Generation stress is a thing—and it’s nothing to be ashamed of

We’re living in unprecedented times, meaning wellbeing and self-care are becoming essential rituals in our day-to-day lives. Anything we can do to make ourselves feel better, from finding the best meditation apps to following Netflix's Headspace Guide to Sleep, is beneficial.

Stress is, sadly, an inescapable part of life. It comes in waves, and some of us feel it more intensely than others. In fact, a new study from FutureYouCambridge (opens in new tab) shows “generation stress” is actually a real thing and people between the ages of 18-35 are almost three times more likely to feel stressed than those over 65.

The main cause of this stress currently is the pressure to quickly “return to normal” after over a year of pandemic restrictions. Ninety percent of the young people surveyed by FutureYou said they were finding pressures and stress in all parts of their lives, especially from work.

Those questioned who fell into that "generation stress" age bracket generally rated their normal stress levels at three out of five, compared to those over 65, whose stress levels were at one. The pandemic has had a proven knock-on effect on several aspects of our lives. It’s been shown that it’s causing us anxiety at night, insomnia and causing us to feel “alonely” and depressed.

Dr. Miriam Ferrer, head of product development at FutureYou Cambridge, reminds us that we shouldn’t be ashamed of seeking help to deal with stress. “Feelings of stress and anxiety come and go and are a part of our day to day life, but for some, it can be much more severe and it’s important that if this is the case, people know where to get help such as helplines, charities or counseling services. ”

Aidan Goggins—a pharmacist, nutritionist, and member of FutureYouCambridge advisory board—also added that we need to be looking after our stress levels more. 

“Stress is an inescapable reality of everyday life. However, the increased and persistent levels that the pandemic has brought about not only affects how we feel but greatly contributes to our risk of poor physical and mental health," says Goggins. 

Taking whatever steps you can to help your stress levels is important—exercising, eating healthily, and seeing friends and family as often as possible are among the things you can do to alleviate stress, as well as getting a good night's sleep and taking time to unwind.