Raise your hand if you’re 17 but feel 80 inside. Now put that hand down before your joints make a sound.
Welcome to Gen Z in 2025 where our brains are fried, our souls are buffering, and our sleep schedule is just a vague suggestion. You’re not imagining it. You really are this tired, and it’s not just because you accidentally watched 3 seasons of a K-drama in one weekend.
We’re the generation that chants “soft life or no life” like a mantra. And we mean it. Because seriously how are we this exhausted when our day consisted of opening Instagram, getting yelled at by Ammi for not folding our clothes, attending two classes, and scrolling till our fingers gave up?
Let’s unpack this collective meltdown.
Golden Years, They Said — Burnt Toast is More Like It
You know those uncles who say: “Beta, these are the best years of your life.”
Yeah, sure. Best years of your life when:
- You’re stressed 24/7
- Can’t sleep without overthinking your future
- And you accidentally called your teacher “Ammi” in front of the whole class
Golden? Please. These years are more like expired yogurt in a gold wrapper.
We’re not lazy. We’re overstimulated, overexpected, and under-rested. We’re juggling school, social pressure, skills, side hustles, skincare, social media, and trying not to cry in public. Honestly? That’s more work than most adult jobs.
Our Typical Day Goes a Little Something Like This:
- Wake up already drained
- Attend classes
- Survive 19 chaotic group chats
- Panic about the future and immediately open Netflix to avoid it
- Scroll Instagram, compare yourself to someone in Paris
- Spend three hours wondering if that one message sounded “too much”
- Try to be productive at 2:17AM
- Fail. Sleep. Repeat.
And just like that, burnout at age 16. Achievement unlocked.
Soft Life Goals or Emotional Shutdown?
You’ve seen the aesthetic:
The girl in satin pajamas lighting a candle at 2PM for no reason
That’s not laziness. That’s emotional survival. We are officially done with the hustle narrative that told us waking up at 5AM and running on caffeine and anxiety was “the grindset.” Who wants to be in beast mode when you could be in bed mode, binge-watching Pakistani cooking vlogs and pretending you’re stress-free?
Forget the Lamborghini by 25. The dream now?
- A slow morning with no alarms
- Saying “Sorry, I don’t work weekends” with confidence
- Logging out without guilt
- Romanticizing your life like you’re in a slow-motion video
And honestly? That’s growth. That’s Gen Z enlightenment.
Why Are Our Brains Always Tired, Even When We’r Doing Nothing?
Let’s go deeper. What’s actually behind this mass teenage burnout?
1. The Hustle Olympics We Never Signed Up For
You’re 17. You just learned how to iron your own clothes. But somehow, you’re already supposed to:
- Choose your forever career
- Master 3 software programs
- Be the “responsible eldest child”
- And also start a side business
All while managing your grades, emotional regulation, and that one relative who always asks, “Kya ban’na hai?” Doctor, engineer, artist, ya disappointment? Pressure? It’s giving suffocation.
2. Social Media: Where Burnout Gets a Filter
One scroll and boom — everyone’s thriving.
- That girl in your O-levels? She’s now in Paris with 300k followers.
- That random cousin? Apparently doing dropshipping, driving a Civic, and posting gym selfies like he’s a protein ad.
- Meanwhile, you’re sitting on the floor, eating chips, wondering if your life peaked at the 8th grade Science Fair.
We’re constantly seeing highlight reels. And it tricks our brains into believing we’re behind — even when we’re just trying to survive.
Comparison fatigue is real. And it’s brutal.
3. 24/7 “Always Available” Energy is Destroying Our Sanity
Once upon a time, when school ended, it ended. Now? You leave class and suddenly:
- “Assignment uploaded!”
- “Class at 8AM?”
- “Quick collab for my IG Reels?”
Even chilling feels like pressure. Your brain isn’t designed to be constantly switched on, but we live in a world where rest is treated like laziness and doing less is shameful. We’re not “free.” We’re just trapped in productivity cosplay.
Burnout Isn’t Just “Being Tired” — It’s Soul-Level Exhaustion
Here’s what burnout actually looks like:
- You forget what joy feels like
- You avoid calls because you physically can’t “people”
- You feel numb — like you’re existing, but not living
- Even things you used to love feel like chores
- You stare at walls and wonder, “Is this it?”
Burnout isn’t dramatic. It’s real, sneaky, and it’s not supposed to be normal at 17.
But You’re Just a Teenager! Why So Burnt Out?
Because we’re living multiple exhausting lives at once.
- The ideal child — obedient, high-achieving, polite, emotionally available
- The online version — cool, funny, aesthetic, unbothered
- The real you — tired, confused, overstimulated, dreaming of disappearing into a Netflix hole
We’re carrying expectations from our families, our followers, our friends and we’re doing it all while still figuring out who we are. That’s not just tiring. That’s overwhelming.
Okay Cool. But How Do We Feel Less Dead Inside?
Great question. Here are five actually doable things you can start with:
1. Boundaries Are Your Best Friend (Use Them)
Say no to people who drain your energy. Mute the class group. Don’t answer emails after 9PM. Reject chaos like your mental peace depends on it — because it does.
2. Touch Some Grass. Literally.
Go outside. Breathe fresh air. Stare at the sky. Lay on the roof. Feed a stray cat. Don’t post about it. Reconnect with reality. Your brain needs a break from being a screen zombie.
3. Sleep Like Your Future Self Is Watching
Not 3AM doom-scrolling with a charger plugged into your face. We mean actual sleep like “REM cycle,” “dream about weird stuff,” “wake up semi-functional” sleep.
4. Talk, Don’t Just Text
Voice note your bestie. Cry to your sibling. Journal it out. Emotions aren’t cringe. Suppression is. Let it out. Loudly. Casually. Emotionally.
5. Being Busy Isn’t a Personality
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to be productive to be worthy. Sometimes your biggest flex is doing absolutely nothing and feeling zero guilt.
Final Words from One Emotionally Exhausted, Blanket-Wrapped Human to Another
You’re not broken. You’re just living in a world that expects way too much from people way too young. Burnout isn’t your personality it’s a signal. A big, flashing “yo, something’s off” sign. And guess what? You’re allowed to listen to it.
The soft life isn’t weak. It’s the resistance. The rebellion. The quiet, cozy refusal to kill yourself trying to meet impossible standards. So breathe. Rest. Romanticize your chai. And remember: You’re doing amazing. Even if you’re doing nothing right now.
