Living Life as a "Gen Xennial" in a Hustle Culture
Living life as a “Gen Xennial” — the generation sandwiched between Gen X and Millennials — can be exhausting, especially when my attitude toward work was heavily shaped by the hustle culture of Hong Kong.
It certainly doesn't help that I’m an Enneagram Type 3, also known as “the Achiever” — aka, a workaholic. To me, rest always felt overrated because, well, why would I need a break when I love the work I do?
To me, "success" looked like this:
- I had 10 back-to-back meetings and still had the energy to work late into the night.
- I “sucked it up” and completed everything on my to-do list, even when I was exhausted.
The idea of taking breaks was incomprehensible. Why would anyone do that?
Luckily, I’ve never experienced catastrophic consequences from grinding through work. Occasional burnout? Yes. Life-threatening consequences? No.
An Instagram Account That Sparked Reflection
Recently, I came across an Instagram account, simplyy.jamie, where a millennial manager documents conversations with her Gen Z colleagues. It was eye-opening.
Gen Z has made it clear: they are all-in when it comes to protecting their peace. Any excuse to take a break from work is valid. Taking time off for a “digital detox”? Really? Is that even a thing?
Curious, I did a little research and noticed a clear trend in Gen Z's workplace attitude:
- They close their laptops at 5 p.m.
- They negotiate for higher salaries while working fewer hours.
- They maintain a certain detachment from work.
- They prioritize personal well-being over career achievements.
Giving "Work Breaks" a Try
A couple of months ago, I started noticing signs of burnout after juggling my online shop and planning a cross-provincial event as a solopreneur. The symptoms were undeniable:
- I was constantly tired and struggling with sleep.
- I couldn’t remember anything unless it was on my to-do list.
- My creativity was blocked.
- It felt like my life was all output with no input — an empty gas tank.
- No matter how hard I pushed, I just couldn’t get myself to work.
- I lacked motivation on Mondays — which was unusual. Normally, after two days of rest, Mondays would have me fired up with plans, brainstorming, and social media drafts. If I wasn’t feeling it, I knew I was heading for burnout.
In the past, I would’ve just pushed through until the burnout eventually took over. But this time, I thought, “Why not just take a week off?”
Sound easy? Nope.
I felt guilty. I don’t know why, but even though I report to myself, I felt like I needed a legitimate reason to rest.
But then, I thought about the Gen Zers — unapologetically prioritizing themselves. It’s their right, so why not my own?
So here I am, taking a week off. Not because I’m sick or going on vacation, but because I need a break.
Let’s see how it goes.
Synchronicity When Permission to Rest is Granted
The moment I decided to rest and tossed my daily planner aside, something interesting happened: messages started flooding in from friends I hadn’t heard from in ages — as if they knew I was off this week.
Maybe I was meant to rest and reconnect with people.
I had coffee with a friend I hadn’t spoken to in two years, then bumped into other friends and spontaneously agreed to an impromptu lunch. At the restaurant, another friend called, inviting me to join a luncheon the next day. At the luncheon, I ran into yet another friend I hadn’t seen in three years, who invited me for coffee.
So, is this what it’s all about? Am I supposed to take this break and reconnect with people?
As I’ve reconnected with friends, my mental tank has naturally refilled. I’ve learned so much outside of work:
- I discovered that I’ve been overpaying for my mobile and Wi-Fi bills and a friend helped me switch providers, potentially saving me $150 per month.
- I learned about global politics from a friend who dives deep into world events.
- I heard about a chaotic personal journey a friend has been on for a year and was inspired by her positivity.
By stepping away from the constant grind, my creativity began to flow again. Ideas started to pop up:
- I finally worked on a newsletter I’d been putting off for months. I want my brand, Love You Need Space, to be more than just a product-based business. I envision it as a dynamic community that embraces a beautiful, authentic life.
- I could take my time exploring various Substack articles on different topics.
- I began binging interior design YouTube channels like Home Worthy, Apartment Therapy, and AD.
- I spent time on Etsy picking out art for my bare walls and browsing candles, lanterns, throws, and pillows at Bouclaire.
- And I started drawing again.
Gradually, the guilt of taking a break faded. Instead, I began enjoying my week, following my intuition rather than a rigid schedule. Looking at how things have turned out, I realize this is exactly how my mind wants to recharge. Life, in this moment, feels wonderful.