美国国家公共电台 NPR--Gen Z workers are exhausted — and seeking solutions

Gen Z workers are exhausted¹ — and seeking solutions

Transcript²

My generation, Generation Z, is apparently³ experiencing an early life crisis.

Researchers say younger generations deal with an ongoing⁴ wealth inequality. They see senior executives get bonuses and higher wages, while average worker wages remain stagnant⁵. In a 2023 Deloitte survey, nearly half of Gen Zs and four in 10 millennials said they feel stressed all or most of the time.

But money is just one factor. At the age of 24, I have already experienced a global pandemic with uncounted diseases and deaths, summer temperatures in winter months, global Black Lives Matter movements and ever-growing inflation rates. I feel the weight of the world at the tip of my fingers. As I enter the working world, it is difficult to show up as my best self every day.

Only half of Gen Z believes it is managing its stress well, according to the APA. And the way Gen Z manages stress has become a talking point on social media.

A viral TikTok video asserts that this generation is the most difficult generation to work with because of a "lack of motivation, they're easily distracted, easily offended and dishonest."

Tess Brigham, a California-based life coach and therapist, said that Gen Z's early life crisis is characterized by exhaustion⁶ and a deep sense of being overwhelmed.

"I think part of what you are all feeling isn't necessarily what I think older generations want to call laziness or being entitled," Brigham said. "I think you're tired. Like truly, truly tired."

A quarter-life crisis, or an early life crisis, is an identity crisis. It happens when someone in their mid-20s to early 30s begins to question the quality and direction of their life. Common traits include sadness, feeling unfulfilled and anxiety.

"Anxiety kind of gets us living in the future and it gets us spinning our wheels and worrying about things that haven't happened yet," Brigham said.

It can be difficult to manage personal anxiety, world events and sustain a living. So, I asked Lynn Toomey, a life coach in Massachusetts, how I can work through exhaustion without dreading⁷ the workplace.

"I think it comes down to lifestyle planning from the beginning," Toomey said.

Toomey believes in "leading a balanced life." She is the founder⁸ of Her Retirement⁹, a platform that helps retirees work through their greatest life regrets, including overworking. Toomey advises Gen Z to pursue their personal interests and take up hobbies, so they become habits and behaviors.

Although Brigham doesn't believe in work-life balance, she does believe in incorporating personal interests into life and the workplace.

"Work is what we do all day. So you have to figure out what you like to do, your personality, what you enjoy," she said.

Brigham shared with NPR's Morning Edition tips to identify stress causes, manage anxiety and find joy in life and career.

How to understand the source of your stress

Before you audit¹⁰ your job, audit your life.

Take note of the things you like and dislike in-and-outside of the workplace.

Ask yourself questions like: What is the best part of my day? Who do I like to be around? What do I like about my job?

Brigham says these questions help people become detectives in their own lives.

Maybe it's not the job itself but a difficult coworker or lack of involvement in projects you're passionate¹¹ about.

The problem could also be an outside source like a rocky relationship or a noisy roommate.

Explore your interests

Once you get an idea of what makes you unhappy, Brigham encourages you to explore the things that make you happy.

If you're not assigned the projects you're passionate about, discuss it with your boss.

Brigham encourages young people to advocate for themselves and pursue their desires in all aspects of life, including work and relationships.

"As you're exploring more about yourself, you're better understanding yourself," Brigham said. "What will happen is you'll start to make changes in your daily life."

Three ways to relax and relieve stress

1. Meditation¹² isn't perfect, it's a practice.

The first thing Brigham advises you to do is "slow down" and meditate¹³.

"You're noticing your thoughts and letting them go," Brigham said. "Just because you have a thought doesn't make it true, doesn't mean you have to listen to it."

If you think meditation will not work for you, start with 2 minutes a day.

2. Another method Brigham suggests is journaling.

"Free writing allows you to get all that gunk, all of these thoughts, out of your head and onto paper, then you just release it and let it go," she said.

3. If you're looking for an immediate¹⁴ stress reliever, exercise can help: "It's the best thing that you can do, any kind of physical exercise for 20 to 30 minutes."

1 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

6 exhaustion   

n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述

参考例句：

• She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
• His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

7 dreading   

v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. 她正在为不得不向父亲提出钱的事犯愁。
• This was the moment he had been dreading. 这是他一直最担心的时刻。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

9 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

10 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

11 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

12 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

13 meditate   

v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想

参考例句：

• It is important to meditate on the meaning of life.思考人生的意义很重要。
• I was meditating,and reached a higher state of consciousness.我在冥想，并进入了一个更高的意识境界。

14 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。