CURATED READS FOR GEN Z—AND THEIR Z-CURIOUS COLLEAGUES

first up

Welcome back! This week, we’re looking at Gen Z’s wellness habits.

At the top of Gen Z’s “in” list this year: all things wellness. 

Gen Zers and millennials are now purchasing more wellness products and services than older generations are according to McKinsey’s latest Future of Wellness research, which surveyed more than 5,000 consumers across China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

Our research, by McKinsey senior partner Warren Teichner and coauthors, shows that Gen Z is most interested in wellness spending that is focused on appearance and overall health. They also outspend older consumers on mindfulness-related wellness products such as meditation classes, mindfulness apps, and therapy sessions (no surprise here, given Gen Z’s mental health challenges).   
 
Other findings from the report: 56 percent of Gen Z consumers in the United States say fitness is a “very high priority,” compared with 40 percent of US consumers overall. Plus, a focus on healthy aging isn’t exclusive to older generations interested in improving their longevity; younger consumers, too, are seeking preventive solutions to health issues typically associated with aging. 

There are a bunch of possible reasons why Gen Z is so interested in health and wellness at such a young age. For one thing, Gen Z has more exposure and access to information about health and wellness at an earlier age than other generations have had (FitTok alone, a corner of TikTok where people share workouts, food plans, and other fitness-related content, has amassed more than 64 billion views). It’s also possible that the COVID-19 pandemic—which catalyzed a global focus on health and wellness—coincided with Gen Z’s formative years. And to stave off loneliness, Gen Z is looking for friends in so-called third places, which often include gyms or fitness classes.

Wellness brands are already adapting their offerings to better appeal to Gen Zers (one fitness brand, for example, is creating content directly for social media platforms). 

But Gen Z’s wellness preferences are affecting more than just companies devoting themselves exclusively to that space. Hotels, for example, are broadening their wellness center and gym offerings to appeal to their youngest clients (and the best ones will integrate generative AI to help their fitness offerings stand out). One travel advertising exec says Gen Z has been interested in excursions that include forest bathing (take a walk on the wild side!), fruit harvesting (a Fuji apple a day), and plant-based cooking courses (yes, chef). 

Companies can think about wellness not just as a product or service but as an employee benefit, too. Perks such as gym membership stipends or mental health resources, for example, could help businesses attract more Gen Z employees.

VISUALIZE IT

Climate adaptation plans, which help mitigate the risks of climate change, can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions—a win–win.

WAIT, DON’T SCROLL

Closing the health gap. A woman will spend an average of nine years of her life in poor health, 25 percent more time than a man will.

Prepare to engage. This quiz can help identify whether you’re a thriving star or if you have one foot out the proverbial door at work.

Fire skill. Interpersonal skills and an ability to drive business impact are the skills favored over traditional expertise when hiring for finance jobs.

NOT US; STILL GREAT

Put a ring on it. Meet “the ring guy,” a Gen Z archetypal figure who isn’t afraid to show off a little (or a lot of) hardware. [WSJ]

Pinky up. Some companies will offer “etiquette classes” to their employees in 2024 to help reacclimate newly returned in-office workers who became a little too comfy working from home. [Fortune]

CROSSWORD

— Edited by Alexandra Mondalek, editor, New York