A survey that recently made headlines explored why Gen Z and millennials appear stressed at the workplace – a fight to evolve too quickly or the urge to look at broader prospects. Meanwhile, millennials, predominantly – middle managers, have been facing burnout.
The term ‘Micro-retirement’ created a big buzz on the internet, which refers to taking a break from one’s career for a few months or even years, whether to go on a vacation or explore a personal hobby, to combat exhaustion.
While for some individuals, this short-term break offers a chance to pursue personal passions outside the office, others may use this time to start a side business.
“In my opinion, if a person feels stuck in their job and routine life, especially if the job consists of repetitive tasks then micro retirement will definitely help growth. Whether it’s in confidence, fitness, mental performance, or even career development,” says Uzeel Ur Rehman, Head of Growth, Finmaal.
He adds, “Since most repetitive tasks are overtaken by AI and there’s been an influence of social trends at work, we’ve seen the work quality getting competitive, increasing the workload on a single young employee. The rise in technology in recent years has also demanded young employees to be over-skilled or multi-skilled, for example, a designer will be expected to write as well.”
Uzeel feels the younger generation is switching entrepreneurial paths swiftly due to the trends of social media and influencer culture. “Gen Zs are naturally inclined to follow their footsteps without hesitation,” he says.
Another concern is that Gen Zs find it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. “I have experienced firsthand the difficulty of maintaining a healthy work-life balance in today’s fast-paced world. The constant hustle and high expectations can lead to burnout, and a traditional 9-to-5 schedule often makes it challenging to balance work with hobbies, family, fitness, and personal time,” explains Saakshi Khubani, Freelance Public Relations Consultant.
She further elaborates, “Over time, many of us have realized that, sometimes, our personal lives need more attention than our work lives, not to neglect our careers, but to recharge and perform better in both areas.”
In fact, experts believe the young generation sees work in a much different way than the older generation used to.
Vijay Valecha, Chief Investment Officer, Century Financial, notes, “Typically, older generations see entrepreneurship as a risky career path and prefer to stick to traditional ways. However, Gen Z is more focused on work-life balance as they seek fulfillment away from a 9 to 5 job. More than 50% of Gen Z aspire to be their own boss as they get more flexibility and can avoid the pressures of corporate life.”
He then remarks, “The rising popularity of the creator economy has resulted in many youngsters becoming successful content creators on social media platforms, getting paid for their content and, in turn, becoming entrepreneurs. However, this choice comes with its own challenges, as starting a business and building something from the ground up requires high amounts of capital and strong connections, which are not easily accessible to many.”
