Older generations are becoming envious of the Gen Z’s healthier work-life balance

Work-life balance is not the same anymore for all professionals. Gen Zers — or those who were born during the mid to late 1990s — are expected to make up about 27% of the workforce by 2025. 

However, they are leading the march from the Great Resignation as most of them grow more  disillusioned with how the corporate community work. 

Marketing professional Kimi Kaneshina, aged 24, has a full-time job: her life. In a TikTok video released last March, she said she was considering her “full-time job to actually be my part-time job, and life to be my full-time job.” 

The video, watched by over 300,000 people, quickly garnered support and 50,000 likes from those who can relate to this philosophy. 

The older generations, meanwhile, are growing envious as they see more and more Gen Z-ers who could afford to work remotely and have a healthy work-life balance. 

One of them is self-proclaimed “jealous Gen X-er” Cayne Letizia, aged 45. In an interview, he stated that older professionals were expected to go to school, go to college, and have a family.

“It was just certain steps or boxes you had to check,” Letizia added.

As he watch the younger crowd from the sidelines, the Gen X-er wished that he could’ve done more when he was their age.

“But I see them doing it and just want to support it,” he said.

The response to the Gen Z lifestyle is not all positive. Avery Monday, 21,  dealt with criticism from the older population when she posted about her healthy work-life balance. Some had even called her “lazy” for trying to enjoy her life.

In response, Monday hoped that more older people would take a step back from the corporate hustle and bustle and do what brings them the most joy.

“Older generations, if they could wrap their mind around it, they would be able to be a lot more fulfilled and be able to have hobbies and do different things,” Monday said.

It is not a sin to enjoy life as we have it now. Sure, work is important and hard work should be emphasized to people of all ages. 

However, maintaining a healthy balance between life and work should still be everyone’s priority. Especially now that the world is still reeling from two years of the pandemic. 

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