Why Gen Z Is Burnt Out Before 20

We are not even out of high school, and many of us are already exhausted. Not the kind of tired you fix with sleep, but a deeper kind of burnout. The kind that comes from trying to keep up with a world that never slows down.

Gen Z is growing up in an environment where achievement is constant, the future feels uncertain, and rest is treated like a weakness. So it is no surprise we are feeling drained before we even enter adulthood.

📚 Pressure to Be Perfect

From an early age, students are told that everything counts. Every grade, every activity, every test score might decide your future. Many of us are taking multiple AP classes, leading clubs, working jobs, and trying to build college applications that stand out.

It is not just about getting into a good school. It is about proving your worth in a system that treats burnout as a badge of honor.

📱 Social Media Is Not Helping

We scroll through highlight reels every day. Everyone else seems to be thriving, achieving, winning scholarships, and launching projects. Even rest is curated now. If you are not productive, you feel like you are falling behind.

Social media makes it easy to compare but hard to unplug. We are always aware of what we are not doing, and that creates constant pressure.

🌍 A World That Feels Unstable

On top of academic pressure and digital overload, Gen Z is growing up in a time of crisis. Climate change, economic inequality, political division, and rising violence all contribute to a sense of anxiety and helplessness.

We are told we are the generation of change. But we are also carrying the weight of problems we did not create.

🧠 Burnout Is Not Just Being Tired

Burnout can look like:

• Feeling unmotivated no matter how much sleep you get

• Constantly working but still feeling like you are not doing enough

• Emotional numbness or detachment

• Struggling to enjoy things you used to love

It affects mental health, academic performance, and relationships. And it does not wait until you are working full time. It shows up in teens and college students too.

💡 What Needs to Change

Burnout is not just a personal issue. It is a cultural one. Here are a few ways to start shifting the mindset:

• Normalize breaks, boundaries, and saying no

• Redefine success beyond test scores and resumes

• Make mental health support accessible and visible in schools

• Create space for students to rest without guilt

This is not about giving up. It is about giving ourselves permission to breathe.

💭 Final Thoughts

Gen Z is not lazy. We are exhausted. We care deeply about the world, our futures, and the people around us. But we are learning that caring without rest leads to collapse.

Burnout should not be a coming-of-age experience. We deserve more than that.