The conventional roster of life milestones is under review. Having kids in your 30s is no longer a given, if kids are part of the plan at all. Career progression is non-linear. Older Adults are finding new forms of independence. And Gen Z are embracing a more fluid definition of home.

A supermarket chain in China has introduced ‘Sad Leave’ for its employees, allowing ten days of annual leave dedicated to days when they’re simply feeling a bit down. As attitudes to work and wellbeing shift away from hustle culture, companies will be expected to lead with empathy and flexibility.

As young Chinese people feel less secure about China’s harsh working and living conditions and COVID-19 policies, they are leaning into the Guochao movement as a route of finding state-funded employers. But as frustrations grow and economic instability mounts, where will Gen Zers seek release?

Chinese youth are embracing a trend of becoming 'full-time children,' moving back in with parents to achieve work-life balance. Social media – particularly Xiaohongshu – has become an outlet to express frustrations with traditional norms and prompt reevaluation of life goals with a focus on balance.

In contrast to quiet quitting, resignation parties have become a new spectacle online in China. Borrowing from the tacky and nostalgic aesthetics of Chinese corporate culture, these parties demonstrate next-level irony that underscores how younger generations aren't taking themselves too seriously.