8 Things Gen Z Sees As Hardships That Boomers & Gen X Just Call Everyday Life
perechulia / ShutterstockAlthough I'm a millennial, I have Gen Z family members. Their idea of hardship almost always differs from mine and that of our boomer and Gen X relatives.
Gen Z has every right to feel overwhelmed, but many of their struggles are far from new. People in older generations grew up without many of our modern-day luxuries like the Internet and the ease of texting instead of calling. With different lived experiences come different outlooks, and boomers and Gen X often find themselves confused by what Gen Z views as hardships when they see the same exact issues as just part of daily life.
Gen Z sees several specific things as hardships even though boomers and Gen X just think of them as everyday life
1. Making important phone calls
zorotoo's images via Canva
With the convenience of texting, the art of the phone call has been lost. Gen Z struggles so badly with making calls that they are literally taking courses to better their skills. This fear is called telephobia, and one teacher found that in a class of 25-30 Gen Zers, at least three-quarters of them would struggle to pick up the phone to make a call. They have devoted so much time to online conversation that calling someone on the phone can cause serious anxiety, which can be a serious problem for them at work and in relationships.
While making a phone call is difficult for many Gen Zers, older generations like boomers and Gen X didn’t have the option of texting or DM'ing their friends. If they wanted to contact someone, they had to dial the phone to reach them. And the truth is that they love doing it, so they really can't understand why it's such a big deal for their kids and grandkids.
2. Managing a 9-to-5 workday
Boomers and Gen X workers weren't given the option of working from home or having a flexible schedule. When they were supposed to be at work, they showed up. They worked the number of hours they were scheduled for at a minimum, and they only went home when their work was wrapped up. For some, working only eight hours would be an easy day.
Concepts like work-life balance and hybrid workplaces have changed the way younger generations view their work days. They may expect a more flexible schedule or to complete fewer tasks in a day if that feels most comfortable for them. Navigating a traditional workday can be a struggle for Gen Z, who advocate for workplace wellness, which they believe would possibly motivate them more at work.
3. Having to wait for an answer instead of getting instant gratification
Gen Z has never been known for their lack of patience, given that having the world at their fingertips through their phones has caused them to crave instant gratification. One study discovered that younger people have a need for speed, making them highly impulsive. They want things to arrive to them with the snap of their fingers, so waiting for anything can be a hardship for them.
Boomers and Gen X did a lot of waiting around when they were growing up. Without texting or email, they had to wait for someone to return a letter or a phone call to get the answers they were seeking. Not having access to instant gratification made them more patient. These generations know that things take time, and don’t think having to wait is a big deal.
4. Receiving constructive criticism
Being on the receiving end of constructive criticism can be difficult for Gen Z. They may view it as an insult rather than advice meant to help them grow. This generation is known for being more difficult to manage and sensitive than others.
While it’s not easy to hear your work or behavior criticized, it’s necessary to keep evolving in life. Instead of taking it to heart and implementing what they were told, Gen Z can shut down. This turns someone trying to help into an attack.
I’ve seen my Gen Z relatives struggle with constructive criticism. When our boomer and Gen X family members try to provide constructive criticism, they lash out. These older generations don’t understand why they respond that way. In their minds, constructive criticism is something everyone should welcome, so they often accuse those who can't handle it of being overly sensitive.
5. Balancing a simple budget
Proxima Studio via Canva
Gen Z tends to struggle with managing a simple budget. In their defense, it’s not something most of them were taught in school. They likely relied on their boomer or Gen X parents to teach them how to keep their bank account and bills in check. This becomes difficult when they don’t have the help they need, while for older generations, managing their finances has always been part of their everyday life.
Differences in financial literacy across generations are common. Older people were more likely to have been taught budgeting skills early in life, but they then sheltered their children from learning for themselves.
6. Preparing their own meals instead of constantly eating out
One reason Gen Z is struggling with finances is that they rely on restaurants to prepare their food. Many weren't taught how to cook before moving out of their parents’ homes, and takeout is the only way they keep themselves fed.
The Gen Zers I know are the most dedicated restaurant customers. Some prefer the convenience, and some just don't know how to cook, but the idea of making their own meals sounds excruciating to them.
When boomers and Gen X were growing up, eating at a restaurant was often viewed as a luxury, not something they did daily. Cooking was part of their day-to-day life, and even if they didn’t want to do it, they likely never viewed it as much of a problem.
7. Picking up food themselves when they do order out
SolStock from Getty Images via Canva
When I spend time with my Gen Z cousins, I'm shocked by how often they use delivery apps to get food brought to them, not only from restaurants, but also from grocery stores. They find the convenience important, and picking up their own pizza is something they can't even comprehend. Even making a quick trip to the store is something they struggle with.
This is a lifestyle older generations had no exposure to. Boomers and Gen X are also using apps to order food, but they don't necessarily rely on them exclusively. They see getting in the car and grabbing a to-go order from a restaurant as perfectly ordinary.
8. Finding answers without using the internet
My boomer grandparents love to talk about how much smarter they are than my Gen Z cousins because they got through school without the internet. It is impressive. Younger generations have access to all of the information in the world at all times. Gone are the days of using books to put together a term paper. They can Google whatever answers they need. And don’t get me started on AI.
The knowledge boomers and Gen X gained throughout their lives came from books. They’d have to refer to the encyclopedia or dictionary when they were studying, or head to the library to search for the right books among the shelves. Now, getting Gen Z to ditch Google would be difficult, because doing their own research in a library is entirely out of their wheelhouse.
Haley Van Horn is a freelance writer with a master’s degree in Humanities, living in Los Angeles. Her focus includes entertainment and lifestyle stories.
