Gen Z is skipping sex to do this instead, study says
Gen Z Is Skipping Sex to Master Their Side Hustle and Prioritize Sleep, Study Reveals
The traditional dating landscape is dead. If you've been scrolling through dating apps lately, or perhaps watching the trajectory of younger generations, you might have noticed a palpable shift. Casual hookups and intense relationship pursuits seem to be taking a backseat to something far more urgent and, frankly, pragmatic.
Meet Sarah, a 23-year-old content creator from Austin. When asked about her weekend plans, she doesn't mention dates. Instead, she details her schedule: "Saturday morning is for deep work on my Etsy shop, and Saturday night? That's for a solid nine hours of sleep. A date would just cut into my workflow and my rest recovery."
Sarah is not an outlier. A groundbreaking new global study has confirmed what many sociologists suspected: Gen Z—the cohort born roughly between 1997 and 2012—is actively engaging in a "sexual recession," choosing financial independence, career optimization, and intense self-care over traditional intimacy.
The big reveal? Gen Z is skipping sex to relentlessly pursue their side hustles and secure better mental health outcomes. This isn't just a trend; it's an economic survival strategy wrapped in a self-improvement narrative.
The Study Shockwave: What Gen Z is Really Chasing
The recently published findings, drawing on data from over 20,000 young adults across five continents, paint a stark picture. Sexual activity rates among 18-to-25-year-olds are at historic lows. However, their reported engagement in activities focused on career advancement and monetary security is soaring.
This generation has entered the workforce facing unprecedented economic anxiety. High student debt, a prohibitive housing market, and the constant threat of inflation mean that the conventional path to success is essentially broken. Therefore, every waking hour must be optimized for potential revenue.
The study specifically noted a correlation between time spent on dating apps or in casual relationships and higher reported levels of financial stress and burnout. Conversely, participants who dedicated structured time to developing multiple income streams—often through *digital nomadism* or specialized online services—reported higher levels of perceived control and future optimism.
What are they doing instead of dating and sex? The data is clear:
- Launching Side Hustles: From dropshipping to social media management and freelance copywriting, creating *multiple income streams* is paramount.
- Hyper-Focused Skill Acquisition: Spending evening hours on coding bootcamps, language learning, or specialized certification courses.
- Prioritizing Deep Rest: Recognizing that performance is tied to optimal sleep patterns, Gen Z views eight hours of restorative sleep as a critical career investment, not a luxury.
- Intensive Therapy and Self-Care: Investing time and resources into mental wellness, which is seen as essential for sustained professional output.
The energy previously allocated to the emotionally demanding pursuit of relationships is now redirected. For Gen Z, emotional labor is expensive and often yields poor returns compared to the investment in their own personal brand or savings account.
Why the Shift? From Hookups to Hustle Culture
To truly understand this seismic shift, we must look beyond personal preference and acknowledge the macro-economic and societal pressures this generation faces. They are, perhaps unfairly, dubbed the "burnout generation," yet they are responding logically to irrational conditions.
The Financial Imperative
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z cannot rely on a single, stable career trajectory. The gig economy demands perpetual flexibility and the ability to pivot. Relationships, which require significant emotional and time commitments, are viewed as a vulnerability in this high-stakes environment.
Imagine choosing between spending $100 on a dinner date that might lead nowhere, or spending that $100 on a subscription service that teaches you a new marketable skill. For the financially anxious young adult, the choice is obvious.
Dating App Fatigue and Emotional Drain
The prevalence of dating apps has introduced intense friction into the pursuit of intimacy. Endless swiping, ghosting, and the performative nature of digital dating have led to widespread *dating app fatigue*.
The study found that many participants expressed frustration with the low return on investment regarding time spent dating. They report that the mental energy required to navigate complex modern *non-monogamy* discussions or simply find a genuine connection is better spent tackling professional goals.
This generation values authenticity, but the digital search for connection often feels anything but. The transactional nature of modern dating contradicts their desire for deeper, more meaningful engagement—which they often find within their tight-knit digital communities focused on shared interests, rather than romantic pursuit.
Mental Health as a Performance Metric
Gen Z is highly attuned to mental wellness. They are the first generation to normalize therapy and openly discuss anxiety. Crucially, they link mental stability directly to professional success. A poor relationship, a painful breakup, or simply the stress of maintaining an unstable connection can severely impair focus and productivity.
By prioritizing self-care routines, adequate sleep, and stable mental health, they are essentially optimizing their human capital. Time spent sleeping deeply is time spent preparing their brain for the next day's high-demand *content creation* or focused task execution. It's a calculated decision.
The New Intimacy: Self-Care, Sleep, and Digital Connection
If sex and traditional dating are being deprioritized, what fills the void? The answer is a sophisticated, highly optimized form of self-intimacy and structured communal bonding that supports their primary goal: success.
The modern definition of "hanging out" often involves co-working digitally or engaging in shared, productive hobbies. Friendships remain strong, but they are often context-specific—focused around shared professional niches or gaming communities.
The rise of hyper-personalized self-care rituals is testament to this shift. This isn't just about bubble baths; it's about intense, focused management of internal resources.
- Optimized Routine Development: Utilizing sleep trackers, meditation apps, and specialized diets to ensure peak physical and mental output.
- Boundary Setting: Being ruthless about protecting their personal time from demands that don't serve their long-term goals—this includes saying "no" to dates that seem uncertain.
- Finding Intimacy in Productivity: Sharing progress, celebrating professional wins, and offering constructive criticism within their close peer groups replaces the emotional validation sought through romantic partners.
For Gen Z, the ultimate form of self-love is achieving *financial independence*. The satisfaction derived from paying down debt or successfully launching a viable business often outweighs the temporary pleasure of a casual encounter.
This phenomenon signals a profound generational shift in values. While older generations often viewed relationships as a foundational pillar of adult life, Gen Z sees economic stability as the foundational prerequisite for everything else. Intimacy and love can wait; the ability to afford rent cannot.
Experts caution that while this pursuit of stability is understandable, there is a risk of atomization—where individuals become isolated in their relentless hustle. However, for now, the message from the data is loud and clear: For Gen Z, the greatest thrill isn't romance; it's the notification confirming a successful payment from their *passive income* stream.
The study concludes that as economic pressures continue, this trend toward prioritizing the *hustle culture* and optimizing personal performance will only intensify, potentially redefining marriage and family structures for decades to come. The future is focused, pragmatic, and possibly, very well-rested.
Gen Z is skipping sex to do this instead, study says
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