate; however, pushing back a few tasks for a few hours of enjoyment will help you appreciate yourself and the hard work you are putting in to achieve your short-term and long-term goals.

TLDR;

• Burnout culture has been glorified, while slowing down has been associated with laziness
• Gen Z faces overwhelming amounts of stress from the current work culture and expectations
• Burnout starts in high school; therefore, students should adjust their schedules to fit in wellness time
• Small acts of “taking it slow” will ultimately set new trends; the change starts with you

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