Overwhelmed And Online: Young Americans Feel Stressed Over Half The Month, Survey Finds

Gen Zers and millennials are grappling with an overwhelming pace of daily life, feeling stressed an average of 17 days out of each month, according to a new survey.

The national poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Califia Farms, found that younger generations feel inundated by nearly every aspect of their lives — from maintaining relationships and navigating digital overload to making everyday food choices.

More than four in five respondents said they feel overwhelmed by their social lives (88%), digital lives (83%), and even their diets (81%). Socially, 38% cited the difficulty of maintaining relationships, while 32% struggle to find time to connect with friends and family. On the digital front, 42% said too much screen time is draining, and 35% felt overwhelmed by social media.

Food and nutrition also pose a challenge. Forty-five percent said choosing healthy foods is overwhelming, followed by grocery shopping (40%) and meal preparation (33%). Nearly a quarter said just reading nutrition labels is too much, and 65% admitted they feel confused by long ingredient lists.

Despite these stressors, the idea of simplifying daily routines is gaining traction. Sixty-eight percent of respondents said theyre drawn to a “less is more” lifestyle, and 61% have already embraced some aspects of it. Simpler living is showing up in peoples homes, wardrobes, diets, and workout routines.

Diet in particular is becoming a focal point of this simplification. Seventy-four percent of respondents said simplicity in ingredients is important when choosing food and beverage products, and 64% found the idea of “simple eating” appealing. For many, that means shopping for items with fewer processed ingredients, less added sugar, or shorter ingredient lists.

“A simple diet filled with whole foods and products that contain recognizable, pantry-friendly ingredients can have a profound impact by making people feel better and more aligned with their wellness goals,” said Suzanne Ginestro, Chief Marketing Officer at Califia Farms. “Its a small and approachable, but powerful, way to take care of yourself every day.”

The study found that simple living efforts are having an effect. Forty-five percent of respondents said living more simply made them feel calmer, while others said it made them feel more relaxed (41%), refreshed (38%), or mentally healthier (37%).

Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they believe simple eating can improve their health, and 63% said theyd be willing to change their shopping habits to support it.

“Its no surprise that Gen Z and Millennials are overwhelmed with our always on culture; there is a lot we cant control, so people are turning to simplified routines to reclaim a sense of calm,” Ginestro said. “Even something like an easy-to-understand, simple ingredient list can offer reassurance and signal that a product is better-for-you and supports a wellness-focused lifestyle. Simple living is gaining popularity because it can be both refreshing and empowering.”