How Gen Z Redefine Wellness

"We’re under pressure, but we’re leaning in and carving new paths forward."

With lockdowns, work-from-home mandates and travel restrictions still looming, it is no surprise that mental health continues to dominate headlines as society grapples with what health and wellness is supposed to look like in a post-pandemic era. Gen Z in particular has played a large role in opening the dialogue around wellness, verbalizing our mental health struggles and asking for help and resources when needed. To us, it’s okay to say when we are not okay.

The big takeaway is that Gen Z doesn’t limit wellness to physical health; mental and social well-being get equal airtime. In our seamlessly interconnected world, where work, friends, family and personal demands merge by the minute on multiple devices and days are punctuated by tonal alerts, the notion of compartmentalization holds scant advantage for Gen Z. We have an inherent understanding of balancing mindfulness, physicality and social connection, and how those directly affect one another.

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What is wellness to Gen Z?

We are all about interconnection. We were born with phones in our hands and buds in our ears. Now we’re starting their adult lives in a world that’s been upended and reshaped by a global pandemic, so mobile technology is their gateway to virtually everything. Our brains are like dashboards, taking in the whole landscape and taking multitasking to a new level. That's why we take a broad view of wellness and health, listening to the constant cross-talk among physical, mental and social factors. All three must work together. Neglect of one leads to neglect of the others.

Physical health is made of more than exercise and nutrition

We want to achieve equilibrium and balance. For us, physical health encompasses more than a healthy diet and an active routine. Sleep and downtime, awareness of body image, sexual behavior and orientation, gender identity, diet and nutrition – all are part of one picture of health for Gen Z.

We see physical health as how we feel in our body. Having an “ideal” body appearance does not mean someone is healthy. We acknowledges all bodies are different. All bodies put weight on differently, so health looks different for different people. You can be skinny and unhealthy, and vice versa.

Mental health requires vigilance for overall equilibrium

Gen Z defines mental health as internal – how you feel, how you see the world and the stability of your emotions. Its manifestation is external – it affects your relationships and how well you handle the stressors life throws at you from day to day. A healthy mental state includes knowing how to cope and taking care of yourself – both big areas of focus for Gen Z.

We're in touch with our emotions. We believe that mental health is a holistic state of well-being that grows from the inside out. And we recognize that if we don’t take care of it, that neglect will emerge externally in physical and behavioral ways. We’re especially concerned about stress and anxiety, and access to mental health care.

Social health flourishes with open communication, authenticity and trust

Social wellness may be a new concept, but it’s an ancient human need. Social health is a large component of Gen Z life. It’s about how we interact with others in a genuine way, how we communicate and how we build trust in relationships. We values relationships. We’re natural supporters in problem situations, showing a talent for follow-through that may be enabled by the ease of technology. We place a premium on honesty and civility. And it appears those ever-present phones aren’t actually keeping us from the real world; they’re connecting us to it.

We are natural advocates – we have the instinct to help even if we don’t know how, whether that means supporting a friend’s mental health, helping their immigrant parents navigate the health care system or simply cooking meals for the family because they have the time and interest.

And technology enables us to do it better. Technology makes relationships stronger, because it allows us to communicate the way we want. We want to express ourselves openly and honestly – and technology removes that awkward barrier, – technology acts as our bridge to connect with people who share the same interests.

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