This ‘confession of a 20-something‘ post is dedicated to our beautiful and honest article written by our fellow 20-something from Defining Yellow.
Read the full article : What You’re Looking For
EC
In light of Mental Health Awareness Month and the abundant articles we’ve written about the pressures and high expectations imposed on the millennials generation to have their life together make it clear that the issue exists, and is widespread. But what can we to about it to mitigate the stress associated with it? A 2010 study conducted at Harvard University in Massachusetts found that mindfulness increases happiness. But what is mindfulness? Reachout.com explains that ‘mindfulness’ “simply means paying attention to the present moment. Practising mindfulness can help you to cope with everyday life and deal with tough times.” Mindfulness is often associated with meditation. Whilst meditation is a valuable practice for eliminating stress, mindfulness can be achieved in a variety of ways – the most important part is to remain acutely aware of yourself and your feelings. Reachout advises to concentrate on what’s happening around you. Think about this right now as you’re reading:
That is what mindfulness feels like.
To learn more about (peacefully) fighting back your stress with ‘mindfulness,’ read more on Reachout!
– Leonie
“I think we often underestimate the importance of our wellbeing and happiness in what we do. Our generation has been brought up in an environment strife with competition, encouraging us that success means doing everything you can to get that well paying job. Wellbeing and happiness suddenly takes a step back. But how is that a life worth living?”
(19, Sydney)
EC
The Guardian reports that young people are having to take career decisions too early. 17 year old teenagers – who are not even old enough to vote yet – are expected to decide the profession they will pursue for their entire life. How is this legitimate, let alone healthy? Of course, one might argue that your decision at 17 doesn’t have to be the one that defines your life – but is it that straightforward when these decisions you make require you to pay huge student fees, dedicate years to something you might not want to do, only to find out that by the age of 35, employers think you’re too old to start in the job in the profession you do want to pursue? (age discrimination is a real thing). As 17 year old Abigail Laine rightly states, “Who I am now isn’t who I might be in the future, and the education and recruitment system needs to give us the space and time to make the right career choices.” #NoDeadline
Personally? I’d rather get a tattoo at 17 that I may or may not regret, but that meant something to me at the time, than have to choose a career path that will define the route for the rest of my life.
Society, however, doesn’t seem to agree.
– Leonie
The answer? Studies say no, based off a new study ‘Generation Nation’ released by a boutique firm (in Sydney, 2017), 747 Insights in partnership with consumer intelligence platform Collaborata.
Millennials are defined as people born 1981-1997, being within the ages of 20 – 36.
Something we all have perhaps heard in regards to our generation, is explained as:
“For so long, people talked about the millennials as having helicopter parents, being unprepared, and their parents doing everything for them,” (Woods, Principal Researcher)
The study reveals that the generational differences comes down to three primary areas: age, societal norms, and technology.
Findings highlight that certain behaviours and beliefs are ‘dictated by life stages’, inferring that the previous Generation X or Baby Boomers would have the same response to the world as it is today.
Also to note – Baby Boomers were once considered a ‘me generation’ which identifies the biases that are commonly placed upon younger generations.
Meanwhile millennials in regards to their careers revealed to have;
As part of being a 20-something in 2018 and in your ‘millennial careers’, there is a common comparison to your parents and the world that is years past that often fails to consider technology, culture and societal norms that were vastly different to the world we live in today.
So next time someone says ‘back in my day’, or perhaps ‘when are you getting married’ or ‘how will your child understand your relationship if you aren’t married?’
Remember, there is no need for pressure, there are no deadlines – especially when you are preoccupied in trying to make the world a better place.
EC
#NoDeadline 