Many of us remember the weekends of our youth packed with pub crawls, recovery over breakfasts and lunches with friends, and tickets to games and concerts. Social invitations were coveted, and saying yes was expected. For most Gen Z and millennials, social media (ICQ, anyone?) obligations took over their remaining free time too.
But the allure of busy social lives has faded for some folks, and a new trend is emerging. Adults who’ve had a taste of a slower-paced, quieter life are finding that hopping off the social hamster wheel can be rewarding. An increasing number of young adults are taking up solo hobbies like reading, journaling, or hiking, and they’re turning down plans in favour of ‘me time.’
While trading the craic for a couch would’ve sounded horribly boring in our teens, it’s no surprise in our stressful world that pressing pause with a casual game or book is now tempting for a generation in need of rest.
So, cozy up with tea and a blanket, read on, and embrace quality time in your own company.
Social Burnout Is Real, and So Are the Consequences
A 2024 UK survey suggests a quarter of young adults avoid phone calls. Maybe it’s the outmoded form of communication (or maybe it’s the crushing pressure and dread), but ringtones and doorbells alike cue many adults to run and hide. The same survey noted that over half of the participants expect surprise phone calls to be bad news. It’s clear that we’re collectively wound up.
We can also speculate that work and social obligations are maxing out people’s bandwidths, and the instinct to disconnect is growing. However, rather than put down the phones altogether, we often opt for texts and running conversations with friends (or strangers) on multiple social media platforms. Those same apps provide additional pressure to be fun, do stuff, film it, and post it.
Modern life hasn’t left anyone room to breathe. The concept of burnout wasn’t well known or discussed 20 years ago, but it’s a pressing issue now, and we’re finally paying attention to it.
Adults are recognizing their need to decompress.
They’re realizing that alone time is not reclusive, or even antisocial. Instead, it’s about balance and recognizing that refilling our cups is self-care, making us better people to be around when we do venture out.
The Mindfulness Movement
For all its drawbacks (doomscrolling comes to mind), we can credit social media for growing awareness around mental health and mindfulness.
Journaling has drawn new devotees since the 2010s and continues to make amateur writers and poets of many. Numerous studies have shown that writing your thoughts down, for yourself only, can have positive psychological effects.
Walking and hiking also encourage introspection. Regular walking is excellent for your physical body, but the chance to be alone with your thoughts or prayers as you explore the neighbourhood or a soothing environment boosts mental health, too.
Solo hobbies like painting, gardening, or practicing an instrument help us slip into a calming ‘flow state’ – that feeling of being completely immersed in a task. These mindful moments quiet the noise, inside and around us, settling the storm so we can contemplate still waters within.
Digital Downtime – Without the Social Anxiety
Digital entertainment gets a bad rap when it comes to screen fatigue and social media overload. But not all screen time needs to feel depleting.
While wading into the latest online debate or clicking through miserable headlines can wreak real emotional havoc, there’s a lighter way to make your phone or tablet a mini brain retreat.
Adults are rediscovering games, puzzles, and podcasts that pair perfectly with a cozy chair and coffee. A bit of wordplay, a puzzle app, or even the classic solitaire can offer a mood lift and mental workout, without the drama. And with the latest slot websites on Casinos.com offering more games than you can shake a mouse at, the options are practically infinite. Games and podcasts are engaging, motivating, and educational. But most importantly, they bring joy instead of stress. Less doom, more delight.
The New Craic: Knowing When to Stay In
Of course, the craic is alive and well. We still love to laugh with friends, have nights out that lead to adventure, and have weekends full of good food and company. What’s changing is the notion that socializing should be constant or come at the cost of your personal growth and self-care.
Younger millennials and Gen Z aren’t rejecting connection. But we are developing the ability to say, ‘not tonight, thanks, ’ and learning to love quiet time as much as a lively party. It’s a celebration of boundaries, perhaps, and rediscovering pastimes we once enjoyed.
Whether curling up with Netflix, journaling, or playing a casual game, we’re choosing what we want to do, not just what looks Instagram-worthy.
Why Quiet Time Is Good for Society, and the Soul
Some surprising data across the globe suggests that young adults who don’t drink may be the new normal. Since 2011, the proportion of adults declining alcohol each week reduced by around 50%. Teetotalling carries the benefit of hangover-free clarity and a little more time to spend creatively.
The Covid era also had a role to play in people everywhere rediscovering at-home activities. The heaviness of worldwide events drove us to comforting, nostalgic pastimes and allowed plenty of space to learn and develop new skills that were hiding behind a social buzz wall.
It seems that once this generation experienced space to think, breathe, and process life at a different pace, going back to full calendars wasn’t as appealing. We’ve found something deeply satisfying in cultivating a little fortress of peace while the world rages on around us. And this trend just might improve societal health and well-being in the long run.
Embrace the Pause
If you’ve ever felt a twinge of guilt when passing on social invites, or the impulse to make your Friday night in sound wilder than popcorn and a movie for one, consider the trade-off to saying yes because you should. It’s OK, and even trendy, to prioritize what you need.
So, if your life could use more quiet time, make a date with yourself to have it.
Dress code is slippers and a robe; the guest list is the most important person you know. Turn off notifications, group chats, and news. Grab a puzzle, a DIY project, or settle into a solo game.
Like so many of us, you’ll discover that embracing quiet isn’t missing out – it’s tuning in. A little retreat from life to recalibrate and focus inward is a return to yourself. And in a world that never seems to slow down, taking that ground for yourself is essential.