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- Gen Z admires how Millennials normalized therapy and self-care but questions their obsession with side hustles and brunch culture.
- From thrifting to sustainable living, Gen Z is embracing some Millennial trends while ditching the need for Instagram perfection.
- This list captures what Gen Z loves and leaves behind from Millennials, as they create their own identity shaped by balance and realness.
We Asked 20 Gen Z'ers: What’s One Thing You Love from Millennials, and One Thing You'd Leave Behind?
Alright, so Millennials have kind of paved the way for Gen Z in all kinds of ways—some great and some, well, questionable. We’ve seen them pull off cool things like normalizing therapy, talking about mental health, and making thrift shopping the new fashion trend. But there are also a few things Gen Z’ers are side-eyeing, like their obsession with coffee as a personality trait (we get it, you love lattes) or the endless hustle culture that makes 24/7 work seem normal.
Curious about the balance of admiration and critique, we asked 20 Gen Z’ers to spill the tea on one thing they love about Millennials and one thing they’d leave behind. From self-care rituals to social media habits, Gen Z is definitely taking notes—just with a few adjustments! Here’s what they had to say, in their own words. Get ready for some real, unfiltered insights!
1. Self-Care Heroes & Side Hustle Overload
Love It: “They’re all about that ‘treat yourself’ vibe. I think Millennials taught us it’s okay to chill and focus on self-care. Sometimes we need that reminder, you know? Life’s hard enough, so why not make time for a face mask and Netflix?”
Not Feeling It: “Their obsession with side hustles. Like, it’s exhausting to think about working 24/7 just to barely get by. I get wanting to make extra cash, but Millennials made it feel like you need three jobs just to ‘make it,’ and that’s way too much.”
—Jayden, 19, Seattle, WA
2. Therapy Is Cool, But Prioritize Your Wallet!
Love It: “I actually dig how they normalized therapy. Talking about mental health? We all needed that, and they really paved the way. It’s refreshing to see them talk openly about therapy like it’s no big deal.”
Not Feeling It: “The whole ‘I’m so broke, but I still got Starbucks’ thing. Like, prioritize a little! It’s wild that they’ll say they’re broke but then drop $7 on a latte every day. Maybe skip a few coffees and save up!”
—Olivia, 21, Austin, TX
3. Sharing is Caring… But Also, Too Much?
Love It: “Millennials taught me how to be open online. They were the first to post their lives, and now I feel less weird sharing mine. They made social media a thing, and I kinda love how they shared everything—from big wins to random selfies.”
Not Feeling It: “Their obsession with their phones. Do we really need to document every single moment? I’d rather live in the moment sometimes, and it feels like Millennials don’t get that balance.”
—Noah, 18, Chicago, IL
4. Vintage Vibes & Overdone Adulting
Love It: “I think Millennials gave us some style inspo, especially with their love for thrift shopping and vintage vibes. They made ‘old’ cool again, and I’m totally here for it. My closet’s like 90% thrifted thanks to them!”
Not Feeling It: “Their ‘adulting is hard’ motto. Like, yeah, life’s tough, but complaining won’t make it easier. They made ‘adulting’ sound like it’s this impossible mountain, and it kinda gets old hearing about it.”
—Sophia, 22, Miami, FL
5. Meme Culture Win & Coffee Obsession
Love It: “They gave us meme culture. Like, we owe them for the laughs. Memes are basically their legacy, and they’re what make the internet fun. I can’t imagine social media without them.”
Not Feeling It: “Their obsession with coffee. It’s like a personality trait for them, and I just don’t get it. Every Millennial bio is like ‘Coffee is life,’ and I’m over here sipping water.”
—Ethan, 20, Los Angeles, CA
6. Vulnerability Vibes & Hustle Culture Critique
Love It: “Millennials taught us it’s okay to be emotional and vulnerable. We’re human, right? They made it normal to talk about feelings, and I think that’s super healthy.”
Not Feeling It: “Their hustle culture mentality. I’d rather work smarter, not harder. Millennials made it seem like you’re supposed to grind 24/7, but that’s not the life I want.”
—Ava, 19, New York, NY
7. Self-Care Shoutouts & Participation Trophy Fatigue
Love It: “They really pushed the importance of self-care, which I appreciate. It’s okay to take breaks, and Millennials made that acceptable. I think we all need that mindset sometimes.”
Not Feeling It: “Their love for participation trophies. We don’t need a pat on the back for everything. Let’s keep the trophies for, like, real achievements.”
—Liam, 23, Toronto, Canada
8. Career Freedom & Instagram Perfection
Love It: “They made it okay to change careers and try new things. I love that freedom. Millennials showed us it’s cool to reinvent yourself, and I think that’s inspiring.”
Not Feeling It: “Their fixation on Instagram-perfect lives. It’s all filters, and we see right through it. Life isn’t perfect, and we’re kinda over the fake.”
