Article

Managing Anxiety and Stress: Some Solutions for Generation Z and Generation Alpha

Article

15 Juli 2024

By : Kornelia Johana Dacosta

In these days of intensive career and life management demands on the younger generation, there are pressures that require emotional control. This can be seen from Generation Alpha (2010-2020) and Generation Z (1997-2010) who have difficulty managing their emotions and tend to panic more easily. According to a survey conducted by Talentics, 11% of Generation Z tends to panic more easily than Millennials. This is an accumulation of various things such as excessive exposure to social media and also the economic pressure that comes from social pressure and FOMO.

The existence of social media such as Instagram and Twitter often brings negative side effects to the formation of one's character through various negative posts or those containing hate speech. According to a survey conducted by Digital Civility Index, Indonesia is the 29th most vulgar social media user in the Asia Pacific.

In addition to the increase in negative content and inclusive use of hate speech, there are external factors that affect anxiety and stress, namely social demands. The fluctuations in the world economy can certainly affect the work habits of Generation Z and Generation Alpha in order to achieve their goals or survive.

Doing several jobs in a short period of time without a break, having two or three jobs at once, and lack of self-appreciation caused by economic and social pressures are some of the potential causes that arise from anxiety and stress. This can lead to various side effects such as; overthinking, ulcers, insomnia, digestive disorders, and cardiovascular disorders (circulatory systems such as the heart).

Pressure that demands additional performance on the mind, can result in loss of focus. In addition, the presence of gadgets as a source of escape from excessive stress will twist and become a problem that causes addiction. Through some of these factors in the younger generation, it has the potential to result in the depletion of prolem solving abilities.

When a person experiences anxiety or stress, the body will respond by releasing hormones, which can disrupt brain concentration, especially in areas responsible for critical thinking and problem solving. Prolonged stress can lead to decreased concentration, inhibit the ability to think clearly, and reduce working memory capacity.

Moreover, anxiety tends to focus the mind on worries and negative scenarios, reducing the mental flexibility and creativity required to find effective solutions. As a result, one's ability to analyse situations, identify options and make informed decisions is hampered.

Therefore, some emotional processing techniques are needed so that the work done is not interrupted;

Regulate Breathing: With regular breathing, the dusty heartbeat will quickly subside because with the calmness of breathing, the body will release hormones that relieve stress. In addition, breathing can also regulate the supply of oxygen to the brain and other organs to relax.
Talk to Others: Discussing feelings and concerns with friends, family, or counsellors can help reduce emotional burden and find solutions. However, it is important to be mindful of the potential psychological manipulation that can be used. Look for someone to talk to who can understand and listen.
Develop a Hobby: Engaging in productive hobbies or creative activities can be a good way to distract the mind from stress and anxiety and improve overall well-being.
Manage Time Well: Creating a realistic schedule and breaking tasks down into smaller chunks can help reduce feelings of overwhelm and increase productivity. Making sure to take short breaks during long periods of work or study can also help maintain concentration and prevent fatigue.
Listen to Music: Having a selection of music to listen to while working or studying can also help the brain manage stress and anxiety.

With good stress management, a person can balance his life so that he does not easily fall ill due to excessive stress caused by the physical or mind. This is of course also very useful for students who are doing their final project who are also passionate about their career at the same time.

(Kornelia Johana / Humas UNDIRA)

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