Burnout is a real struggle among American workers. According to a 2025 study released by Moodle, 66% of Americans reported feeling burnout from their jobs. And in another 2025 workplace poll conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), workers reported high rates of “burnout,” “stress,” and “overwhelm.”
To help others, a man struggling with burnout in his career shared in a since deleted Reddit post how his mentor taught him a simple phrase to use with his boss to better manage expectations while seemingly helping him appear more professional.
“A lot of us early in our careers say yes to everything. That’s how you burn out fast,” he wrote, before sharing that a mentor taught him an eight-word phrase that helped save his career: “I can do it, but not by then.”
He went on to explain, “Instead of: ‘I can’t take this on’, say: ‘I can take this on, but realistically it’ll be done by [X date].’ This does three things: Shows you’re willing, not lazy. Sets realistic boundaries without burning bridges. Teaches others to respect your time.”
The employee concluded, “The irony? You’ll usually be seen as more professional — not less — because you’re managing expectations instead of dropping the ball.”
The advice resonated with many other workers, who also shared how they manage their boss’ expectations of them.
“So true,” one commented. “Setting expectations early and offering a realistic alternative saves so much headache down the road.”
Another shared, “I’ve been doing this more and more, after working my role for a few years I have a decent understanding of a manageable workload with consideration of having stuff thrown on my lap or having time for training. Kind of funny because I’ll say ‘I can get it done but not this week, maybe next week or the one after that.’”
They added that this can help take pressure off you. “Suddenly this places accountability on my supervisor to even do a little work by looking further into it, due dates, priority and it will turn into nothing of importance or they’ll find a coworker that actually has nothing else going on to delegate it to or end up doing it themselves (because they probably had nothing going on anyway),” they explained. “I always tell them to let me know if I can still assist. Just consider how to set boundaries that work for you and how to present those boundaries to be for the company’s benefit.”
To help others implement the phrase, another employee shared the best way to use this advice in a conversation with your boss: “‘I see you’re asking for X, Y and Z. Realistically we can accomplish X and Y in that timeframe. How about we take a phased approach to this project? X and Y can be Phase 1 and get out on time, and we’ll consider Z Phase 2 to be completed after the discussed date.’”
The user noted that this has never failed them. “Phased approaches work almost every single time for me,” they added. “It lets the person you’re working with know that you deem all parts of the projects acceptable and important, but also gives them the chance to meet you half way, while eventually getting exactly what they wanted.”
Forget the corner office. Gen Z is rewriting the rules of professional success—and their approach might save us all from burnout.
While previous generations dutifully climbed the corporate ladder rung by rung, Gen Z is choosing to do things differently. These youngsters, born between 1997 and 2012, embrace a clear philosophy: work should fund your life, not consume it. It’s a simple dogma. This emerging trend, dubbed “career minimalism,” goes beyond the corporate buzzword, representing a fundamental shift that challenges what we thought we knew about ambition, success, and the definition of “making it” in today’s economy.
The statistics are striking: 68% of Gen Z workers claim that they would not pursue management rolesunless they came with higher pay or a better title. This isn’t laziness—it’s a well-thought-out strategy. Generation Z watched Millennials sacrifice their twenties to corporate culture, only to face economic uncertainty, housing crises, and unprecedented stress levels.
Gen Z is boldly saying “No thanks” to that traditional blueprint.
Janel Abrahami, Glassdoor’s Career Pivot Strategist, puts it perfectly. “Gen Z is more willing to embrace a flex mindset than older generations,” Abrahami tells Upworthy. “While past generations often prioritized climbing the corporate ladder, Gen Z is looking for the career equivalent of a lily pad: a sustainable route where they can jump to whatever opportunity best fits their needs at the moment. That could mean taking a pay cut for more free time, accepting a lower title for a more creative role, or switching to an industry they see as more stable—since 70% of Gen Z questions their job security as AI advances in the workplace, many are proactively moving toward sectors like skilled trades, healthcare, and education.”
This lily pad mentality represents a profound shift in how an entire generation views professional growth. Instead of linear progression within a single company, Gen Z sees their careers as a series of strategic moves that prioritize personal fulfillment, financial stability, and—crucially—time for the things that actually matter to them.
Generation side hustle
Despite the moniker “career minimalism,” 57% of Gen Z employees have at least one side hustle—more than any generation before them. Is it about the money? Not exactly. For Gen Z, side hustles are where their ambition thrives.
Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z side hustlers say their primary motivation is to be their own boss, while 42% are driven by the desire to pursue their passions. These numbers tell a story about a generation that refuses to wait for opportunities. When their 9-to-5 doesn’t provide creative fulfillment or meaningful impact, they create it themselves.
