Aging Gracefully or Aging Anxiously? How Gen Zers and Millennials Feel About Growing Old

Key takeaways:

• For Gen Zers (51%) and millennials (62%), declining health is their primary age-related fear. Likewise, 50% of millennials fear financial instability in their future, while 49% worry they won’t achieve enough.

• Some 49% of millennials judge those over 30 for living with their parents, while 47% of Gen Zers cringe at those who party regularly into their 30s.

• Some 57% of Gen Zers and 54% of millennials work hard to maintain their appearance, with 21% open to Botox and fillers and 9% willing to get plastic surgery.

• 73% are optimistic that their best years are ahead of them.

Older millennials are fast approaching 50, and social media insists Gen Z is aging like milk. No wonder the stress lines are beginning to show. Despite their youth, many are already fretting over how long they have left, whether they’ve achieved enough, and if their dreams are slipping out of reach.

EduBirdie surveyed 2,000 Gen Zers and young millennials on their age-related fears, future goals, and whether they believe their golden years have already passed. The results show that while self-doubt weighs heavily, there’s still plenty of life left in these young generations.

Millenni-olds: When does old age really start (according to the young)?

Millennials are far from retirement, and Gen Zers are still the baby generation. Yet, many are certain that old age is fast upon them. Some 22% of Gen Zers say 35 is already over the hill, while 35% of millennials believe 40, which some of their generation has already reached, is the age when youth expires.

TikTok, TikTok: What gives young people anxiety about growing up?

As the clock ticks, fears grow, with health problems causing the most panic among both Gen Z (51%) and millennials (62%). Success also weighs heavily on the young. Yet, the subtle differences between generations show. While Gen Z is most concerned with being successful (49%), millennials, more acquainted with the job and rental markets, would prefer financial security (50%).

There’s more to life than promotions and paychecks – but when our feeds are flooded with wealthy influencers and their luxury lifestyles, it’s hard not to compare. Even knowing that social media is a highlight reel that hides the bad, 63% of Gen Zers and 50% of millennials admit they have measured their achievements against online stars and celebrities.

Comparing themselves against the lucky few who struck it rich early, 30% of Gen Zers and 29% of millennials have been left feeling like their best years are already behind them and questioning whether they peaked too early.

But not all youthful anxiety is caused by the prospect of growing old. Some fear being too young. Worried their senior colleagues won’t take them seriously, 15% of Gen Zers and 12% of millennials admit they’ve lied about their age at work.

Aging disgracefully: Gen Zers and millennials’ age-related icks

For 44% of millennials and 33% of Gen Z, aging doesn’t automatically make you undesirable. Wrinkles and a few grays don’t bother them, but using outdated slang, dressing like a teen, and sleeping around? It’s not giving.

Following teen fashion (42%), oversharing on social media (40%), and using slang (30%) are all cringe. However, for 49% of millennials, living with your parents into your fourth decade is the ultimate nope. And Gen Z’s ultimate ick? OAPs – not old-age pensioners, but old-age partiers. For 47%, there’s nothing worse than partying past your prime.

Gen Z and millennials are all for young people climbing the career ladder – until they’re overtaken. For 31% of millennials and 30% of Gen Zers, having a boss born after them is cringe.

Youth hacks: The length young people will go to maintain their looks

You can’t pause the clock, but 32% of Gen Zers and 28% of millennials are doing their utmost to hide any signs of aging in the hopes of maintaining their youthful appearance.

Are millennials and Gen Z aging faster? Absolutely not… But good luck convincing them.

For 57% of Gen Zers and 54% of millennials, staying young is a constant hustle: meticulous skincare rituals, hours in the gym, and staying away from alcohol and fast food.

But some are willing to go even further to steer clear of Father Time – 24% of millennials are open to using Botox or fillers, compared to 17% of Gen Zers, while 9% of young people would even go under the knife to stave off rapid aging.

Chasing time: What do young people desire in the years ahead?

Despite barely being out of diapers, 38% of Gen Zers believe they’ve missed their shot at fame, and 27% say they’re too old to change careers. Likewise, 20% of fresh-faced millennials are certain they’ve missed the wedding bells, while 29% say they’re too old to consider moving abroad – but it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

While sky-high house prices that continue to climb have shut the door on many millennials’ hopes of owning a home, Gen Zers remain optimistic. Some 60% hope to buy their own place before turning 35, and 47% are determined to earn six figures before middle age knocks.

Gen Zers are in no rush to grow old, but when it comes to parenthood? They’re sprinting towards it – 30% of Gen Zers want children of their own by age 30. Millennials, meanwhile, aren’t letting the hourglass rush them, with 54% leaving it late (if ever) to start a family.

If millennials are dreaming of settling down, they might want to hurry up… if Gen Z has anything to say about it. Some 9% of Gen Zers see sex as a young person’s game, with creaky bones and fading stamina drying up the sex lives of over-40s.

Youthful optimism: Is the best still yet to come for Gen Z and millennials?

While the first few white hairs and fine lines might be starting to show, with age comes optimism for these young generations. Despite millennials and Gen Z’s fear of aging, 73% are confident that their best years are still ahead of them.

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Avery Morgan is the Chief Human Resources Officer at EduBirdie, with deep expertise in strategic leadership, workplace culture, talent management, employee relations, corporate wellness, and productivity. Under Avery’s leadership, EduBirdie has spearheaded initiatives to address the growing issue of young people’s burnout and launched programs to help professionals boost productivity and achieve a healthier work-life balance.