You’re the most anxious generation on record.
That’s not an insult, it’s just what the statistics show. Gen Z reports higher rates of anxiety and depression than any previous generation. You’re more likely to seek therapy, more likely to take mental health seriously, more likely to talk openly about struggling.
This isn’t weakness. It’s awareness. And maybe honesty that previous generations lacked.
If you’ve already embraced therapy, medication where needed, and actually talking about mental health, meditation might be the next obvious tool. Not as a replacement for what you’re already doing — as an addition.
Why the wellness vibe is offputting
I get it. Meditation marketing often feels like:
- Privileged people in minimalist white rooms
- “Good vibes only” toxic positivity
- Expensive retreats in Bali
- Spiritual bypassing that ignores real problems
- Corporate mindfulness that just wants you more productive
It’s enough to make you reject the whole thing.
But meditation predates that aesthetic by about 2,500 years. The core practice is just: sit, pay attention, notice when your mind wanders, return. It doesn’t require crystals, burning incense, or posting about it.
The wellness industrial complex has wrapped meditation in packaging that might not appeal to you. The actual practice is beneath that packaging, and it’s simpler and more practical than the marketing suggests.
What meditation actually offers
Let me be concrete about what consistent practice provides:
Early warning system. You notice anxiety building before it becomes a panic attack. You catch rumination loops earlier. Awareness creates options.
Space between trigger and reaction. Something annoying happens, and there’s a tiny gap before you react. Enough to choose a response rather than just explode.
Better relationship with thoughts. Instead of believing every anxious thought, you start recognising: “There’s my brain doing the anxious thing again.” Some distance from the mental chatter.
Actual rest. Scrolling TikTok isn’t restful — your nervous system is still stimulated. Genuine stillness actually restores energy.
Self-knowledge. What triggers you. What calms you. How your mind actually works. This stuff is useful.
None of this requires spirituality, special beliefs, or joining anything.
Why your generation might be better at this
Here’s the thing: you might actually be predisposed to meditation success.
You already believe in mental health practices. Therapy isn’t weird to you. Meditation is essentially self-directed mental training — same general territory.
You know that struggling is normal. Older generations often carried shame about anxiety or depression. You talk about it. That openness is actually what meditation requires — honest acknowledgment of what’s happening internally.
You’re already introspective. Journaling, therapy, self-reflection — you’re used to examining your inner experience. Meditation is just another form of that.
You’re familiar with guided content. Apps, YouTube, podcasts — you’re comfortable learning through audio/visual guides. Guided meditation is just another flavor of this.
The barriers that stopped previous generations often don’t apply to you.
What makes this generation different
I won’t pretend to fully understand what it’s been like to grow up:
- With social media as a constant presence
- Watching climate change unfold through viral videos
- During a pandemic that disrupted the most formative years
- With economic prospects that feel diminished compared to previous generations
- Surrounded by constant comparison and performance
That’s a lot to carry. Anxiety makes sense as a response to that context.
Meditation won’t fix the external circumstances. It doesn’t address systemic problems. But it offers tools for managing the nervous system that’s responding to all of it.
When everything feels unstable, the ability to find stillness in your own mind is worth something.
Practical starting points
If you’re interested but don’t know how to begin:
Start with 5 minutes. That’s it. Sit, close your eyes, pay attention to breathing. When you drift into thoughts, come back. Five minutes, done.
Don’t expect to like it. The first few sessions are usually uncomfortable. Your mind races, you feel restless, you wonder what the point is. This is normal. It doesn’t mean it’s not working.
Skip the woo. You don’t need to believe anything spiritual. Think of it as brain training, like going to a mental gym.
Try apps if helpful. Guided meditation removes guesswork. You can also use YouTube free content if subscription apps feel unappealing.
Allow it to be boring. Nothing dramatic happens during meditation. That’s fine. The effects show up in life outside the practice — slightly less reactive, slightly more aware.
AI meditation and your generation
Full disclosure: this is an article on InTheMoment, so obviously I’ll mention what we do.
AI meditation creates sessions based on what you’re actually dealing with. You have a brief conversation about where you’re at, and the session adapts.
This appeals to your generation, I think, because:
- It’s personalised, not one-size-fits-all
- It takes your actual situation seriously rather than offering generic platitudes
- It adapts to your language, your framing, your needs
- You can mention specific issues (anxiety, overthinking, social comparison) and the session addresses them
Two free sessions per day, no subscription required for the free tier.
But honestly, the core practice works with or without apps. A timer and some quiet is enough.
Common Gen Z pushback
“I can’t sit still. My brain is too fast.”
Yeah, that’s why meditation helps. You’re not supposed to start with a calm mind. The racing is what you’re learning to work with.
“I don’t have time.”
Five minutes. That’s the same as one scroll through Insta. You have time — it’s just allocated elsewhere.
“What’s the point if it doesn’t fix external problems?”
Fair. Meditation doesn’t change the world. But it changes your capacity to handle whatever the world throws at you. That’s worth something.
“This feels like hustle culture for my brain.”
I hear this, and it’s a valid concern. Meditation isn’t about optimising yourself or becoming more productive for capitalism.
Think of it more as: developing the ability to rest in your own mind without needing constant stimulation. That’s not productivity — it’s the opposite.
“My anxiety needs medication, not meditation.”
That might be true. Medication is legitimate. Meditation can work alongside it — it’s not either/or.
What I’d say if you’re on the fence
You’re already doing the hardest part: taking mental health seriously.
Meditation is just another tool in that toolkit. Not the only tool, not necessarily the most important one, but useful.
Give it a genuine trial — a few weeks of regular practice — and see what happens. You don’t need to commit permanently or believe anything. Just try it.
If it helps, you have a new resource. If not, you’ve lost nothing.
Your generation faces unprecedented challenges with unusual honesty about mental health. Meditation fits naturally into that approach. It might be more your thing than you expect.
Want to try meditation that actually addresses what you’re dealing with? Get started with two free sessions per day — tell us what’s going on and we’ll create something for you.