Generation Z, or Gen Z for short, refers to the demographic cohort born between 1997 and 2012. As digital natives who have grown up with technology and social media, Gen Z has developed unique habits and interests compared to previous generations. When it comes to relaxation and leisure time, Gen Z enjoys a diverse range of activities that allow them to unwind and recharge.
Some key questions to explore regarding how Gen Z relaxes include:
- What are the most popular relaxation activities for Gen Z?
- How does technology and social media factor into Gen Z leisure time?
- What role do experiences and travel play in Gen Z relaxation?
- How does Gen Z balance relaxation with work and academics?
- How do Gen Z leisure activities differ across gender, regions, and other demographics?
By examining surveys, research, and trends, we can gain insight into what Gen Z likes to do for fun and how they prefer to spend their free time. Understanding Gen Z relaxation habits can also reveal wider generational traits and values.
Technology and Media Activities
Given their digital upbringing, it is no surprise that technology and media activities play a major role in how Gen Z unwinds and has fun. Surveys consistently show that listening to music, watching online videos, and gaming top the list of Gen Z leisure pursuits.
Music
Listening to music is one of the most ubiquitous relaxation methods for Gen Z. With on-demand streaming through platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, Gen Z has instant access to vast libraries of music. Gen Z tends to favor purposeful and eclectic music listening, often curating playlists for specific moods, activities, or emotional states. Ambient playlists for study or relaxation are popular, as are energetic workout playlists. Music provides a personalized soundtrack for Gen Z’s lives.
Online Videos
Online videos offer Gen Z both entertainment and a sense of community. Watching YouTube, TikTok, Twitch and other streaming platforms is a daily leisure activity for many. Gen Z likes ephemeral, visual content that can be quickly consumed and shared. Whether it is their favorite influencers, humorous clips, or fandom content, videos let Gen Z tune out and decompress. Short form videos can provide mental breaks amid school or work. Binge watching longer videos can occupy free time at home.
Gaming
Gaming has expanded beyond stereotypical “gamers” to become mainstream entertainment for Gen Z. Multiplayer online games provide competitive thrills and social interaction. Casual mobile gaming fills spare minutes throughout the day. Streamers and eSports tournaments offer entertainment to watch. Immersive console and PC gaming transports players to fictional worlds where they can destress and forget real-world worries. Gaming offers cognitive challenges, community bonding, and sheer escapism that appeals to Gen Z sensibilities.
Social Media
While sometimes associated more with work and identity than leisure, social media platforms undoubtedly make up a significant portion of Gen Z relaxation time. Browsing Instagram, Snapchatting friends, or bantering in Discord servers allows Gen Z to digitally hang out when in-person socializing isn’t possible. Staying up-to-date via memes and viral content provides laughs and conversational fodder. Social media enables Gen Z to feel connected, included, and entertained even when alone.
Experiential Activities
Beyond screen-based activities, Gen Z also values tangible experiences as a way to unwind and make memories. While technology facilitates sharing experiences, Gen Z ultimately likes to live life offline as much as online. Notable experiential activities Gen Z enjoys include:
Travel
Travel has become a status symbol and bucket list aspiration for Gen Z. Ranging from quirky road trips to exotic locales, Gen Z documents and shares their adventures. Exploring new places and gaining world perspectives provides personal growth along with escape from routines. Even modest local excursions like day hiking or trying unique restaurants satisfy Gen Z’s hunger for novel experiences. More so than older generations, Gen Z has prioritized travel from a young age.
Food and Dining Out
Dining out provides an opportunity to sample diverse cuisines and immerse in culinary experiences. Gen Z has discerning and adventurous palates, favoring fresh, multicultural flavors. Foodie culture dovetails with Gen Z values of openness, exploration, and identity. Restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and pop-ups all cater to Gen Z food fans. Going out for meals or drinks fosters quality time with friends as much as the food itself.
Concerts and Events
Partaking in pop culture through live shows gives Gen Z visceral experiences and fandom community. Music festivals like Coachella or Lollapalooza deliver multi-day immersion alongside Instagrammable moments. Concerts allow Gen Z to see their favorite musicians in an intimate setting. Specialty events like Comic-Con or VidCon connect Gen Z to their passions. Being part of exciting collective moments makes memories that can’t be replicated digitally.
Outdoor Activities
Despite tech-savvy reputations, Gen Z still values tangible outdoor recreation. Hiking, cycling, kayaking, and camping allow them to unplug in nature. Outdoor activities provide exercise as well as airy relaxation. Interactive outdoor pursuits like paintball or rock climbing cater to social and adventurous Gen Z tendencies. Unique outdoor trips photographed for social media clout have become quintessential Gen Z experiences. Simple neighborhood walks or hammock sessions also provide open-air relaxation.
Creative and DIY Pursuits
Gen Z maintains some crafty facets of Millennial traits by unwinding through creative hobbies and hands-on projects. Pursuing personal passions provides a sense of fulfillment. Common creative outlets include:
DIY and Crafting
While DIY often conjures images of dowdy home projects, Gen Z has reclaimed arts, crafts, and making as enjoyable pastimes. Crafting activities like embroidery, jewelry-making, or painting appeal to Gen Z’s fondness for tangible skills and products. Following DIY tutorials on Pinterest or YouTube meshes with Gen Z learning styles. Handmade goods can also be marketed via Etsy or other ecommerce. The DIY ethos resonates with self-sufficient Gen Z aptitudes.
Cooking and Baking
Cooking and baking satisfy Gen Z’s cravings for Instagrammable experiences and shareable creations. Food Network stars and social media influencers inspire Gen Z homemade delectables. Meal prep and healthy eating dovetails with wellness tendencies. Whipping up dishes from diverse cultures bridges exploring new places and palates. Cooking together fosters quality friend and family time. For Gen Z, time in the kitchen provides nourishment, bonding, and fun creative outlets all in one.
Photography
Photography intersects technology, artistry, and social sharing for hobbyist Gen Z shutterbugs. Pristine phone cameras make photography universally accessible and impromptu. Photo editing apps allow limitless digital manipulation. Posting photos on Instagram or other platforms wins “likes” and a sense of pride. Photography offers creative challenges along with opportunities to appreciate beauty and meaning in the world. As an added perk, photography skills earn “influencing” potential.
Writing
While required academic writing may dampen enthusiasm, many Gen Zers rediscover writing as a passion. Writing for pleasure looks like journaling, fanfiction, poetry, blogging and more. Writing helps organize thoughts and emotions. Storytelling fulfills creative yearnings. Writing groups or sharing online foster connections. For some, writing provides catharsis. For others, it is an imaginative escape. Nonfiction essays also allow Gen Z to work through cultural ideas and build their perspectives. Writing taps into Gen Z introspection.
Health and Wellness Activities
Reflecting wider cultural shifts, Gen Z also prioritizes health, wellness and self-care to find balance and relieve stress. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being contribute to overall relaxation. Favorite wellness activities include:
Exercise and Sports
Fitness activities like going to the gym, yoga, pilates, and recreational sports help Gen Z maintain physical health. Solo exercise offers mind-clearing benefits. Group exercise builds community and camaraderie. Gen Z embraces a range of mainstream and boutique fitness regimens. Sports provide friendly competition and intrinsic enjoyment. Active pursuits produce feel-good endorphins and energetic replenishment. They also look great on the ‘gram.
Pampering and Spa Days
Gen Z seems skeptical of institutional religion, but they consider themselves “spiritual” and find sanctity in practices like meditation, crystal work, astrology and tarot. Spiritual practices satisfy Gen Z curiosity about unseen forces and desire for meaning making. Wellness activities also increasingly include pampering like face masks, baths, mani-pedis and massage. Dedicating time to physical appearance care promotes confidence and self-esteem. Overall, spiritual and pampering practices align with Gen Z valuing the sacred self.
Mental Health Practices
Perhaps more so than previous generations, Gen Z openly acknowledges mental health as key to overall wellness. Meditating, journaling, self-reflection and therapy provide mental health maintenance. Mindfulness apps like Calm have achieved popularity among Gen Z users. Burnout from academic and economic pressures commonly hamper Gen Z mental health. Wellness practices offer solutions for cultivating peace, resilience, and purpose. For transparent Gen Z, taking care of emotional and psychological needs is essential to relaxing fully.
