I don’t know if it’s just me, but it seems like life sucks even more than usual right now. Where should I start? I think it might be a combination of typical finals stress, weather changes, big decisions, and oh, maybe the world falling apart. Rising mental health issues with a shortage of care, the climate crisis, our awful economy and the rising cost of living, politicians stripping our rights away, student loan debt, and so much more I can’t even remember it all.
Despite the insurmountable pressure on our everyday lives, Gen Z is somehow managing to find methods of coping with the weight of it all. Considering it is likely a hard time for all of us right now, I figured that we could wallow in the “womp womp” of it all together while figuring out how to survive it in the meantime. As a formal disclaimer before we begin, I am a psychology major but I am not a licensed medical professional! Who you should definitely seek out if you are acutely struggling.
Yapping:
Talking to friends, family, and especially a therapist is a great way to get things off your chest. Our generation specifically finds joy in “yapping” on the internet. Whether it’s psychoanalyzing a situation with friends, posting a paragraph on a private story in hopes that someone slides up and asks to talk about it, or posting a photo dump for validation via likes and comments sharing my feelings with others makes me feel so much less alone. This doesn’t work for everyone and it really depends on what you’re talking about but no matter what I can always count on a “yap” session with my friends to make me feel better.
Escapism:
Escaping into a good old fantasy series or a romance novel or a cozy farming simulation game (cough cough StarDew Valley cough cough) is an excellent choice for those with yapping aversions because it’s essentially pretending that your problems don’t exist for a little while. I can’t worry about answering my emails when I’m busy falling in love with a demon and saving the world. I don’t have assignments plaguing my mind while I make sure my plants are watered and my chickens are adequately fed.
Rotting:
Curling up in bed with my comfort take-out food of choice after a long, hot shower and doom-scrolling with my current favorite seasons-long comfort show playing as a voiceover in the background is my favorite way to recharge after a draining day. Sometimes, I force my cat to lay with me as well because a warm body to “rot” next to is even better. However, a warm shower, heated blanket, and a hot drink will suffice as well. My only warning is to make sure you don’t rot for too long, otherwise you’ll eventually begin to feel worse. My cut off time is usually when I notice I’m feeling sweaty. Essentially, go touch grass.
Touching grass:
Speaking of, this method is pretty straightforward, go outside! Many Gen Z kids and millennials are slowly retreating towards a simpler life to rebel against the late-stage capitalistic society we’re in. Since this late-stage hellscape is heavily associated with the corporate activity that’s killing the earth, many people have been learning how to make bread at home, sew our clothes, and live off the land a little bit in an attempt to separate themselves from society and go back to the romanticized “good ‘ol days”. I myself have toyed with this idea a little bit by fantasizing about escaping to the French countryside. However, the easiest way to employ this method is simply going outside more, whether it’s basking in the sun at a picnic or exploring a new hiking trail nearby. If you have enough willpower, I would suggest picking up an old-fashioned craft to feel more grounded and real after spending all day glued to a screen like embroidery or baking.
Listen to a playlist:
You could go one of two different routes here; either create an upbeat playlist to elevate your mood and induce some happy chemicals or, my personal favorite, curating sad songs that resonate with how you’re feeling, allow you to cry it out and, most of the time, make the feeling a little bit worse. I think both can be helpful depending on your mood, but either way, there is definitely an oddly-specific Spotify playlist already existing that precisely describes how you’re feeling at any given moment. Just don’t forget to grab a box of tissues.
Little treats:
This is a form of retail therapy that allows you to not just get a rush of happiness when buying the item, but will also give you an experience while obtaining the item. For example, if I run to Wawa for a smoothie after completing an assignment or just having a rough day, I’ll ask my friends if anyone else wants to come with me and treat themselves. Therefore, I not only get to enjoy sipping on my ice-cold chocolate banana smoothie, I also get to see my friends and get out of the house with them. Therefore, I strongly encourage spending a little bit of money on yourself this way as opposed to buying something online or Doordashing snacks. This method can also be employed by going to a thrift store, Target or an ordinary grocery store.
Womp womp:
If you’ve ever said “womp womp” as a response, you’ve participated in this coping method. Talking to each other about our problems and either sympathizing or making fun of it is one way of coping with how we’re feeling. Joking gives us a reason to laugh over something bad and allows us to acknowledge each other’s struggles. We certainly say some weird, funny things but sometimes it’s weird to think about how intentionally dismissive we can be when we communicate in a code that not-so-secretly resonates with us. It’s an un-serious way of asking for help and it’s a way to feel in control of your own out of control feelings.
Activism:
I couldn’t write about Gen Z without mentioning this because it’s vital to who we are as a generation, especially in the media. We may be holding the weight of the world on our young shoulders but the most important thing we can do is take care of ourselves and each other. Look out for those who are struggling and do something to help, even if it’s a seemingly small act (cough cough go vote everyone cough cough). The world will get better if we keep working at it together but in the meantime, we can’t forget to take care of ourselves.
Although we may be “going through it,” we can do anything if we start with the basics. Using coping mechanisms to take care of ourselves is inherently an act of rebellion and empowerment. The world will get better if we keep working at it together but in the meantime, we can’t forget to take care of ourselves.
Featured image taken by Polina Tankilevitch.
