Gen Z Lifestyle – Gen Z refers to a generation born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s. This generation has been characterized as very advanced in the digital world, with easy access to technology and the internet from a very young age.
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Gen Z is known for being tech-savvy, socially conscious, diverse, and having a unique set of values, preferences, and behaviors compared to previous generations. While being tech-savvy from a young age might bring numerous benefits, it also comes with many health concerns, both physical and mental, including the Gen Z lifestyle disorder and mental health issues.
What are Gen Z Lifestyle Disorder?
Gen Z lifestyle disorders, referred to as non-communicable diseases, are health conditions caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices and habits, which generally include:
- Poor diet
- smoking
- Chronic stress, personal or occupational
- Lack of physical activity
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
Common Gen Z Lifestyle Disorders and Impact on Mental Health
Common Gen Z lifestyle disorders are obesity, anxiety disorders, digital addiction, eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, sleep disorders, digital eye strain, and social isolation. Let’s discuss their impact on mental health.
Increased stress and anxiety
Today’s generation is going through a lot of pressure, whether we talk about academic pressure, peer pressure, pressure at work, competition, or the fear of missing out. Thus, all these pressures can cause excessive stress and lead to anxiety and depression.
Depression and suicidal ideation
Social media has become an unbreakable part of the Gen Z lifestyle, and social media nowadays is full of a well-curated lifestyle, which might be to show off. People spend their whole time on social media and have started to compare themself with each other to print better than others. Apart from this, today, the cases of cyberbullying are also increasing, and all these lead Gen Z to depression or sometimes even think about suicidal thoughts.
Negative Body Image
Showing off has also become part of the Gen Z lifestyle. Today’s generation believes more in showoffs rather than being accurate. That’s why they started using various beauty products to look better than others. Today, all social media is filled with this type of content, which ultimately leads to low self-esteem and poor body image. Following strict diets ultimately leads to depression and eating disorders.
Impaired Cognitive Function
Poor eating habits, untimely sleep, and unhealthy lifestyles have all become part of the Gen Z lifestyle. Today, people spend most of their time on social media, eat more processed and junk foods, and don’t get enough sleep. All these significantly impact cognitive functioning, which is directly linked to academic and professional performance.
Social isolation
Due to digital media, we can contact each other at any time, but despite connecting online, Gen Z does not have many friends in the real world as they love to spend time alone in their room, using their phones. So, they disconnect from the original world and have less real-life social interaction, leading to loneliness and isolation.
How to overcome Gen Z Lifestyle Disorder?
To overcome the Gen Z lifestyle disorder, one should have to use a multifaceted approach:
- Digital Literacy Education
- Stress management
- Parental involvement
- Balanced Screen Time
- Anti-bullying initiatives
- Mental Health Awareness
- Sleep hygiene
- healthy eating habits
- Encouraging face-to-face interactions
- Professional support
So, as the Gen Z generation grows up in the age of digitalization, they have different disorders, which we have discussed in this article. You might ignore or take these orders very lightly, but these are not the things to take lightly. It would be best to be serious about these because the Gen Z lifestyle might look comfortable and easy. Still, it contains a lot of harmful effects on our mental and physical health, which you will experience in the long term. So start taking these seriously and work towards a healthy lifestyle to enjoy your life in the long run.
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