“Millennials have incredibly high expectations from their work-life because they were raised with the idea that anything is possible. Technology, financial stress, and overachievement are three things that millennials in the Western culture struggle with that often eventually lead to a burnout. Besides that, a high frequency of stimulation on social media prevents the brain from getting a signal to relax, which could lead to a burnout as well. The media also tells them that they must reach specific goals or look like certain people to be successful. This feeds into their self-image and perfectionism issues.
However, burnouts are not only a Western problem but a world-wide problem of capitalism. Every culture or country has its way of communicating with one another, but in general, the problem of a burnout is caused by the same things; too much pressure and high expectations of themselves, other people, and society. They are continually working on their image, but not on their inner selves. They want to perform well but have never learned how to deal with the stress.
Capitalism, in my eyes, created a stigma for millennials. A stigma where it is expected to be perfect, have an excellent job with a high position, have a family, keep up their ‘brand’ online, and to be culturally well developed. They should have a perfect body, should have paid off all of their debts, and saved up for their pension, all before they are thirty. However, they have to do this, without being stressed and cannot complain about anything either, because then they will be seen as weak. Asking help is also out of the question, and preferably they should not take any time off, because then less work gets done.
This is not something that works, as proven. It is also something that is not fair nor humane, in my opinion. Capitalism created this picture of a perfect person that everyone needs to be. Nevertheless, it is noticeable that it is becoming too much for different generations. If there is one similar story that all of the millennials have stuck in their heads in combination with the way society currently works and it creates burnouts, there is something wrong and it needs to be fixed.
We created a system that we thought would work, but right now, it is making us feel unhappy, disappointed and frankly burnt out. That is not what life is about. It is time to use our inner fire for happiness. After doing all of the research and the interviews, there was a realization that every story is incredibly similar. This realization has now turned into the hope that a lot less damage will be done if some people take it upon themselves to share their stories, ideas, expectations, and experiences. We, as communication professionals, can use storytelling and awareness to help others realize they are not in this alone. Better yet, they can realize that there is no need to have these high expectations of themselves. Lives could be changed, and lives could be better.”
Read this and more about (millennials and) burnouts in my paper ‘Thanks society, I am burnt out.' That you can download at the homepage of this website.
