Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Boomers Have Completely Different Ideas Of How To Balance Work & Kids
PeopleImages / ShutterstockDespite the fact that we're all quite familiar with it, the concept of work-life balance has only been around since the late 1970s, and it didn't become popular until the 1980s. That means no one had given it much thought until baby boomers and some members of the Silent Generation started talking about it just about 50 years ago.
Fast forward half a century, and Gen Z seems to think they're the first to make sure their personal lives get just as much priority as their careers. In truth, each generation, including Gen X and millennials, has given the topic a great deal of thought, and they all have their own opinions about it.
Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and boomers all have their own ideas of how to balance work and kids.
Baby boomers were fairly consumed with their careers, but they did their best to make their kids a priority.
For boomers, handling work and kids at the same time meant making sure everyone else's needs were met before their own. They treated work as a serious responsibility and showed up for it, even when family life got hectic. They were expected to keep pushing through and figure things out without stepping away from their job.
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That doesn't mean that family came second for them, though. Many older adults grew up with their own idea of what being a dependable parent looked like. They provided for their families as much as possible and made the most of the time they had together. Balance usually meant being fully present with their family when they weren't at work, since blending them together wasn't really an option.
To Gen X, work-life balance comes down to figuring things out on the fly.
Gen X came of age when both parents working was extremely common, and workplace flexibility was still pretty limited. Remote working was basically unheard of, as were shorter workweeks, so the attitude toward balance was pretty much just making it work however they could.
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Kids generally had more independence when they were young, while parents juggled school schedules, commutes, project deadlines, and everything else without hovering over them. They might walk to or from school by themselves, or go outside to play until the sun set.
As parents themselves, Gen X has tried their best to be more involved, but trying to maintain a balance can be messy. They might have missed a school event or two because of work, but they would try to make up for it by being present on the weekend. Their goal wasn't to make parenting look perfectly organized. It was to do their best and keep moving.
Millennials find balance by incorporating flexibility wherever they can.
Millennials were among the first to question whether being constantly available for work is necessary, especially when they're trying to spend time with their kids. Working from home and taking a midday break for their kids can feel like practical ways to maintain both parts of life.
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At the same time, this can put them under immense amounts of pressure. They may want to be successful at work while also being highly involved and devoted parents, which can create a whole new kind of exhaustion. Having control over their schedule keeps them from only giving the best hours of their day to work while their kids get whatever is left over.
Gen Z is most focused on preventing work from consuming their whole life.
According to Gen Z, work-life balance usually looks like setting clear boundaries around their personal time. When they need to be there for their kids, they're happy to log off and stick to it. They're not willing to sacrifice their well-being for a job that can replace them at any moment.
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There's also a lot of value in not just being physically present, but emotionally present too. Their kids get their full attention, no matter what's going on at their job. A missed deadline or a big presentation can wait when they don't want to miss their kids' important milestones.
Kayla Asbach is a writer with a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. She covers relationships, psychology, self-help, pop culture, and human interest topics.