A teacher in Iowa sums it up, saying, “I always joke that I don’t dream of labor… If people were truly passionate about their job, it wouldn’t pay anything. Passion is for your 5-9 after the 9-5.”
Similarly, a research analyst echoes this sentiment, saying, “While having a job that you’re passionate about is really cool, it’s important to have other interests that are not tied to your work life.”
The broader statistics are even more telling: 66% of Gen Z and Millennials have started or plan to start side hustles, with 65% intending to continue their entrepreneurial ventures through 2025. Meaning, this isn’t a phase—it’s a fundamental reimagining of how work fits into a fulfilling life. The pattern is clear: younger generations are diversifying their income streams and refusing to put all their professional eggs in one corporate basket.
Work-life balance as a non-negotiable priority
While older generations might view work-life balance as a nice idea, Gen Z regards it as essential infrastructure for a sustainable life. Thirty-two percent of Gen Z rank work-life balance as the most critical aspect of a job, compared to 28% of Millennials and 25% of Gen X. More significantly, they’re willing to prioritize this balance over higher compensation—a move that would have been unthinkable to previous generations entering the workforce.
“Employers may be surprised by the changing attitudes of Gen Z in the workplace,” says Abrahami. “However, this doesn’t mean that Gen Z is abandoning work; instead, they are redefining ambition through career minimalism. If Gen Z feels unsupported in achieving the work-life balance they seek, they may become less motivated or start looking for opportunities that align better with their values and lifestyles.”
Canva provides a standout example: through initiatives like “Force for Good,” the company encourages employees to contribute over 10,000 hours annually to community projects. This commitment to purpose-driven work has helped Canva achiev
e a 92% employee satisfaction rate.
These changes aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re competitive advantages. Companies that embrace Gen Z-friendly policies are seeing measurable improvements in engagement, retention, and overall performance.
What every generation can learn from career minimalism
Gen Z’s approach to work is not radical; it’s rational. After watching previous generations sacrifice their health, relationships, and personal fulfillment for corporate success that often proved fleeting, Gen Z chose a different path.
These lessons are valuable for everyone, regardless of age:
Boundaries create sustainability. Gen Z’s insistence on work-life balance is a nugget of wisdom. By setting clear boundaries, they dodge the burnout that has plagued older generations and create space for long-term productivity and creativity.
Diversification reduces risk. While previous generations sought security in a single employer, Gen Z believes that proper security comes from multiple income streams and transferable skills. Their side hustles are money-generating insurance policies against rapidly changing industries and A.I.
Values-driven work increases engagement. When work aligns with personal values, engagement and performance naturally increase. Gen Z’s demand for meaningful work benefits everyone by forcing companies to clarify their purpose and impact.
Flexibility enhances productivity. The data is precise: flexible work arrangements lead to higher retention, better performance, and increased job satisfaction across all generations.
For Abrahami, the way Gen Z operates in the workplace feels like a breath of fresh air, and she encourages managers to get to know their Gen Z direct reports. “Gen Z’s habits will continue to shape our workforce, so it’s important employers take the time to truly understand them,” Abrahami notes. “Their approach isn’t about laziness; rather, it’s a new representation of how they define success. They want sustainable careers that align with their goals, whether that means prioritizing a job that prevents burnout or one that provides security from layoffs. Older generations have much to learn from Gen Z, and we’re likely to start to see these values become more widely accepted.”
Gen Z’s philosophy in the workplace offers a compelling answer to the age-old question: “What if there’s a better way?” Their formula is refreshingly simple: stable jobs for security, side hustles for passion, and strict boundaries for sustainability.
As workplace dynamics continue to evolve, the rise of career minimalism—fueled by Gen Z’s values—will reshape not only how we define professional success but also how we experience fulfillment. The future of work may belong not to the climbers, but to those content to hop from lily pad to lily pad with purpose and self-awareness.
The corner office can keep its view. Gen Z has found something better: a career that actually fits their life, instead of consuming it. And honestly? The rest of us should take notes.
Most adults periodically examine their lives to try to figure out where they can save money. It might be cutting one of the streaming services we’re not using or dialing back the Starbucks PSLs. However, the people on the subreddit r/frugal take saving money to a whole new level.
A recent thread posted by u/Jskyesthelimit was chock-full of solid gold advice for anyone looking to trim the budget but who doesn’t want to put in a lot of work. (Yeah, yeah — we all know meal-prepping is effective, but who’s got the time? We’re looking for easy wins, here.)
The prompt, “What’s the little effortless, stupid thing you do that TECHNICALLY saves you money?”, got some responses and tips you’ve probably never thought of.
