You're not even 30 and are already feeling tired of life? Well, you're not alone. Natural disasters, modern wars, a global pandemic and a looming financial crisis could be reasons for sleepless nights for anyone.
In a 2021 global risks survey done by the World Economic Forum, young people name infectious diseases, livelihood crises and extreme weather events as critical threats to the world.
They also write that 80% of the youth across the globe are vulnerable to depression, anxiety and disillusionment. In fact, the Forum names the latter number eight in their immediate risks list on the 2021 Global Risks Report. Apparently, these risks could sap the potential out of an entire generation.
What the organization suggests is that young people need to build resilience. An EY and JA survey on work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship gives some insights into Gen Z's attitudes.
Many respondents felt optimistic about the future, finding meaningful work and addressing global challenges. Many imagine a dream career would be running their own business from the ground up.
What's most important is that young people want more experiential learning. Instead of education in a classroom, they say they want real-life work with professional mentors. That's where they can learn the key component of learning to be resilient – failing and trying again.
With the help of social media, we're up-to-date 24/7. However, experts say it can have detrimental effects on our mental health. Whether we call it "headline stress disorder" or "bad news fatigue," the essential problem is the same. We're having just too much trouble dealing with all the bad news in the world.
Psychologist Steven Stosny, Ph.D., was the first to use the term "headline stress disorder" in a blog post for Psychology Today. "For many people, continual alerts from news sources, blogs, social media, and alternative facts feel like missile explosions in a siege without end," he wrote back in 2017.
Psychiatric nurse practitioner Heather Young told UPMC Health Beat that it's not a medical diagnosis. "But it can definitely lead to the equivalent of post-traumatic stress disorder," she added.
How can we protect our mental health from the headlines? Heather Young suggests limiting your screen time and restricting social media. She suggests allowing just one hour of daily news, and that includes social media sites. If you still feel that's too much, try taking a day or a few days off entirely.
If you opt to tune out of the news cycle, don't feel guilty. Young says it might feel like you're part of the problem if you're not keeping up with the news. But keep in mind that you will hardly help anyone if you're constantly down from bad news fatigue.
