A new study has revealed that out of all of us Gen Z take the longest time to destress after work – but there is one simple thing that can help shake off work worries
It takes most of us some time to completely unwind after a long day at work. For some of us, it might take the whole journey home, while for others it could be the moment they shut down their computer. However, a new study has revealed that Gen Z actually takes the longest to destress after finishing their job for the day. But the key to solving this may be simpler than we thought.
The average amount of time it takes a person to relax after work, regardless of which generation they belong, to is about 25 minutes, although one in particular shows a much more consistent need for time to totally switch off after a full day of the grind. Commissioned by Miracle-Gro, the study of 2000 employed adults found that nearly every single Gen Z respondent (98%) said they definitely needed to take at least some time to decompress after work, with 15% of them admitting that this can take more than an hour.
However, nearly a third of Boomers (28%) claim that they don’t need any time at all and are simply able to switch-off the moment their job is done. For those who don’t wind down so easily, problems at work, including difficult colleagues, tight deadlines and high workloads, were cited as reasons for residual stress. Most of the respondents, no matter their age, agreed that at least some time was needed before they are able to relax and enjoy the rest of their evening without the worries of work getting to them.
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On top of this, many of us are struggling with feeling like we have a poor-work-life balance. Of those that took part in this study, 40% revealed that they are regularly thinking about their job outside of working hours, while 11% would go as far as to describe their work-life balance as “terrible”.
A YouGov poll recently found that the younger generations are more likely to feel unhappy with their work-life balance, with the stats showing that 15% of 18 to 24 year-olds feel this way. Even more concerningly, over a fifth of 25 to 34 year-olds agreed they consistently felt their balance between work and down time slipping.
But with many of us spending our working days in front of a laptop, this new study aims to encourage stressed-out workers to take a moment out of hum-drum of busy every day life to simply reconnect with the natural outside world. Presenter and gardening enthusiast, Jo Whiley, suggests taking part in the growing social trend of ‘touching grass’. This is something that Whiley claims is no “passing fad” but a really effective way of “reconnecting with nature”.
She said: “Touching grass isn’t some passing fad, but a trend that genuinely means something by helping people unwind. You don’t need a big garden to do this – tending to a window box, or herbs in pots, can be just as mindful as a walk in a wood or being outside relaxing on your lawn.”
Participants listed a number of methods they use to combat post-work stresses such as watching their favourite TV shows, listening to music or enjoying a glass of wine or a beer, but just 26% said they will sit out in their garden when the sun is out. Even worse, only 9% of those polled admitted they frequently seek out grass, trees, soil, flowers and water – which makes them feel calmer and “at peace”.
Rather than swapping one screen out for another when we leave work and scrolling though TikTok or sticking on the latest bingeable TV series, Whiley suggests that just going outside could be the key to letting go of our work worries. And she’s not the only one to say this. Studies have consistently shown that spending time in nature can significantly reduce stress and improve well-being. Harvard research showed that just 20 minutes in the outdoors has the power to reduce the levels of stress hormones in our bodies.
RHS Therapeutic Gardener Ozichi Brewster also agrees and said in relation to the MiracleGto study: “As sentient beings that experience a range of positive and negative feelings we are constantly at risk of being overwhelmed by the conditions we are living in, we need time to rest and reset.
He explained that being outside can have real, tangible effects on out health, saying: “Spending time in nature, touching grass and having regular exposure to natural light, all have a long list of healing effects and long-term wellbeing benefits. They trigger the release of the four feel-good hormones, dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin, which boost energy and increases relaxation when we are engaged in nature.”
It is easy to want to shut out the world after a long and stressful day, but as the summer months roll in and the evenings get longer and warmer, all the evidence points towards the outdoors, which is exactly where we should all be heading. So this afternoon, when you’re leaving your office or have put your laptop away for the evening, take a moment to appreciate the beautiful nature that lies just outside your door. If you get the chance, find a patch of grass and give it a touch – it could make all the difference.