“You are just more likely to be economically dependent on your parents longer,” notes Jean Twenge, author of ‘Generations’ and a psychologist. This is not a criticism it’s an indication of just how much the world has shifted for Gen Z. As digital natives in a world born of economic insecurity, technology, and changing social mores, Gen Zers are remaking the rules of adulthood on their own terms.
Where older generations may wring their hands at some of these trends, there’s more going on than at first meets the eye. From mastering side gigs to redefining what it means to ‘show up,’ Gen Z is blending traditional life skills with new meaning. Here’s a closer examination of the adulting fundamentals Gen Z is rewriting and why that’s not always such a terrible thing.
1. Taking It Slow: Why 25 Is the New 21
Dump the anxious hurry-up to complete every milestone of adulthood at age 22. Gen Z is embracing what psychologists refer to as a “slow life strategy,” allowing life’s milestone moments such as finding a job, moving out of the household, or even dating to take their sweet time. According to Jean Twenge, extended life spans and more caring upbringings allow young adults extra time to get on their feet.
This is not a cultural anomaly it’s data-driven. Pew Research Center discovered that modern-day 25-year-olds are achieving career and financial benchmarking at the same rate that 21-year-olds achieved in 1980. The catch? Gen Z is delaying studying and self-improvement, catching up when it really counts.
2. Digital Natives, Real-World Gaps
Gen Z may be able to code TikToks in their sleep, but to fix a tire or get ready to cook something other than ramen, many wing it. Hands-on skills training has been skipped over in schools, and some young adults are left flailing when it comes to doing the wash or making a budget. As college freshman Aldhen Garcia confessed on CBC’s ‘The Current,’ “I don’t know how to change a tire.” I don’t have a car. I don’t know how to sew. I don’t know how to do much of anything else, except cook.
Universities and clubs are incorporating more ‘Adulting 101’ courses, but those such as Jean Twenge say that the actual solution is sooner. “Not letting children have autonomy and not teaching them towards pragmatism is cheating them,” she states. Whatever, Gen Z’s openness to out there and learn these things indicates a forward-thinking attitude.
3. Financial Stress Is Real But So Is Resilience
Financial strain is the top worry among Gen Z with 67% of 18- to 34-year-olds indicating that they are ‘consumed’ by worrying about money, the APA’s 2023 Stress in America report states. Inflation, gig economy, and rising cost of living are making it harder to budget and be financially independent.
But here’s the bright spot: Gen Z is more prone than any generation to pursue side hustles and financial literacy resources. Almost half of Gen Z say they make as much or more from secondary jobs than from their primary career, leveraging digital platforms to increase income and flexibility. It’s not a question of scraping by it’s about living on their own terms.
4. Adopting Flexible Work and Side Hustles
Traditional 9-to-5s? No way. Gen Z is at the forefront of the revolution in flexible working, portfolio careers, and homeworking. One in three Gen Zers, i.e., 26%, like to work late at night, and 53% are seeing side hustles alongside their main work, discovers The Future of Time study.
Digital tools such as Trello and Notion make work flow more easily, and sites like Fiverr facilitate freelancing like never before. As Rutgers’ Mark Beal so elegantly puts it, “Gen Z works smarter, not necessarily harder.” It’s not convenience every time, though this evolution is also about intention and balance in work.
5. Social Skills: Still a Work in Progress
Growing up online translates to Gen Z being native to DMs and memes but not so fantastic at in-person conversations. Almost three out of four young adults report that it is more difficult to meet people today than in the past, and many wish that someone would make contact with them more frequently.
The silver lining? Gen Z understands that social connection is important and is seeking out how to work those muscles, whether in college life, service opportunities, or simply to lay down the phone at dinner. As a word of advice from psychologist Chelsea Dudley, “Look for what is meaningful in your life that you want to invest more time in, and start small.”
6. Mastering Doing Boring (But Necessary) Stuff
Let’s face it adulting doesn’t always glaze over. Between laundry and utility bills, boring chores come with the territory. Most Gen Zers confess to struggling on these essentials, particularly when instant gratification is a swipe away.
But the reality that ‘Adulting 101’ courses and cyber toolkits are becoming a thing is an indication that they are evolving. Young adults are rising to the challenge and learning how to take care of time, money, and responsibilities whether it’s learning how to fold a fitted sheet by Googling ‘how to fold a fitted sheet.’ A willingness to learn is half the battle.
7. Redefining Respect and Responsibility
Gen Z is turning against old-fashioned ideas of respect and respectability, demanding that it be earned and reciprocal. Authenticity is what this generation is about and demands from workplaces, classrooms, and relationships.
But meanwhile, experts say, taking blame and learning from criticism aren’t skills overnight. As one West Virginia lawmaker explained, “A lot of people in our generation are stepping into the real world and not really able to get a good swing, because they don’t have a lot of these really basic skills.” But with guidance and insight, Gen Z is becoming adept at bridging over these weaknesses and even using them as strengths.
Gen Z is showing us that there’s not one way to grow up. They’re blending the brains of technology with the imperative to learn, sensitivity to mental health, and redefining independence to create a new type of adult life. Sure, there are potholes along the road but that’s the journey. And if there’s something that Gen Z does best, it’s redefining the rules to suit a world of ongoing change.
