Financial stress is causing sleepless nights across America.
A survey from mattress company Amerisleep shows that almost half of U.S. adults now struggle with sleep due to financial worries, particularly after President Trump’s tariff talks got tough. (1) Although everyone is feeling this strain on their shut-eye, Amerisleep’s report reveals Gen Z is really dooming over their dollars.
According to the data, nearly 7 in 10 Gen Zers say they’re mulling over money matters when they should be catching some z’s. In fact, more than a third of Gen Zers report lying in bed with no purpose (aka “bed rotting”) to cope with their financial fears.
If simply resting isn’t enough, then there’s a good chance they’re glued to a screen: 57% of Gen Z respondents scroll through social media, and another 47% watch TV, all in an attempt to keep their minds occupied on anything but money problems.
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On the surface, it makes complete sense why Gen Z is struggling to cope, with so much economic uncertainty right now. But just because these anxieties are understandable doesn’t mean there aren’t healthier ways to deal with stressors.
What are Gen Z’s most pressing financial fears?
Overall, inflation and the rising cost of living triggered the most financial anxiety among the survey’s respondents. However, Gen Z appears to be most worried about their job prospects, with the highest rate for any demographic (47%) citing this fear.
Artificial intelligence seems to be the elephant in the room for employment concerns. A recent Stanford University study found a 13% decline in entry-level jobs for young employees since 2022 in fields that have begun adopting AI more aggressively. (2)
High layoffs in sectors like tech, as well as a 6% unemployment rate for young American men, also highlight Gen Z’s job fears.
After job security, Gen Z’s second source of financial stress centered around housing prices and rent.
Interestingly, the National Association of Realtors shows Gen Zers are eager to purchase a home, with 65% claiming they want to own a home within five years. (3) However, this dream isn’t as easy to achieve in a market where even 60% of U.S. households can’t afford a $300,000 home. (4)
Read more: I’m almost 50 and have nothing saved for retirement — what now? Don’t panic. These 6 easy steps can help you turn things around
How Gen Z can move out of their ‘bed rot’ blues
There’s no denying that Gen Z has legitimate reasons for wanting to curl up in bed and escape with entertainment. But there are practical steps to build wealth and start feeling a greater sense of well-being today.
For starters, focus on sleep hygiene.
Amerisleep says that checking bank accounts or reading financial news before bed are big no-no’s. Although both of these may seem to help give you a greater sense of control over your money, they’re linked with a greater risk of disrupted sleep.
Instead, sleep experts recommend putting all screens away 30 to 60 minutes before bed, preferably in a separate room. Amerisleep also says it’s important to establish something relaxing to do (think qigong or a hot bubble bath) to promote restfulness and replace all that scrolling.
While establishing a solid sleep routine won’t make Gen Z’s money worries go away, it puts everyone in a better position to deal with challenges more constructively. It’s a scientific fact that people with high-quality sleep tend to make better decisions (5) and experience less overall stress. (6)
Speaking of dealing with financial anxieties, the first step is to focus on transparency. After all, there’s no way to control the seemingly uncontrollable if people don’t know what they owe and what they own.
Thanks to online money management tools, it’s super convenient for Gen Zers to open an app and link their accounts to get an instant read on their finances.
If there are still questions over how to handle a financial situation, then it may be time to consider working with a financial advisor.
As Gen Zers gain clarity over their financial situation, they can develop actionable steps to start saving or paying down debt. With a few months of consistent effort, financial fears should hopefully no longer cause you midnight meltdowns.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
Amerisleep (1); Stanford University (2); National Association of Realtors (3); National Association of Home Builders (4); ScienceDirect (5); Springer Nature (6)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: 1 in 3 Gen Zers ‘bed rot’ to cope with financial stress — and 52% lose sleep over tariffs. How to conquer money monsters
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