Before introducing the levels of stress Millennials are experiencing, we should define the generations, to quickly identify the group we are speaking about. So, Matures are people of 67 years or older, Boomers are 48-66 years old, Gen Xers are 34 to 47 years old, and Millennials are 18 to 33 years old. 

The American Psychological Association revealed that millennials experience the highest levels of stress. While the national average stress score is 4.9, Millennials register a 5.4 score. 40% of millennials state that their stress levels spiked during the last year, and 50% of them report dealing with insomnia because of stress. In most of the cases (80%), work-related problems trigger mental pressure. Because of their high levels of anxiety and nervousness, they regularly experience anger and irritability that interferes with their social connections. 

Why are Millennials exposed to higher levels of stress?

People born between 1981 and 1996 are facing some negative stereotypes. People describe them as being unable to deal with real-life stress, hypersensitive to criticism, egocentric, entitled, and shiftless. But the truth is that this generation is open with their emotions, interested to change the world, and deeply empathetic. And even if the older generations find it hard to accept, Millennials are stressed out and suffer from more mental issues than any other age group. 20% of them are depressed, and 15% suffer from a form of anxiety. 

But what makes them so prone to mental health issues? 

Millennials worry about money. They study hard, but when they graduate, they cannot find a job. They have to live with their parents because they cannot afford to move from home, and they cannot maintain independence. Today’s young people face greater difficulties than previous generations. Because they cannot find or maintain a job, they also find it challenging to save money and are constantly dealing with loans and debt. 

However, money issues are only part of the problem. They are also worried about what the future holds and about making the right decisions for their lives to secure a stable life. In fact, insecurity is the main reason why people aged 18-33 years feel so stressed out, anxious, and depressed. Many Millennials are facing big choices for the first time, they have to make lifelong decisions, and they feel uncertain about their resolutions. 

Overthinking is another trigger because some young adults have too many options from which to choose, and the pressure of picking the right one is overwhelming. Most of them live a phenomenon called analysis paralysis, which means they cannot determine what option is better and are unable to make a choice. 

If it were to use a metaphor to describe the life of a 25-year individual, we would use a house with many rooms. They can open the door to each of the rooms to have a glimpse of what they’d get if they’d enter, but they don’t know for sure if the selected door is the one that secures a happy life. The truth about the room stretches behind their range of vision, and they cannot foretell what the real-life consequences of their option would be. 

Their habits maximise their stress levels

We identified some of the factors that trigger stress, but we should also look into the habits Millennials have that augment their nervousness. 

They have bad sleep habits, and maybe this is one of the most prevalent contributors to stress. The University of California at Berkeley revealed that that lack of sleep plays a major role in ramping up the brain areas that conduct excessive worrying. Millennials suffer from insomnia because they go to bed at different times, don’t consider sleep a priority, and use their smartphones or tablets before going to bed. 

Forming a so-called boring routine before bedtime can help reducing stress and inducing sleep. Keeping a journal, reading a book, exercising or meditating can wear out the brain and body and improve sleep. Using CBD products like oils and tinctures can also encourage sleep. Online resources like OrganicCBDNugs offer extensive information about the benefits CBD solutions bring. People are using hemp flower products since the oldest time to fight stress, anxiety and sleep disorders. 

Young people also skip meals. Eating consistently regulates the human metabolism and insulin levels, and maintains mental stability. Missing out main meals and waiting too long to eat trigger unsteady blood sugar levels and lead to stress, anxiety-like symptoms and confusion. Dehydration and skipping sustenance have similar effects. 

Eating regularly solves this issue and improves sleep. Keeping granola bars and nuts in your purse, bringing a bottle of water wherever you go and having a glass of water before going to bed enhances sleep quality. 

Drinking caffeine beverages is the new trend, and everyone seems to have developed an addiction. Coffee keeps the human body alert and supports it in performing specific short-term tasks. But it also has some side-effects because it makes people nervous, irritable, and jittery, especially when they sip more than a cup of coffee daily. Some people are sensitive to caffeine products, but they aren’t aware of their condition. So when they drink it, they experience symptoms of social phobia, panic disorder and panic attacks. 

Switching to black tea, decaf beverages, and lowering the amount of coffee to a single cup in the morning can help them feel calmer and more relaxed. 

Stress levels spike up as sedentarism increases. BMC Public Health researched and concluded that sedentary people are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, and other mental issues. 

But only because Millennials are working at a desk, it doesn’t mean they are doomed. They can include exercise and movement in their daily routine. They have to get up from their desk and walk for a couple of minutes every 90 minutes and have some form of exercise before or after work. In fact, a healthy diet combined with regular exercise can promote a stress-free life. 

People are so busy nowadays, they neglect developing connections with people who love them, and this augments their loneliness and stress.