Boomers spent most of their youth following rules. They were told not to make waves & never talk about feelings, just smile through it. But Gen Z lives completely differently. It’s not necessarily better. Just freer. Here are seventeen things boomers may envy about Gen Z. Which one would’ve made your 20s better?
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They can say “no”
Saying “no” used to involve giving a full explanation & a backup excuse. You’d feel so guilty doing it. But not for Gen Z, who will straight up say that they’re not feeling it. They’ll move on like it’s no big deal because it really isn’t. Most boomers still double-check their calendars to find a reason not to go if they’re invited. It’s not easy for them.
They talk about therapy openly
It’s incredible how casually Gen Z mentions therapy. They’ll mention that their therapist told them something, like it’s no big deal. Because it isn’t. However, Boomers were often afraid even to mention therapy, and they treated it like it was a scandal. Half of them probably needed it, but nobody ever said it out loud. They’re envious of this openness.
They can live alone & not be judged
Previously, living alone used to be a much weirder experience. It involved people asking you when you were settling down. Why? Because someone who lived alone went against social rules. These days, Gen Z rents a tiny apartment & throws up some LED lights, and it’s entirely normal. Nobody’s asking if they’re okay. It’s just…okay.
They don’t pretend to be okay at work
The old way involves showing up to work & keeping your mouth shut. You could never, ever let on that you’re struggling. However, Gen Z will openly tell their bosses when they feel overwhelmed & then take a day off for mental health. Many boomers wish they could do this. It’d feel better, that’s for sure.
They skip big weddings without guilt
Huge weddings were a normal expectation for Boomers, even if they didn’t want one. Somehow, they were roped into planning a 100-person event with chicken or fish. Gen Z is over it. They prefer to get married in a backyard wearing Converse. But that’s not necessarily a sign of being rebellious. It’s just what they actually want. What’s wrong with that?
They don’t buy houses they can’t afford
For boomers, owning a home was the greatest sign of success. That meant that not having one was a sign of failure. But not for Gen Z, who mostly can’t afford to buy one. Instead, they can rent a cool apartment downtown without stressing about gutters. They’d rather have freedom than a mortgage. How liberating.
They aren’t ashamed to be soft
Crying in public & saying that they need a hug is the norm for Gen Z. They’re okay telling their friends they’re sad. But boomers had to put on a brave face, especially men. Lots of them will say they’re fine when they’re absolutely not. Some boomers envy Gen Z’s honesty. And rightly so.
They take breaks before breaking down
Most Boomers never learned to stop before they crashed. However, Gen Z will block off whole weekends. For what? Well, to literally do nothing. They’re fine with being unproductive for a bit & not getting things done. They know burnout’s real, and they don’t need to hit rock bottom to take a breather. That’s amazing.
They normalize not wanting kids
Not wanting kids wasn’t possible for boomers. After all, the expectation was that they’d get married & pop one out straight away. But Gen Z’s perfectly fine with saying they’re not having kids. Nobody tries to talk them out of it, and they see it as a choice. Because it is one.
They dress for self-expression
Gen Z wears what they want, like baggy jeans & fairy wings. They might even have some thrifted cardigans from 2003. Boomers envy that Gen Z doesn’t think it needs to “match.” They grew up needing to look appropriate. And sometimes, that involved uncomfortable shoes & stiff collars. No wonder they wish they had this fashion freedom.
They talk about neurodivergence
In the past, nobody really had the words for ADHD or autism, unless it came with some stigma. But Gen Z now talks about executive dysfunction like it’s completely normal. They’ll share coping tips online & know how to ask for support instead of hiding it. It’s a kind of language that didn’t exist for Boomers. And they wish it did.
They quit jobs that don’t respect them
Boomers stayed in bad jobs for years, mostly for the pension & sense of security. However, Gen Z will leave a toxic job mid-week if they’re not feeling it. That kind of attitude is something boomers wish they had. They’d love to know they’re not stuck in a job just because. It’s not something Boomers were always taught.
They don’t force friendships to last
Some Gen Zers are happy to end friendships that don’t work for them. And it’s not with a huge argument. Instead, just a quick conversation that it’s not going so well, and it’s time to call it quits. Meanwhile, Boomers still call people weekly out of habit. They’re jealous that Gen Z’s able to end toxic things so easily.
They talk to their parents like equals
The younger generation is comfortable being direct with their parents. In fact, they’ll openly say they’re not discussing this right now, or how something made them feel uneasy. However, Boomers never dreamed of saying this stuff to their parents. It was “Yes sir, yes ma’am,” even if you were 40. They’re envious that Gen Z can be so honest.
They don’t pretend to know everything
You’ll hear Gen Zers tell people all the time that they have no clue about something. Then, they’ll ask them to explain, but they won’t sound embarrassed at all. Boomers, on the other hand, were expected to always have an answer. This usually meant faking it. That pressure to appear knowledgeable never really left.
They leave bad dates after 20 minutes
A Gen Z date that isn’t going well usually means they’re gone before the drinks even hit the table. There’s no guilt or waiting it out, which is rather different from Boomers. They sat through entire dinners with someone they had zero interest in because it was polite. Gen Z simply walks out. It’s pretty great.
They grew up with gap years being normal
Taking a year off is just a thing Gen Zers do. Whether it involves traveling or volunteering somewhere random, it’s okay. Nobody asks ten follow-up questions or treats it like a terrible decision. Boomers didn’t have that. Not going straight to college meant people assumed something was wrong. Taking a break never felt like an option for them.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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