--- title: "Daily Buzz: Millennials’ Work Anxiety Challenges" id: "44958" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-millennials-work-anxiety-challenges" published_at: "2018-12-07T20:58:53+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:15:38+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/07/daily-buzz-millennials-work-anxiety-challenges/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/07/daily-buzz-millennials-work-anxiety-challenges.md" excerpt: "Millennials deal with work-disrupting mental health issues at nearly twice the U.S. average rate—but don’t think it’s reason enough for a mental health day. Also: how to juggle personal and work activities during the holiday season." taxonomy_category: - "Career Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "mental health" - "millennials" - "NextGen" - "work stress" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Early Career" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Millennials’ Work Anxiety Challenges There’s no question that life can be stressful. And for millennials, the effects of feeling overwhelmed bleed deeper into work than older generations. In a national poll conducted for *Quartz* by SurveyMonkey Audience, 18 percent of working adults said they experience anxiety or depression to a point where it disrupts work “all the time” or “often.” For millennial and gen Z workers, that number jumps to 30 percent. “Although millennials report higher rates of anxiety compared to their older colleagues, it’s unclear whether millennials really are more anxious than other generations were at the same age, or if cultural portrayals of them as fragile and thin-skinned make it seem that way. The historical data isn’t there for us to know,” [says Lila MacLellan in a post for Quartz at Work (opens in a new tab)](https://qz.com/work/1483697/millennials-experience-work-disrupting-anxiety-at-twice-the-us-average-rate/) . “Then again, many of the suggested causes for millennial distress truly are unique to this era, creating what some call a ‘sociological’ form of anxiety.” MacLellan highlights ballooning student debt, helicopter parents, and the effects of being the first generation to grow up with sophisticated technology as some of these uniquely millennial and younger experiences. On top of that, 53 percent of employees of all ages say they go to work even when they think they should take a mental health day. The reason? At least a third of respondents don’t believe it’s a strong enough alibi to miss work—and think management would agree. ### Find Balance During the Holiday Season > How can you successfully navigate the holiday season while balancing both life and work? [@Forbes (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/Forbes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#meetingprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/meetingprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#worklifebalance (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/worklifebalance?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/GtXOYscvZN (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/GtXOYscvZN) > > — parked (@thehopethefood) [December 7, 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/thehopethefood/status/1071042115751346176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **With the cheer and togetherness of the holiday season,** the scales of work-life balance often tip in favor of personal time. And that’s OK: The holidays are meant to be shared with loved ones. That said, the end of the year also tends to come with pressing work deadlines. So, how can one successfully juggle both sides? *[Forbes (opens in a new tab)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/12/04/seasons-greetings-and-meetings-how-to-find-work-life-balance-during-the-holidays/#2dfd32cc4b5e)*[asked 12 business and career coaches (opens in a new tab)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/12/04/seasons-greetings-and-meetings-how-to-find-work-life-balance-during-the-holidays/#2dfd32cc4b5e) for suggestions, which range from making lists that break down priority tasks, to creating—and sticking to—a systematic schedule, to not being afraid to say no. “Balance is like a teeter-totter, slow and steady, up and down,” says coach Amber Wendover. “Focus where needed to keep the teeter-totter moving, knowing that sometimes perfect balance isn’t a necessity—just awareness of which side has more weight.” ### Other Links of Note **Many people are separated** from loved ones during the holidays. The VolunteerMatch blog shares [how you can support such team members this season (opens in a new tab)](https://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2018/12/06/6-meaningful-ways-to-be-there-for-loved-ones-during-the-holidays/) . **The 12 objectives** [every nonprofit communications plan should have (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2018/12/06/objectives-nonprofit-communications-plan/) , from *Nonprofit Marketing Guide*. **Here’s where virtual reality** [is headed in 2019 (opens in a new tab)](https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/state-of-virtual-reality) , according to the HubSpot blog. [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#mental health](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mental-health/) [#millennials](https://associationsnow.com/tag/millennials/) [#NextGen](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nextgen/) [#work stress](https://associationsnow.com/tag/work-stress/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAllison Isch, PMP Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/allison-isch-pmp-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoASAE’s The ExchangeApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/asaes-the-exchange/) - [VideoIntroducing the ASAE Future Leaders Professional Development ScholarshipJune 14, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/06/14/introducing-the-asae-future-leaders-professional-development-scholarship/) - [ArticleHybrid, Remote, or In-Person: Insights From Young ProfessionalsMay 21, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/05/21/hybrid-remote-or-in-person-insights-from-young-professionals/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F12%2F07%2Fdaily-buzz-millennials-work-anxiety-challenges%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !