Why Gen Z Is Embracing Slow Living: The New Wellness Movement Taking Over TikTok

The slow living trend is redefining what success looks like for Gen Z. Instead of glorifying busyness, they’re embracing balance, mindfulness, and intentional routines. Here’s what’s behind this cultural shift and how it’s transforming wellness online.

The rise of slow living on TikTok

The slow living trend exploded in popularity during and after the pandemic, when millions of young adults were forced to reevaluate what mattered most. On TikTok, videos tagged with #slowliving and #slowlife have collectively surpassed 2 billion views as of 2025¹.

Creators show quiet morning routines, matcha lattes, journal sessions, and mindful walks — but beneath the aesthetic lies a deeper shift. Gen Z isn’t just chasing calmness; they’re rejecting the relentless pressure to be “always on.”

Slow living became more than a style. It became a statement of resistance against burnout culture.

What slow living really means

Slow living is about intentionality — choosing what truly adds value to your life and removing what doesn’t. It’s not about laziness or doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about living with purpose, presence, and awareness.

Key elements of slow living include:

• Prioritizing mental health over constant productivity.

• Practicing mindfulness in daily routines.

• Creating space for rest, creativity, and real connection.

• Aligning actions with personal values, not external validation.

According to a 2023 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology, individuals who consciously slow down report higher life satisfaction and lower perceived stress levels².

Why Gen Z is rejecting hustle culture

For years, hustle culture dominated social media. Productivity hacks, 5 a.m. routines, and “rise and grind” mantras were seen as badges of honor. But Gen Z grew up watching the consequences — burnout, anxiety, and declining mental health.

A 2024 Deloitte survey found that 46% of Gen Z respondents feel stressed or anxious most of the time, with work and social media as leading causes³.

Slow living became a natural antidote. Instead of chasing constant achievement, Gen Z wants balance and authenticity. Their mantra: less performing, more being.

The mental health connection

Mental health advocacy has shaped Gen Z’s worldview. They are the first generation to normalize therapy, talk openly about anxiety, and seek holistic wellness solutions.

Slow living supports this movement by encouraging practices that lower cortisol levels, improve focus, and enhance emotional regulation.

One meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychology found that mindfulness-based interventions (a core part of slow living) significantly reduce perceived stress and improve psychological well-being⁴.

Even simple habits like single-tasking, deep breathing, or walking outdoors can create measurable physiological benefits⁵.

How TikTok turned slow living into a movement

TikTok transformed slow living from a niche wellness concept into a global lifestyle movement.

Creators like @theminimalmood, @calmroutines, and @herquietlife post aesthetically calm videos that focus on simplicity — not luxury. Viewers are drawn to the tranquility in their feeds, a stark contrast to the chaos of fast-paced online life.

The trend aligns with Gen Z’s preference for authentic, relatable content over flashy perfection. As wellness creators shift toward honesty about burnout and rest, TikTok has become the perfect medium for this cultural rebranding of self-care.

Hashtags like #slowliving, #slowlivingmovement, and #restisproductive continue to trend because they touch a deep emotional nerve. In a world addicted to speed, slowing down feels radical.

Daily slow living habits that actually work

The beauty of slow living is that it doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul. It starts with micro-habits that add up to long-term calm:

• Morning without screens: Spend the first 30 minutes in silence or journaling.

• Mindful meals: Eat without distractions, noticing textures and flavors.

• Evening rituals: Replace endless scrolling with reading, stretching, or lighting a candle.

• Nature exposure: Spend at least 15 minutes outdoors daily.

• Digital boundaries: No notifications during meals or before bed.

According to Harvard Health, short mindfulness sessions and mindful eating both have measurable effects on reducing daily stress levels⁶.

Minimalism, mindfulness, and modern burnout

Slow living overlaps with minimalism and mindfulness, but it’s not as rigid.

Minimalism is about owning less; slow living is about doing less, with intention.Mindfulness is about awareness; slow living is about designing a life that sustains that awareness.

The modern burnout cycle — constant emails, side hustles, and social media overload — has created a hunger for stillness. Slow living offers structure for that stillness.

In 2022, the American Psychological Association reported that 81% of Gen Z adults experienced at least one stress symptom in the previous month, including fatigue or feeling overwhelmed⁷. Slow living gives them a framework to reset.

How slow living affects productivity and creativity

Ironically, slowing down can make people more productive.

A Stanford University study found that individuals who take short mental breaks throughout the day show significant increases in creativity and problem-solving compared to those who work without pause⁸.

By balancing effort with rest, the brain restores focus and clarity. This aligns with the “deliberate rest” theory, suggesting that true creativity requires both intensity and recovery.

For Gen Z professionals, slow living isn’t anti-work — it’s sustainable work.

Criticism and misconceptions about slow living

Like any wellness movement, slow living has critics. Some argue it’s a privilege only accessible to those with flexible schedules or financial stability. Others dismiss it as another social media aesthetic.

But practitioners argue that slow living is not about perfection — it’s about progress. It’s about slowing down where you can, not necessarily everywhere.

Even 10 minutes of mindful breathing or reducing phone use at night qualifies as practicing slow living.

Psychologists warn against turning slow living into another form of performance, emphasizing self-compassion and realistic expectations⁹.

How to start your own slow living practice

Here’s a beginner’s approach to living more slowly without overhauling your life:

1. Audit your energy: Write down what drains or fuels you daily.

2. Start with mornings: Add 10 minutes of calm — tea, journaling, or just breathing.

3. Simplify one area each week: Inbox, wardrobe, or your daily schedule.

4. Unplug daily: Choose one hour with no screens.

5. Prioritize what matters: Reconnect with hobbies, reading, or time outdoors.

Consistency matters more than intensity. Within two weeks, most people report lower stress and greater clarity when applying even two of these changes¹⁰.

A new definition of success

For Gen Z, success no longer means exhaustion. It means alignment — living in sync with your values and energy instead of chasing constant output.

The slow living trend represents more than a social shift; it’s a wellness revolution grounded in psychology, mindfulness, and human need.

If hustle culture was about chasing time, slow living is about reclaiming it.

Sources & References

¹ TikTok trend data via Sprout Social, “2025 TikTok Trend Report.”https://sproutsocial.com/insights/tiktok-trend-report-2025

² Journal of Positive Psychology (2023). “Intentional Living and Life Satisfaction.”https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2023.12245

³ Deloitte Global Gen Z & Millennial Survey (2024).https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/genz-millennialsurvey.html

⁴ Frontiers in Psychology (2023). “Mindfulness-based interventions and perceived stress.”https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1210025/full

⁵ American Heart Association. “How mindfulness and movement lower cortisol.”https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/09/20/mindfulness-and-movement-for-stress

⁶ Harvard Health Publishing. “Mindful eating: Savoring each bite.”https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/mindful-eating-savoring-each-bite

⁷ American Psychological Association (2022). “Stress in America: Generation Z.”https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/gen-z

⁸ Stanford University. “Rest boosts creative thinking.”https://news.stanford.edu/2021/04/10/rest-creativity-link

⁹ Psychology Today (2024). “Why Slow Living Is Not Another Productivity Hack.”https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/balanced-mind/2024/04/slow-living-not-another-hack

¹⁰ Calm Research Team (2024). “The measurable impact of daily digital rest.”https://www.calm.com/research/digitalrest