—Emma, 18, Denver, CO
9. Plant-Based Trends & Avocado Overkill
Love It: “Millennials made veganism and plant-based diets a trend. Thanks for that! They got people thinking about what they eat, and I think it’s great for the planet and for us.”
Not Feeling It: “The avocado toast obsession. We get it, it’s tasty, but enough already. There are other foods, people!”
—Mason, 20, San Francisco, CA
10. Green Consciousness & Cringe Drinking Culture
Love It: “I like that they started the environmental conversation. Reusable bags, anyone? They made green living cool, and we need that.”
Not Feeling It: “Their cringe-worthy ‘wine o’clock’ culture. Drinking isn’t a personality trait! I’m not about the constant wine jokes.”
—Isabella, 21, Dallas, TX
11. Tattoo Acceptance & Hustle Mentality
Love It: “They made tattoos and piercings more acceptable in the workplace. Props to them. Now we can have a sleeve and still get hired.”
Not Feeling It: “Their addiction to ‘hustle culture.’ I’m all about balance, not burnout. Hustling 24/7 isn’t the goal, y’all.”
—Jackson, 19, Nashville, TN
12. Mental Health Openness & Gadget Overload
Love It: “They made talking about mental health okay. Therapy should never be a taboo. It’s good that they opened up that conversation.”
Not Feeling It: “Their obsession with buying every new gadget. Minimalism, people! You don’t need all the latest tech to be happy.”
—Mia, 20, Boston, MA
13. Digital Nomad Life & Debt Crisis Anxiety
Love It: “They helped make it okay to work from anywhere. Thank you, digital nomads! That freedom is everything.”
Not Feeling It: “Their student debt crisis. I’m terrified to follow in their financial footsteps. I’m staying away from debt if I can.”
—Aiden, 22, Orlando, FL
14. Passion Projects & Plant Craze
Love It: “They taught us how to make money from passions, like blogging and vlogging. They really owned that ‘work from anywhere’ life.”
Not Feeling It: “Their weird love for houseplants. It’s like, do you need 30 plants to feel happy? One is enough for me.”
—Harper, 18, Vancouver, Canada
15. Sustainability Wins & Adulting Overkill
Love It: “Millennials really made sustainability mainstream, and that’s pretty cool. Recycling, reusing, it’s great for the planet.”
Not Feeling It: “Their obsession with ‘adulting.’ We all have to do it, so stop acting like it’s revolutionary. It’s just life!”
—Charlotte, 21, Phoenix, AZ
16. Entrepreneur Energy & Brunch Overload
Love It: “They gave us the whole ‘start your own thing’ vibe. Being your own boss is empowering, and I think they made that feel possible.”
Not Feeling It: “Their love for brunch. It’s just breakfast food, people, calm down. It’s not a personality.”
—Lucas, 23, Portland, OR
17. Internet OGs & Skinny Jeans Fixation
Love It: “They made the internet fun first—memes, gifs, all that good stuff. They taught us how to make social media fun.”
Not Feeling It: “Their attachment to outdated trends like skinny jeans. Baggy is in, people! Let’s move forward.”
—Amelia, 20, San Diego, CA
18. Career Freedom & Brand Loyalty Drama
Love It: “Millennials showed us it’s okay to follow unconventional career paths. Breaking from the 9-to-5 grind is cool with me.”
Not Feeling It: “Their obsession with brand loyalty. There’s more to life than Apple vs. Android. Let’s be open-minded.”
—Henry, 22, Atlanta, GA
19. Casual Workplace Fashion & Overdone Inspirational Quotes
Love It: “I appreciate that they introduced more casual fashion to the workplace. Thanks for making it okay to wear jeans to work.”
Not Feeling It: “Their overuse of inspirational quotes. Sometimes it’s just too much. A little realism goes a long way.”
—Lily, 19, Minneapolis, MN
20. Embracing the Weird & Cancel Culture Craze
Love It: “Millennials embraced being weird and quirky, which is honestly refreshing. It’s nice to just be yourself.”
Not Feeling It: “Their cancel culture obsession. We don’t need to cancel people for every little thing. Chill a bit, please.”
—Owen, 18, Salt Lake City, UT
Gen Z has plenty to say about Millennials—from admiring their mental health advocacy to rolling their eyes at hustle culture. They’re taking what works (hello, thrifting and self-care) and ditching what doesn’t (constant “adulting” complaints and brunch obsession). For Gen Z, it’s about balance, realness, and not feeling the need to make every latte or side hustle a personality.
So, while Millennials paved the way in many ways, Gen Z is clearly making their own path—one that values work-life balance, environmental sustainability, and authenticity over curated feeds. And let’s face it: each generation brings its own quirks, but maybe there’s room for all of us to learn from each other. Stay tuned to Woke Waves for more insights into what makes each generation unique and the lessons we’re taking forward.
#GenZvsMillennials #MillennialTrends #GenZPerspective #GenerationalDifferences #WokeWaves
