For Generation Z, getting a decent night’s sleep is getting more difficult. Many young people are constantly worried about money because of growing inflation, precarious employment, and rising expenses. Seven out of 10 Gen Zers report having financial anxiety that keeps them up at night, according to a study by Amerisleep. This practice, known as “bed rotting” or “doomscrolling,” happens when people spend hours in bed or scroll through their phones rather than creating a budget or saving money.
This creates a vicious cycle that is difficult to break: lack of sleep increases financial anxiety, economic stress causes sleepless nights, and both start to negatively impact the mental health of young people as a whole.
The crisis stealing Gen Z’s sleep
For those with jobs between 18 and 27 years old, the current economic situation is extremely difficult—and doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Everyday worries about expensive rent, food prices, and job instability have become regular nightmares, literally. According to the Amerisleep study, 70% of young adults have trouble falling or staying asleep because of it.
The Federal Reserve of the United States chair Jerome Powbell acknowledged that “young people just can’t catch a break.” There are few affordable housing options, low salaries, and debt for many recent graduates. The pressure doesn’t change.
Many give up to passive coping mechanisms instead of reacting with realistic measures, like creating an emergency fund or budget. Spending hours “doomscrolling” (reading depressing news online) or “bed rotting” (lying in bed doing nothing) occupies attention but doesn’t produce peace (or money).
“Bed rotting” and “doomscrolling”: signals of burnout
These viral behaviors show the emotional and mental exhaustion that many Gen Zers experience. They use the screen just like a way of quick escape from uncontrollable problems. However, experts caution that this behavior only makes the issue worse by interfering with sleep, increasing anxiety, and making people feel powerless.
According to researchers from Stanford Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, using screens right before bed reduces the quality of sleep. The hormone that promotes sleep, melatonin, is blocked by blue light, and the brain is kept alert by constant negative information. Daytime fatigue eventually develops into nighttime insomnia.
To break the cycle, experts advise taking a few simple steps:
- Give yourself 15 to 20 minutes (worry window) to write down your financial worries and a few possible solutions. This helps looking at the real scenario.
- Set up a “digital curfew,” which means leaving your phone outside your bedroom an hour before going to bed.
- Before going to bed, do something relaxing like stretch, read a book, or listen to a nice calm music.
Taking back control
Having a deeper feeling of financial control is what’s going to make you feel better. Experts suggest starting small, with actual manageable steps, like creating a small emergency fund, paying off a small debt, or keeping a monthly record of your earnings and expenses.
Amerisleep claims that being aware of your exact income and expenses helps reduce anxiety. The objective is to turn anxiety into action instead of trying ending it. Every little accomplishment, like saving a few dollars or paying a bill on time, boosts self-esteem and peace of mind.
The body benefits from deep sleep as well. Immunity, memory, and focus are all impacted by sleep deprivation.
Pressure of growing up in uncertain times
There is nothing peaceful about low wages, growing inflation, and a persistent sense of unpredictability. And although “Bed rotting” and “doomscrolling” may seem comforting in that setting, they only make the situation worse.
However, not everything is lost. You can still achieve financial harmony with little changes in your routine.