With the start of the academic year comes the return to a ‘stressful’ routine. Early wake-ups, a large number of messages in the inbox, and returning to studying or work are just some of the factors that create micro-stresses. The company Mars and the chewing gum brand Orbit conducted research* to discover how members of Generation Z and millennials cope with everyday life micro-stresses. The data shows that as many as 3/4 of respondents experience them daily.
Student life can be exciting, but it is also full of challenges and micro-stresses that can significantly impact daily life. The research shows that stressful situations primarily occur at college, in school, and at work, followed by traffic. As many as 3/4 of respondents indicate that commuting to college is a major source of stress, making them anxious and irritable, and upon returning to college or work, they find it hardest to return to early wake-ups (51 percent) and worry about missed tasks or learning that needs to be made up (44 percent).
For this reason, it is increasingly important to set aside ‘me time’, and according to the conducted research, Generation Z and millennials use ‘me time’ primarily for relaxation (56 percent), enjoying things they love (52 percent), providing them with privacy (44 percent), and helping them focus on themselves (49 percent). The research also shows that among the mechanisms young people most often use to cope with the stress of commuting to work or college, they most frequently mention turning up the music (41 percent), chewing gum (20 percent), and calling a friend or family member (17 percent), while others indicate that they do nothing special (23 percent) or create a to-do list for the day (16 percent).
