For all this chat about Gen Z – specifically, why you should listen to them – we can’t help but feel poor old millennials are being ignored lately (except when they’re being roasted for their side-partings… harsh). Yet with an estimated population of 14.4 million, millennials are currently the largest generation in the UK – which we think means they deserve a bit of love. 

So, for the next instalment of The Lightning Book Club (it’s totally a thing – check out our key takeaways for managers from Kim Scott’s Radical Candor), we’re diving into the pages of Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Petersen. 

Exploring the struggles millennials face navigating their personal and professional lives amidst societal and economic pressures, we felt seen when we read this book – and, if you’re a millennial, you will too.

TL;DR? Read on for our top takeaways: five things millennials (yes, you) must unlearn about work.

1. Burnout isn’t normal

Petersen argues millennials are experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout due to societal expectations, economic instability, and technological advancements. The pressure to excel in every aspect of life, coupled with constant connectivity and blurred boundaries between work and leisure, is leaving us exhausted and disillusioned.

Yet for many of us, this state of mental f*ckery might actually feel normal. We don’t know who needs to hear this, but feeling permanently frazzled, constantly on-the-go, forever chasing your own tail and ticking off to-dos is not sustainable and shouldn’t be your default state. If this feels all too familiar, you could be heading for a mental health crisis and we urge you to ask for help before it’s too late – from your manager, from a therapist (if that’s available to you), from your doctor, or from your friends and family. Look after your mind and body: it’s the only one you have!

2. Know your worth

Who can forget entering the workforce just as 2008’s Great Recession was taking hold – cue lack of jobs, stagnant wages, and all-round economic shakiness. Writing for the Independent, Helen Coffey theorises that the job market you come of age into has a profound impact on your work ethic and attitude to employment. “My cohort and I had to claw our way into our professional lives – we still live in obsequious gratitude that we’ve been hired, and perpetual fear that we’ll be fired, even 15 years later. We are forever running ourselves ragged trying to prove that we’re ‘indispensable’.” Knowing your worth? Forget it.

We’re here to tell you: you are great. You’ve earned skills and experience that make you an asset. And you deserve to be treated – and paid – fairly. Need a pep talk? Read our 5 tips on how to slay your annual review, 5 signs you have a toxic boss (and how to survive), and 5 ways you know you’re ready to change jobs – you got this, gurl.

3. It’s okay to just like your job

There’s no doubt cultural narratives promoting the idea of ‘doing what you love’ and ‘following your passion’ have shaped millennials' career aspirations. But Petersen argues these ideals can be unrealistic and place undue pressure on individuals to find fulfilment solely through their work.

Are you constantly striving for a job or career you adore more than life itself? Newsflash: most people aren’t ‘passionate’ about their work – and that’s okay. (Side note: “passionate” is possibly the most overused word on CVs… Want to do better? Here’s how to write a kick-ass CV.) Let’s be real: we do jobs because we need money to live – most of us wouldn’t do them for free. Not loving your job is not a failure. Focus on finding a job you like, then go and pursue the things you really love in your free time. Yeah?

4. Redefine what success means to you

Petersen writes that the rise of neoliberalism (look at us using big words) has fostered a culture of hyper-competitiveness, where we’re expected to constantly hustle and optimise our productivity. (Remember those constant dance classes, swimming lessons and sports fixtures when you were a kid? Turns out they might have screwed us up.) As a result, millennials feel compelled to constantly prove our worth through our careers, leading to a relentless pursuit of success at the expense of our mental and physical wellbeing. Eeer, yep.

But think about this: what actually makes you happy? Forget expectations, judgement, bla de bla… What do you want your life to look like – and what part does work play in that? For some people, clawing up the career ladder or starting your own business is genuinely fulfilling. But lots of people will be just as happy – happier, even – with less responsibility, or doing a less ‘respected’ (which, let’s be honest, often means boring) job. Redefine what success looks like for you and aim for that, and that only.

5. Set tech boundaries

While technology has facilitated greater connectivity and flexibility, it’s also blurred the boundaries between work and leisure. As Petersen points out, we’re constantly bombarded with emails, notifications, and social media updates, making it nigh-on impossible to disconnect and recharge.

As Roisin Kelly writes for The Times, “One friend, a 33-year-old communications manager, tells me of her surprise that all four of the under-25s she manages have never considered logging into work emails on their phone.” And this, friends, is an example of where millennials should be taking the lead from Gen Z (sorry). Repeat after us: boundaries are healthy and you are entitled to set rules around your digital connectivity that help keep you sane. Now, turn off your laptop/phone/tablet and go read a book/take a walk/stroke your dog, will you?

In need of a bit of career guidance, or just looking for a professional pep talk? Book a free Lightning Lounge session for no-judgement, millennial-friendly advice on how to make work-life happier and healthier.