It seems like you can’t go a day without hearing someone promising that something will make our lives EASIER, and yet, we’re more DOG-TIRED than ever. According to a new survey, the average American experiences “PEAK BURNOUT” at 42 years old. But younger adults are already feeling it.
Around 25% of Americans say they start experiencing burnout before age 30. (With roughly 90% of their working years ahead of them.) And Gen Z and Millennials, currently aged 18 to 44, say they’re reaching their highest point of stress at an average age of just 25
In most cases, that’s before the classic stressors, like managing career advancement, raising kids, and caring for aging parents. So what’s driving the early burnout?
In the poll, “financial concerns” was the #1 stress, followed by politics, work-related pressures, physical health concerns, and relationships.
For younger people, mental health was high on the list.
Unfortunately, the trend isn’t expected to change. About 33% of Americans are bracing themselves for what they anticipate will be their most stressful year yet.
And a whopping 83% of the people in the poll believe that entering adulthood today is more challenging than it was just a decade ago. Also: 72% think that becoming an adult will only get more difficult in the next decade.
Surprisingly, older folks were more likely than young adults to agree. So maybe they’re recognizing that things are more intense than they used to be.
One problem is: Technology allows us to do more, faster. But standards and expectations are escalating at the same clip, if not more.
Even on a personal level. Before you could get away rarely talking to your in-laws. Now, they’re texting you paragraphs of drama while you’re trying to squeeze errands into your lunch break.
