I recently found myself watching a YouTube video which creates a very good commentary on the general sentiment towards work, particularly by the younger generations and the factors that contribute to it.
Cole Hastings is a content creator known for discussing self-improvement, mental health, and societal issues. Give him a follow or subscribe if you're into that stuff.
He produces video essays on YouTube, often exploring topics like work culture, personal growth, and the challenges faced by younger generations. His work is characterised by a thoughtful, analytical approach to modern-day problems, aiming to inspire and provide insights for his audience. Through his content, Hastings engages with themes of productivity, burnout, and finding meaning in a fast-paced, often stressful world.
Here is his video, if you want to watch direct from the source. And I'll continue the discussion below:
The general premise of the video
Each generation has a different relationship with work, what their roles look like, the cultural dynamic or work and also what work provides for us outside of our work lives. This video aims to challenge the simplified perception of Gen Z as “lazy” that is prevalent among older generations.
However, this label fails to capture the complexities of their relationship with work. It’s not about an aversion to work itself but rather the nature and expectations of modern jobs and the life value that it creates outside of work that lead to dissatisfaction.
What actually causes burnout?
The idea of a dream job seems increasingly elusive, with many in Gen Z opting out entirely as it seems unobtainable. Despite working fewer hours on average than previous generations, they report higher levels of stress and burnout.
This is an unexpected point, but relates to lower levels of engagement or satisfaction with the work itself. Burnout isn't a fixed or absolute term, but relates to the engagement with the work you are doing.
This suggests the problem is more to do with:
The type of work being done
The reward and satisfaction from completing the work
Modern work culture
Do office jobs feel more meaningless?
Cole suggests that today’s work often lacks the meaning and fulfillment found in earlier, more physical labor-intensive roles. With an interesting take I hadn't thought about, Cole links this to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle, which involved clear objectives and visible progress, and compares to modern office jobs often result in a sense of purposelessness.
The disconnect between the type of work and human psychological needs contributes to this feeling of burnout.
I've definitely felt this firsthand when it feels like then work I'm doing doesn't seem to make any impact or tangible result. Whereas for work that is very project-based with tangible results at the end, it fuels much more motivation in the area.
Do office jobs make us too sedentary?
Sedentary lifestyles and lack of physical engagement are part of the problem. Office workers, who spend hours at a desk in front of screens, often experience higher levels of burnout compared to those in manual labor jobs, which involve physical movement and teamwork.
The term “quiet quitting,” where employees do only the bare minimum, has emerged as a response to disengagement in these roles.
An unclear mind, with distractions everywhere
In today’s work environment, employees juggle multiple tasks, often with unclear objectives and constant interruptions. Unlike the clear, singular tasks of the past, modern jobs require managing a “browser with hundreds of tabs open,” leading to mental overload and reduced satisfaction.
Relentless Pacing
The relentless pace of work, combined with a decrease in taking time off, exacerbates the problem. Unlike the natural rhythms of hunter-gatherer work, which included long breaks, modern office jobs demand constant productivity without sufficient downtime.
A possible solution? "Slow productivity"
Adopting a philosophy of “slow productivity,” which involves doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and focusing on quality, can help counteract burnout. This approach encourages a more meaningful engagement with work, aligning more closely with our evolved ways of working.
Closing thoughts:
The dissatisfaction with work among Gen Z highlights the need for a fundamental shift in how we approach productivity and workplace culture. By rethinking our relationship with work and adopting practices that promote mental well-being, we can move towards a more fulfilling and sustainable model of employment.
Sentiment from the comments.
I love reading through the comments, as it gauges the temperature and sentiment as live feedback on the topic of the video.
Unsurprisingly, the sentiment reflects the frustration and dissatisfaction with the modern work environment as stated in the video. Many commenters express feeling overworked, underpaid, and undervalued, leading to burnout and a lack of motivation.
1. Lack of Rewards: Many comments reflect a sentiment that hard work no longer results in the expected rewards or promotions. People mention how going above and beyond in their roles often leads to more responsibilities without additional pay.
"Working isn’t the problem, the lack of reward is. At my age, my parents had bought a house and my dad was supporting a family of four on one income. I work the same hours and have just enough to get by."
“A promotion means you get more work at the same pay.”
“I don’t have a problem with working, I’d just like to know what I’m working for.”
2. Mismatch with Modern Work: Commenters highlight the unnatural nature of many modern office jobs compared to more physically engaging work. Many find sitting at a desk for long hours to be mentally exhausting and unfulfilling.
“The cubicle jobs feel like prison almost. I’m chained to the desk for 10+ hours copying and pasting thousands of numbers into Excel.”
“I’m honestly significantly less tired after a 10-12hr day on a labor site vs an 8hr shift somewhere in retail or customer service.”
3. Economic Pressures: Rising living costs, stagnant wages, and the struggle to achieve financial stability are prominent themes. Many express difficulty in affording basic needs like housing, despite working full-time.
“Rent keeps rising, salaries remain stagnant. We’re expected to work hard day in and day out while barely making it out of poverty.”
"You gotta work more and more for less and less. It’s actually impossible to buy a home with a regular job. Our parents had it way way easier.”
“Work 40hrs… get paid $1000. Take home $700… Moral of the story is we work to survive. We are not getting ahead in life.”
“The rich are buying all houses and pushing up the rent. So we are forced to rent until we die.”
4. Stress and Burnout: The sentiment that people are working more than ever, yet feeling less satisfied, is common.
"After 4 or 5 hours, I’m ready to do something different for the day,”
“The EASIEST SOLUTION TO AVOID BURNOUT IS A 4-DAY WORK WEEK!!”
“We needed a 30-hour, 4-day work week a long time ago. This is unsustainable.”
“8 hours is too long to spend at work. Waste of a life. 5 hours is more than enough.”
“Medieval peasants ‘worked’ less than 8 hours a day. A full day’s work was considered a half day.”
Conclusion
Let us know what you think of this style of article. It is a bit different to what we typically talk about at espresso Studio, but it captures a bigger component of productivity than any gadget: the engagement and motivation you have towards your own work.
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