Quality Time with Loved Ones
Despite stereotypes of isolation and virtual interaction, Gen Z relationships remain vital for happiness. Face-to-face interaction provides grounding and comfort. Sharing activities and conversations with friends, family, and romantic partners deepen bonds. Even introverted Gen Zers appreciate companionship in moderation. Simple hangs like seeing a movie, grabbing boba or shopping offer escape from daily stresses. Regular quality time replenishes Gen Z’s social cup and reaffirms what matters most.
How Gen Z Balances Relaxation with Work and Academics
With school, jobs, extracurriculars and more cramming 24/7 schedules, finding time to relax proves challenging for Gen Z. Multitasking, balance, and intentionality help Gen Z fit relaxation alongside other obligations.
School and Studying
– Study music playlists improve focus while offering auditory relaxation
– Short dance breaks or walks between study sessions provide mental breathers
– Limited social media breaks for laughs and connecting with friends
– Studying in relaxing environments like cafes, parks, or cozy lounges
– Creative study methods like rewriting notes as song parodies
Part-Time Jobs
– Requesting occasional weekends off to recharge and pursue hobbies
– Spending paychecks to fund relaxation experiences like concerts or trips
– Making work more fun by socializing with colleagues during shifts
– Finding meaning and relaxation in jobs related to passions or helping others
– Unwinding after shifts through decompressing rituals like baths or favorite shows
Extracurricular Activities
– Choosing hobbies aligned with personal interests that provide intrinsic enjoyment
– Adjusting weekly commitment levels to avoid overscheduling and burnout
– Bonding and relaxing with activity teammates during downtime like bus rides
– Making time for genuine friendships and down time within clubs and groups
– Gaining mental escapes through creative or physically active leisure pursuits
Overall, Gen Z must be intentional about interspersing relaxation amid obligatory activities. Taking mini-breaks, multi-tasking leisure and work, and regularly freeing up restorative time keeps busy Gen Zers happily relaxed.
Demographics Differences in How Gen Z Relaxes
Gen Z leisure habits and attitudes show interesting geographic, gender, and other demographic variations.
Gender
| Female | Male |
| – Pampering like face masks | – Gaming |
| – Shopping | – Sports |
| – Creative hobbies like painting | – Outdoor adventures |
| – Wellness activities like yoga and meditation | – Lewd humor and raucous fun with friends |
| – Meaningful conversations | – Competitive activities |
Females skew toward beauty, creativity, and emotional renewal. Males prefer humor, thrills, and friendly one-upmanship. However, these are not hard rules as interests increasingly transcend gender.
Region
Regionally, relaxation habits reflect local cultures and environment.
West Coast: Outdoorsy activities, holistic wellness, foodie culture
Midwest: Community group activities, sports fandom, game nights
South: Football culture, faith-based activities, outdoor recreation
Northeast: Arts scene engagement, intellectual pursuits, travel culture
Coastal metropolises offer vast experiential and dining options. Rural areas provide outdoor recreation access. Overall, local context shapes regional pastimes.
Race/Ethnicity
| Asian | Academic enrichment pursuits. Competitive gaming. |
| Black | Faith community engagement. Rhythm-driven fitness and dance. |
| Hispanic/Latinx | Family-centric time. Music and movement. |
| White | Outdoor recreation. Mainstream entertainment options. |
Cultural values influence community ties and activity preferences. However, intercultural borrowing increasingly mixes influences.
Socioeconomic Status
Affluence enables more lavish vacations, equipment ownership, and leisure class experiences. Working class Gen Zers cherish affordable, accessible activities like park hangs, gaming, TV binging, and home crafts. All SES levels find meaning in family time.
Conclusion
Despite wide diversity, unifying Gen Z leisure themes emerge around creativity, activism, identity expression, and digital-tangible life balance. Relaxation provides essential counterbalance to hectic Gen Z lifestyles. Understanding modern youth leisure habits reveals broader generational worldviews. Gen Z recreation continues evolving new breeds of activities fusing values, technology, and culture.