Gen Z Has 11 Bad Habits They Won't Let Go Of Even Though They're A Serious Problem
ViDI Studio | Shutterstock Gen Z is a unique generation, pushing boundaries and finding ways to adapt to non-stop tech changes. According to the United Way, they've found authentic social issues to dedicate time and energy to, like environmental issues, gender and racial equality and mental health.
Unfortunately, the pressures they face, which their parents and grandparents struggle to understand, often mean adopting some new, bad habits. Addressing them can help Gen Zers find their way to a happier, less stressed-out future.
11 bad habits Gen Z won't let go of, even though they're a serious problem:
1. Spending too much time online
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According to a report from 2024, Gen Z spends up to a quarter of their lives on their phones, primarily scrolling on social media and chatting with friends. Of course, for young people whose communities are primarily online, not all of this screen time is inherently bad.
While many young people recognize the need for digital balance and “unplugging” from their phones, they often struggle to prioritize it. Not only is it hurting their mental health, but it’s also adversely affecting their physical well-being, productivity, social skills, and relationships.
2. Spending way too much money
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Overspending on food delivery sites like DoorDash or at Target after a long day at work has become radically normalized as a coping mechanism for younger generations, especially considering many aren’t saving for long-term investments like buying a home or getting a new car.
Of course, not every Gen Z person spends $400 on random stuff at the store, but many are investing in small things like a delivered dinner that can add up and make it much harder to afford basic necessities when the bills are due.
By opting for other habits that can spark the same kind of comfort without causing financial turmoil, Gen Zers can build a comfortable and exciting life without sabotaging their future stability.
3. Avoiding IRL social situations
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Research shows that many Gen Zers are grappling with social anxiety in their daily lives, sparked by a tumultuous entrance into adulthood, too much screen time, and emotional stress. This makes it harder for them to seek out new social interactions and communities actively.
Considering social interaction and connection has a slew of essential benefits, like better immune responses, a happier attitude, and better emotional regulation, this habit of self-isolation can have detrimental effects.
4. Serious procrastination
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Many Gen Zers believe that in order to be productive and get their work done, they need to feel motivated, but according to experts like psychologist Nick Wignall, that’s not the case.
“Most people believe motivation is a gift,” he explains. “They believe that with this gift, they’re capable of great things. But without it, they’re destined for mediocrity or failure…Feeling good makes it easier to accomplish hard things. But doing hard things leads to feeling good.”
There’s a “hesitation plague” spreading quickly among Gen Zers. It keeps them from being productive, managing their personal well-being, and setting realistic goals for themselves in the future.
Making the intentional choice to set and stick to a routine, regardless of motivation or a misguided idea around self-discipline, can make all the difference. Of course, there are other factors that play into procrastination tendencies that are less of “a choice” to overcome, but for the most part, it’s about disregarding the idea that you need to feel excited or motivated to do something before you actually start it.
5. Relying on unhealthy vices avoid emotions
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Rather than genuinely acknowledging and coping with the stress and anxiety that comes from life as a Gen Z adult, many young people turn to various maladaptive coping. mechanisms like substances, obsessive gaming or sports betting.
Other vices they become obsessive over aren’t even acknowledged as unhealthy, like overworking yourself at the gym, meeting friends at a bar every night after work instead of being alone and resting sometimes, or any number of things we see as normal. The truth is, doing things to numb your discomfort to avoid dealing with them is unhealthy, no matter what.
6. Letting anxiety rule their lives
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Many Gen Z adults struggle with anxiety daily. In fact, over 60% of them are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, an unprecedented statistic compared to previous generations who suppressed and avoided acknowledging their mental health.
While Gen Z has led the way in challenging this mental health stigma and opening up discussions about their struggles, it’s important to recognize when they may be giving into their anxiety to an unhealthy extent.
In many cases, anxiety and depression symptoms can be unavoidable, but there are ways to build healthy coping mechanisms and habits that keep them from taking over daily. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can help. This practice is something many Gen Zers are committed to, but haven’t fully figured out how to cultivate personally yet.
7. Reacting to stress instead of managing it
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It's good to acknowledge when you're feeling stressed or anxious, but it's important to process it and find ways to manage it without letting it run your life. Reactionary stress relievers like unhealthy vices, oversleeping, and self-isolating are some of the habits that quietly ruin Gen Z’s lives without them even realizing.
The APA calls Gen Z "completely overwhelmed" by stress. However, we also seem to fail to manage our stress productively. Instead, we try to run for it. It's no wonder we are struggling so hard!
8. Overusing credit cards
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According to a report in U.S. News & World Report, Gen Z is seriously delinquent when it comes to credit card debt.
Despite how older generations see it, "[t]he sad reality is that life was more affordable for Boomers and Gen X, including things like the cost of education and housing," financial expert Bobbi Rebell told U.S. News. It's simply harder for Gen Z to stay out of debt than it was for their parents and grandparents at their age.
Coupled with overwhelming student loan payments, these new lines of credit quickly become an issue for Gen Zers, impossible to pay off immediately without carrying over a balance alongside other bills and financial obligations.
For many, it’s also an issue of financial illiteracy. Nobody ever taught them how to responsibly use a credit card or healthily manage their finances, and now they're in deep.
9. Getting all their news from their social media timelines
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Considering Gen Zers are “digital natives” with a heightened accessibility and awareness of social media and worldly events online, they tend to grow more emotionally exhausted by the constant influx of bad news and headlines they read. According to psychology experts, reading these headlines and feeling a pressure to engage isn't just uncomfortable, it can have adverse effects on mental health, sparking anxiety, depression, and turmoil in many young people.
Even worse, people's timelines on social media serve them ever more biased headlines designed to grab the eye. The algorithms quickly learn what their users want to see, and stop showing them objective or dissenting news items, leading to more stress and a less realistic perspective.
While staying informed and advocating for social issues may be one of their core values, Gen Z's habit of constantly reading the news and scrolling online without boundaries can set them up for serious problems.
10. Not saving money
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Coupled with rising costs and stagnant wages, Gen Z’s struggles to save money have placed them in a tumultuous financial situation.
Despite what older generations think, Gen Z is less reliant on family for financial support than other generations. Still, too many Gen Zers have no emergency fund or savings, leading to continuous worry and stress about their finances during times of crisis.
11. Building their identity around trends
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Many Gen Zers, with unrestricted access to the internet and social media, struggle to craft an authentic identity without being influenced by unrealistic expectations and, worse, trends. They adopt hobbies they see online, curate social media feeds tailored toward what other people want to see, and build their self-expression around what they see online.
Of course, not everyone who finds inspiration on social media is living an inauthentic life, but many Gen Zers struggle to craft values and beliefs that are entirely their own without looking to peers online for inspiration and support.
Of course, this is common in adolescence and young adulthood, so it's always possible it's something we'll grow out of, but we need to be conscious of the habit to break it.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a staff writer with a bachelor’s degree in social relations & policy and gender studies who focuses on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
