Gen Z employees have rarely been enthusiastic adopters of traditional workplace expectations and rules, a stance that has sometimes frustrated older colleague! Now, many younger workers are embracing another unconventional habit that even sceptical co-workers may want to copy: carving out small moments of pleasure during the workday, known as “micro-joy” breaks.
What is perhaps more surprising is that many CEOs appear to follow similar workday rituals to sharpen focus, reduce fatigue and improve performance. Few might have expected company leaders and independent-minded Gen Z employees to arrive at such similar approaches so quickly.
The latest Gen Z workplace trend was highlighted by soda company Slice, which surveyed 105 young people who were either currently completing internships or had recently finished one. The survey found that 77 percent of respondents said they “intentionally build small moments of enjoyment” into their day to break up the 9-to-5 routine. Many also said these pauses made the workday feel less demanding while helping them stay productive.
Nearly 80 percent of Gen Z respondents said micro-joy breaks made their workdays more enjoyable, while 75 percent said the short pauses helped them perform better once they returned to their tasks. In addition, 82 percent said they were more likely to have their best ideas after stepping away from their desks and clearing their minds in an enjoyable way.
The same thinking is also reflected in the growing insistence among many Gen Z employees on taking proper, unhurried lunch breaks rather than eating quickly at their desks or skipping lunch altogether.
Slice’s report did not provide extensive detail on the specific activities people choose for their micro-joy moments. However, it noted that creativity often improves when workers step away from their screens to recharge, whether by going outside for fresh air, chatting with colleagues or enjoying a healthier snack or drink.
Gen Z workers are widely known, and sometimes criticised, for placing greater emphasis on mental health, wellbeing, work-life balance and meaningful work than previous generations. That outlook has led to a range of behaviours that challenge conventional workplace norms, many of which have also been given “micro” labels.
One example is the rise of micro vacations, which turn a few days of annual leave, or even a long weekend, into a short but restorative break. These can include micro trips to destinations that might previously have been reserved for longer holidays.
Supporters argue that these Gen Z-led habits can boost productivity in much the same way that micro-joy breaks help workers reset during the day.
Other emerging trends associated with younger workers include micro retirement, where employees leave a job, live on savings for a period and return to work once they feel refreshed. Gen Z has also helped popularise micro shifts, where people combine multiple contract or “gig” roles around the demands of their personal lives.
Slacking, or reshaping the workday?
It appears that many CEOs were already using their own techniques to break up the workday and improve performance.
According to a recent blog post by business consultancy Korn Ferry, many CEOs rely on daily “small habits or rituals” designed to enhance performance, reduce decision fatigue, improve execution and relieve stress.
Examples cited by Korn Ferry clients include taking a daily walk in the woods to clear the mind before starting work, setting aside time for a midday pep talk, or intentionally inviting a known sceptic to challenge ideas at the end of meetings so others reconsider their assumptions.
Another common approach is to protect weekends for personal time, with work-related activity, such as writing emails or handling professional tasks, limited to no more than 60 minutes across both days.
Whatever form they take, these habits are intended to interrupt long stretches of work, refresh leaders mentally and emotionally, and ultimately support better performance.
Increasingly, the same can be said of Gen Z employees and the small but significant ways they are challenging long-established workplace routines.
Sources :Gen-Z’s Newest Workplace Habit Sounds Lazy—Until You See What It Does for Productivity Slice Survey, Nicole Portwood, Chief Marketing Officer, Slice & Korn Ferry Business Consultancy