Why so many Gen Z workers are retiring in their 20s

The summer holidays are drawing to a close and the new university term is just around the corner. It’s not just students who wish they had more of those seemingly endless days. I certainly do. I’ve been carving out more for myself, though not entirely out of choice.

Like many Gen Zers, I woke one morning and my body literally refused to get me out of bed. I was burnt out – badly – and no amount of caffeine or iron tablets was going to get me into work. I had no choice; I was signed off.

Serendipitously, at the time of my micro-retirement, my dad was actually retiring. He suggested that, rather than rotting in bed, I “slow down” with him – though ‘slow’ was the wrong word for it. 

“There’s so many things I want to do now I have the time,” dad says when I ask him why he hasn’t had a single lie-in or day spent idle in an armchair since he retired. “There’s so much possibility, so much time to catch up on long-forgotten hobbies,” he says as he heads out for a long walk. He stops in at the allotment then carries on gardening when he returns home. “I’m high on energy,” he explains when I ask how he does it all. “You’re 25,” he says. “You should be brimming with it.”

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But I’m not. And neither are a lot of my generation. Research shows that 25% of 18- to 24-year-olds, and one in 10 people of all ages, have considered leaving their jobs in the past year to reduce work-related exhaustion, stress and anxiety. It’s such a problem that 63% of businesses say they’ve noticed an increase in workers resigning because of it. 

“It’s more than just feeling tired after a long shift,” a friend of mine who left her job due to burnout told me. “It’s constant heavy eyelids and sore muscles; it’s always being at breaking point and still somehow stumbling forward.” 

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Studies have shown how long periods of overworking contribute to anxiety, depression and exhaustion, and that Gen Z people like me and my friend are the most affected. It might not seem like a big deal now, as only 39% of the workforce is part of my generation, but by 2030 we’re predicted to make up over 70%. If we’re all burnt out and struggling with our mental health, how could that be good for anyone?

Is micro-retirement the cure? It’s certainly an option for a lot of Gen Z who have been dubbed the “most financially savvy generation” by ClearPay. They report that more than 70% of people my age have generous savings accounts that mean they can afford to spend time away from work. That’s exactly how I did it, helped along by the fact that, like 28% of 25- to 29-year-olds, I still live with a parent so have minimal outgoings. 

The purse strings may have been tight, but after leaving work, my days went from being fast-paced and anxiety-fuelled to blissfully slow wanders. I took tea on the patio and worked the allotment I’d taken up. I had time to read, go for walks and cook hearty meals. Most evenings, I’m now in bed by 9pm, excited to wake up with the sun the next day and do it all over again. 

My energy levels have soared. I even climbed Mount Snowdon – the Watkins path too (if you’re a hiker, you’ll know the challenge) – and took up paddleboarding to strengthen my body and mind; two things I never would’ve had the time or energy to do before. 

It’s not just me enjoying this slower, less work-centric way of life at a young age. As well as a host of my close friends also choosing to slow down (I recently received a card from one of them with the quote “When did we swap raves for garden centres?”), terms like ‘slow living’ have taken off online. Videos show people crafting, baking, reading, letter writing, birdwatching, gardening and crocheting, whether they’re doing so instead of work or simply around it.

No longer the preserve of older generations, these activities offer benefits beyond being mindful. One study found that crafting, specifically with clay, can help treat depression and reduce anxiety in young people. Similarly, crochet, which is a hobby dominated by under 30s according to Crochet Penguin, was found to “play a role in promoting positive wellbeing”. And even just 10 minutes of drawing per day can boost mood, a 2019 study found. 

Not into crafts? Try gardening. A study by Princeton University named it one of the “top five activities in terms of how meaningful an activity felt to people while engaging in it”, and discovered that it gave people the same level of happiness and wellbeing as biking, walking or dining out.

I am proof of these benefits. My health is better now than it has been in years, both mentally and physically. So much so that I am working again and actually enjoying it (touch wood). A huge part of this enjoyment comes from the slower pace and rigid boundaries I’ve set with work that make sure I have enough time to do things I actually enjoy and that leave me fulfilled and satisfyingly tired, not exhausted, by the end of the day. 

So while Goldsmiths, University of London describes the slow living movement as one that “prioritises rest, autonomy and reclaiming time from capitalist expectations”, it could also have a huge impact on shoring up that very capitalist society we’re all running from. Is that a win-win? In my book, maybe it’s the only viable solution. 

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