When we say lifestyle 2021, we mostly associate it with GenZ: the largest segment of society today. Lifestyle, going by its meaning, includes many aspects and attributes regarding society and, overall, the human race. It is the mode of living of an individual or a community altogether.
Today, of the entire world population, 32% belongs to the youngest individuals, including teenagers and adults born between 1995 to 2015. It is the most populous generation and also the most diversified one in every aspect.
While talking about lifestyle in the first year of the twenty-first century’s second decade, the lifestyle of the GenZ generation has a significant impact in directing the trend. However, it is one widely discussed topic with many arguments whether the lifestyle of GenZ is a positive evolution or a regression. However, before that, let us look at attributes and characteristics of this generation that drive the lifestyle trend of the current era.
Modernity since birth
We do not mean adopting western culture or growing rebellious habits in every issue by the word modernity. But, the GenZ is accustomed to the actual meaning of modernity, which is modern by the minds. The lifestyle of GenZ is way more ahead of the traditional beliefs and customs. The whole generation grew up to be more logical, rational, and emotional at the same time. They have embraced the new concepts of society to lead it for a better one.
More Diverse
One fundamental criterion of GenZ is its diversified nature. The youngsters believe in every aspect of life and are opinionated with different thought processes, making them diverse. For economic stabilization, people opt for more diverse opportunities, about political awareness issues and social causes they are vocal and loud. For utilizing scientific innovations, they are the early adopters. Overall, the GenZ is a very enthusiastic and diverse yet unified community bound by the thread of education and universal brotherhood.
Emotionally Sensitive
One of the significant issues occurring among the GenZ is they tend to be emotionally very sensitive. Mental Health Challenges are one common topic that is often associated with the generation. They lack patience and robust mental health. Therefore, the problems of depression and anxiety have seen a steep incline, especially among the GenZ. In addition, in the last couple of years, the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted people’s mental health to a vast extent. No wonder the WHO declared May as the Mental Health Month and started an awareness campaign in 2020.
Recreational Habits
As the generation is full of enthusiasm, the doors of more fun and entertainment activities have opened up. But, unfortunately, the lifestyle in 2021 is mostly from home due to this pandemic. People miss packing up their truck roof rack and being a wanderlust. However, people have found way-outs to it and managed to get the required dose of entertainment regularly. Creating and watching videos, playing games online, cooking, etc., are some of the primary sources.
Technology-driven
The evolution of science and technology has made lives more accessible, and most importantly, dependent on gadgets. The GenZ today widely relies on technological advancements, innovations, and devices. Even if you belong to GenZ, you might very well recall the days when you used to remember the phone numbers and dial on telephones. But after the invention of mobile phones, the habit is gone completely. GenZ, millennials, and the older generation are getting rid of their many habits due to technology usage. Not only in communication, but the advancement of technologies and especially gadgets is also visible in every other field, be it research or even vaping. Many new vape technologies like vape tools, vape pens, and rechargeable batteries have come up on the market.
The lifestyle trend in 2021 is more inclined towards technology. Amidst the pandemic and induced lockdown, the whole world has started running on servers. A laptop and a smartphone have become the utmost necessities. The salary, education, and entertainment – all have been dependent and limited only to these devices. However, this lifestyle somewhat brought certain realizations to people’s minds. Especially as a human being, how tiny and powerless we are in front of Nature’s supremacy. It showed people the positive perspective of life. Also, many more financial opportunities have come up, and people have adopted them. Within the lockdown itself, many people grew on social media to be financially independent and become famous.
On the flip side, the primary concern about the lifestyle in 2021 is people’s mental health. It is because the pandemic hurt not only the physical health but also the mental state. After the pandemic normalizes, many people would have major mental breakdowns, and it has already become a matter of concern worldwide. The international organizations are working hard to reduce the number of cases, but it would still be a large number for sure.
Conclusion
To conclude, call it an evolution or a deterioration in disguise, but it will indeed teach a lesson to the entire human race, which would be one for centuries. Pandemic is an issue, but other factors also have influenced the lifestyle trend curve of the year, GenZ being the major one of them. We can hope for a positive note that with all the learnings and taking the global issues in mind, we evolve for a better future and do not degrade.
