Are Millennials Actually Lazy? – KYRAH BROWN

25 Aug Are Millennials Actually Lazy? – KYRAH BROWN

Millennials. A buzz word that portrays a group of individuals born at the cusp of the Information Era, yet a term loosely tied to the ideas of materialism, laziness, and entitlement. As the world slowly exits the speed and enhancement of the 21st century, we are left with an astonishing amount of technological advancements and ingenuity. For better or for worse, this marriage between humans and technology has ultimately shifted the global culture towards automation, dependency, and fulfillment. Therefore, unfortunately, millennials born at the height of this progression have been deemed as lazy and lacking in drive. On the contrary, millennials may be misunderstood in several different dimensions. Many across the globe are not even quite sure what age group millennials actually belong to; the typical image of a millennial includes teenagers to young adults. In actuality, according to the Pew Research Center, millennials currently range anywhere from 23 to 38 in age, as the time frame of birth years spans from 1981 to 1996. Several studies have been done to determine concrete cut off years for this generation, but even so, a concrete understanding of the pursuits and the perplexities of millennials has yet to be conclusive.

The most recent ancestors of millennials, the Baby Boomer generation, and Generation X, paved the way towards getting into space, surfing the internet, virtually exchanging money and goods, and even the simple joys of instantly warming food and streaming your favorite show. If so much was handed to this generation, many argue, then how can millennials ever live up to more, push for more, achieve greater goals? This lingering stigma paints millennials as lazy due to the fact that many have lacked for so little in terms of machinery, and have been raised in comfort with the technological simplicity of life. Despite these facts, a dependency is not equivalent to laziness. Millennials are multifaceted in areas of life that affect them on a personal scale – the sustainability of life and livelihood. The parents and grandparents of millennials predominantly concentrated on achieving equity and efficiency, while millennials are reshaping the social paradigm by investing in human capital.

A cause that affects the narrative of thousands of millennials’ is uprooting the concepts of education, to then have a positive domino effect and create a healthier workforce. How can students be taught in a manner that relies solely on experiential knowledge and is reflective of the growth in the material, rather than competition and privilege where merit leads you to another milestone? How do you persuade employers to practice healthier life habits and mental strengthening to expand motivation and the capacity to work? Day after day, many millennials are stuck in repetitive, overworked routines in their careers. This generation longs to promote better balance and increased life experiences, and are pushing employers and government officials to hear their cries for change. On the other hand, generations before millennials pursued opportunities tailored to getting into an industry and maintaining a profitable job and a “good” income. Technology allows for greater assistance and capabilities with things from everyday tasks to exceptional feats, and several industries are bringing in increased revenue thanks to technology.

Therefore, with increased efficiency and profitability in almost every aspect of life, millennials have the upper hand in being able to move from job to job without suffering monumental financial downturns to their income. As a millennial, the opportunity to shift to a different job every few years adds greater individual skill and expertise. Job fluidity promotes diversity and understanding of different types of people and cultures, as well as strengthens interpersonal skills, expands problem-solving abilities, and ultimately creates a more fulfilling career than generations prior. Millennials see what they like and go after it, though not because of being overly nurtured, spoiled, or dependent on someone or a device. Millennials are arguably more driven, because the ideas of creation, newness, and collective prosperity are ongoing, unlike our parents and grandparents who focused heavily on financial and socioeconomic stability. Moreover, the chance to challenge managers, bosses, and mentors to think bigger and provide abstract thought and solutions is more plausible for millennials. Access to opportunity can only be ceased if someone’s mindset is fixated on one door opening, but millennials are the door hinge that leaves room growth, information, and optimism every time.

There is a vast understanding of world dynamics and individual needs today, and technology has allowed millennials to charge into various niches and roles to better enhance the human experience while promoting longevity. Even so, the consequence of increased access to data and computerization is the higher risk of falling into the trap of false judgment and quick rationale. Speed has enhanced the workplace, but data with no manipulation and thought can lead to inadequate answers and mistakes. The greatest asset that millennials have is communication. In a day and age when globalization is at its peak, diversity has a more prevalent role in the workplace and should be used to its full advantage. Diversity allows for various forms of interpretation and connectivity. As a result, relationship building combined with the exploration of data and the wants and needs of our communities should motivate millennials and future generations to continuously break barriers in the area of human development.