If being an adult is more like a juggling act, you’re certainly not alone—particularly if you’re a member of Generation X, the Millennials, or Gen Z. Growing up, building a career, and taking care of the family have gone to a whole new dimension, these processes are quite different from those of just a few decades ago, and the stress is very tangible.
The “sandwich generation” is perhaps the most obvious case in point. These are the individuals sandwiched between caring for parents who are getting on in years and caring for their own kids—sometimes even grown kids who return home. A woman in her position speaks of days filled with working from home, taking her husband to work, assisting her son and his partner with paperwork, and taking care of her aging mother. The pandemic only added to these demands, with more young adults returning to live at home and older parents requiring additional care.
This type of multigenerational care isn’t specific to the UK—this is happening everywhere, and the figures keep rising. Individuals are giving birth later in life, yet life expectancy rises. That places a great number of adults caring for two, and even three, generations simultaneously. Some fall into the “triple-decker sandwich” category—individuals in their 60s who are still caring for parents in their 90s as well as taking care of grandchildren. Gender roles are obvious here as well: women most often work on the more personal, more hands-on care, whereas men increasingly take on practical chores such as paying the bills or keeping the house clean.
Money is the string that holds a great deal of this worry in common. Gen X, for instance, is less likely than the Baby Boomers to be a homeowner or have a stable retirement strategy at the same point in their lives. They have more of their assets in some of these retirement accounts, but they also have higher levels of debt, including large balances on student loans, and lower median net worth. Even Millennials face more challenging circumstances, with lower rates of homeownership and more debt. For Black and poorer Millennials, the weight of student loan debt has been particularly burdensome.
Gen Z, on the other hand, is confronting what some researchers describe as a “midlife crisis” in their twenties. Approximately 38 percent of Gen Z adults report feeling as though they’re already going through a midlife crisis, driven by uncertain finances, mental illness, and career confusion. The stress is so high that a large number of young employees are losing the equivalent of one workday every week to mental illness. They’re also substantially more likely to suffer from depression than their older colleagues. Others have resorted to “doom spending”—retail therapy as a coping mechanism—which only exacerbates financial stress.
Mental health issues, however, are not unique to the youngest adults. Gen X women, in general, experience a special type of midlife stress. Many grew up in the 1970s and 1980s with the notion that they could “have it all”—the career, the family, and the ideal home. But what often hasn’t been the case is that reality hasn’t lived up to that vision. As author Ada Calhoun has noted, countless women in their forties and fifties feel frustration, shame, or disappointment, even if they’ve achieved much of what they planned. Social media exacerbates these emotions, provoking comparisons and intensifying the feeling of not being good enough.
Cultural values have also changed from generation to generation. Gen X is characterized by practicality, skepticism, and a preoccupation with security. Their upbringing amidst times of economic insecurity and technological shift instilled resilience and a hunger for stability in them. Their position as the “sandwich generation” speaks to their deep devotion to family and caregiving. Millennials and Gen Z, however, are louder about diversity, equity, inclusion, and flexibility at work. They desire that their work be compatible with their values and would like employers to foster both their personal and professional well-being.
Workplaces themselves are shifting due to these expectations. Gen Z, for instance, isn’t merely seeking a salary. They desire ethical employers, flexible work arrangements, and mental health services. When these needs aren’t addressed, stress increases, motivation declines, and turnover grows. Some firms are catching on with flexible work arrangements and financial well-being initiatives, but many more have a lot to learn.
Through all these shifts, one truth stands out: adaptability and resilience are essential. Whether you’re balancing caregiving, dealing with financial stress, or redefining what success means to you, the ability to adjust is key. Support from employers, family, and community can make a huge difference, offering relief in the middle of the chaos. The obstacles might sometimes feel daunting, yet by acknowledging the currents that are reshaping adulthood today—and supporting one another through it all—we can locate strength, growth, and even joy amid it all.