They’re small, they’re silly — but they do add up.
1. Spend more time outside
“if i go outside and play all day, i don’t have consumerist urges to buy stupid shit.” – looney417
Can’t spend money if you don’t go into a store!
It’s a good idea to get away from your phone or laptop for a while, too. If you’re not careful, you can buy a hundred dollars worth of junk on Amazon before you even realize what’s happening.
2. Time your dishwasher runs
“When our dishwasher is full and ready to be started, I set an alarm on my watch for 9pm. I start the dishwasher when the alarm goes off since the electricity rate goes down after 9pm.” – misterfuss
A half loaded dishwasher viau00a0Nathan Dumloa/Unsplash
Did you know that electricity costs more during “peak hours”? Where I live, power can cost up to 4x as much from 2-7pm versus off-peak hours.
Most people run the dishwasher at night anyway, but you should look up your own local peak hours. Starting the nightly load at 9 instead of 8 every night could actually save you a couple of bucks a month.
I like that you can program a Google Nest to do this for you. It knows how expensive electricity is at different times, and will manage your supercooling for you.3. Fill a large water bottle at work before you leave.
u/MrPerfectionisback swears by this one.
Getting a gigantic, high-quality water bottle could be a great investment if you’re able to top it off at the office every day and bring your water bill down a smidge.
4. Use less laundry detergent
Most of us approach laundry detergent with a “fill ‘er up” attitude. But, usually, you can get away with even just one tablespoon if your clothes aren’t that dirty. and using less will help your clothes last longer.
u/jbblue48089 also recommends using solid bar shampoo and dish soap, which have a longer lifespan than liquid soaps.
5. Re-wear clothes (other than socks and underwear)
Another option from u/ztreHdrahciR — don’t wash your clothes at all! At least not right away.
Chances are you can get a few wears out of jeans or even t-shirts and save on laundry costs, to the tune of a few dollars per year.
6. Make your own doggie poo bags
“Use used food bags to pick up the dogs poop.” – bezere
Poop bags are expensive! You could easily spend $20-50 per year, depending on what brand you use.
Next time you pack a sandwich for lunch, save that plastic baggie and use it for pick-up duty later on.
7. Charge your phone at work (or wherever there’s an outlet)
A good one from u/runmemymo.
Never pass up a chance for free electric!
If you don’t work in an office, just carry your phone charger with you. Lots of restaurants and even public spaces have outlets so you can get a little free juice.
8. Poo at work (or wherever there’s a bathroom)
u/larkfor says they save a ton of money each year on water and toilet paper by doing their business at work or the office.
Never pass up a chance for free water and toilet paper!
9. Cut sponges in half
A yellow soapy sponge. viau00a0Pille R. Priske/Unsplash
u/plaincheeseburger recommends turning one sponge into two.
It will still work exactly the same and last twice as long.
10. Repair old dog toys
I love this one from u/pdxarchitecht!
My dogs love immediately ripping the stuffing out of new toys, which doesn’t feel like a great value for my money.
The hack? Put the stuffing back in and add a stitch or two to close it up and save yourself $10 or more.
11. Twist the stems off of peppers if paying by weight
This ingenious and petty tip comes from u/casterix75.
Not all supermarkets charge by weight for bell peppers (or similar produce), but if they do, why pay for the stem? Twist it off and save yourself a few cents at the checkout.
12. Save the cold water when running a shower or bath
An old science teacher taught me this one in high school, recommended in this thread by u/smartquokka.
Put a bucket in the shower or bath to collect the cold water while it’s heating up. Use that to water plants, fill the dog bowls, or flush the toilet.
13. Unplug everything at night
Many people recommended this — it’s an r/frugal staple.
Appliances on standby still use power, so unplug as many things as possible before going to bed. u/Larkfor estimates this saves them $10 a month or so on power.
14. Library card
Yes. And take advantage of audiobooks, ebooks, and even streaming. My library has many great movies, shows, and lecture series (I love The Great Courses).
15. Credit card points
[I] Use my CC that gets rewards points for all purchases and bills that I can.
My entire family is going in a trip in a few months, and we booked all our flights together, 4.5k of airfare. I very generously offered to put all the airfare on my (2% cash back) card. My entire family paid me back their portion that week, and now I get the $90 in cash back!
These tips are so small they’re almost microscopic, but you know what? Most of them are so easy you’d barely notice a difference in your lifestyle and routine. And all together, you could save yourself a decent chunk of money every year by making a few simple changes.
Thanks to the thrifty people of Reddit for sharing their hacks with the rest of us!
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