A letter you didn’t know you needed: Dissolving the pressure in navigating your twenties
Gen Z often feels the pressure to have their lives “figured out” within their 20s, but is that really how success should be defined?

Your twenties are supposed to be exciting. It’s the time of life where discovery happens and ambition brews. However, for many young adults, their twenties have become a period for performance scrutiny. Hustle culture, popularized through social media and arguably reinforced by older generations’ expectations, has made the twenties a race against time for the younger generation. 

Productive or destructive?

Hustle culture endorses elements like having every hour scheduled for productive activities, having multiple side hustles and achieving significant milestones at a young age. Productive routines are also framed as the “successful people lifestyle” on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, which reinforces the idea that constant input equals success. 

However, this creates a strong fear of falling behind, leaving little room for uncertainty. Research published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology by Melissa G. Hunt and colleagues found that constant comparison increases emotional distress, whereas reducing social media usage decreases feelings of depression and loneliness amongst young adults. Social media narratives encourage young adults to overplan their lives. As a result, constant progress is valued more than intentionality and direction.  

People who grow up knowing exactly what they want to do and pursue it with certainty may be viewed as “disciplined” and “admirable,” while those who take unusual paths to explore and understand themselves may be seen as “lost” or “behind” by others or themselves.

A comparative study from the National Library of Medicine highlights that late teens and early twenties are the period of emerging adulthood, a time defined by identity and exploration. Uncertainty is a necessary and healthy stage of development. 

However, under the influence of hustle culture, many feel the need to justify their uncertainty, and not knowing is marked as a personal failure. The narrative that one has to maximize their potential “before it’s gone” creates pressure and fear in many university students. 

According to a report by the American Psychological Association on stress among Generation Z (Gen Z) in America, Gen Z has higher levels of stress. Of which a primary stress stems from uncertainty about the future and concerns about success. 

The other culprit

Beyond media narratives, younger generations have been increasingly accused of not being hardworking enough. However, these criticisms ignore the fact that economic conditions have changed, and that the value of work today cannot be measured identically compared to decades ago. 

According to the same report by the American Psychological Association, many young adults are faced with high living costs, debt and a highly competitive job market. 

Under an uneasy societal structure and judgment, it is not uncommon to hear that many young adults feel as though the jobs that align with their purpose and passion for personal growth do not fit the boxes of success. To transform this situation, it’s important to recognize the complexity of success and its unique definition for each individual. 

As highlighted by a paper in the Industrial Psychiatry Journal, adaptations required in navigating one’s twenties and mental health under the strong presence of social media are not properly addressed. This can further amplify the detriments of hustle culture. 

For instance, rest is often perceived as correlated to laziness on social media. This can easily elicit guilt among young adults who seek to slow down. As a result, burnout is normalized or even expected. And fatigue becomes proof of hard work instead of a warning sign. This phenomenon often leads to a deeper feeling of emptiness as external goals are met at the cost of one’s physical and mental health. 

A pushback 

According to an article on Forbes, which discusses Gen Z and hustle culture, many young adults are pushing back against hustle culture by chasing stability and job security. 

Ultimately, this reflects that choice is important in leading a fulfilling life. While some prioritize traditional experiences and personal growth, others might embrace flexibility. Although social media has promoted many extreme and unhealthy cultures, it can also serve as a space that allows us to celebrate appropriate rest and respect for individuality. 

Ambition should include boundaries and flexibility. Your twenties are a space for you to build curiosity, patience and courage. And that might look like slowing down, being curious, pivoting as you realize what no longer serves you or taking unusual pathways that are crucial to shaping your authentic, ideal self.