A new trend in Generation Z: why young people choose "micro-pensions"

Young people are increasingly discussing a new idea in social networks - "micro-retirement". This is a short break from work that helps them avoid burnout and regain their strength. We are not talking about the standard retirement after 40 years, but about small pauses that a person takes right in the middle of their career.

The idea allows young people to take breaks long before they officially retire to avoid burnout, The Conversation writes.

Although the idea is not entirely new (people have taken sabbaticals, sabbaticals or part-time jobs before), young people today are talking about voluntary breaks without pay or employer support. Such breaks are usually financed by personal savings or social assistance from the state.

So why has "micro-retirement" become so popular now?

The reason is simple: stress and burnout at work have become a real problem. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that the number of deaths from heart disease and strokes due to overwork has risen by almost a third in recent years.

Studies also show that when people work too much, they become exhausted and productivity drops. This often leads to sleep problems, alcohol and coffee consumption, and 'presenteeism' - a situation where an employee is physically present at work but is actually unable to perform their duties properly.

It is important to remember, however, that such breaks can also have their own risks. For example, after a long holiday, people often find it difficult to return to the labour market. Their future salary may be lower than if they had worked without breaks. This is called the "scarring" effect. This effect negatively affects not only a person's income, but also their emotional and physical health.

Today, not all employers are ready to support the idea of paid holidays and sabbaticals, so young people take the situation into their own hands, going on their own "micro-pension". Experts believe that instead of quitting their jobs, they should change working conditions, make working hours more flexible, and give employees the opportunity to recuperate every day.

Thus, "micro-retirement" is a modern response of young people to fatigue and burnout, but for all its advantages, this approach carries serious risks, which are important to remember.