Managing Anxieties in your 20s and 30s in the Era of AI

A brief article on how we can all tackle lingering anxieties in one of the most pivotal moments of human history. We'll get back to regular AI and PM articles after this!

I’m diving deep to explain how one should navigate their anxieties thanks to technology, distraction, and a jobless economy in one of the most important phases of our lives.

Blankets of grey sheets flood the sky as I stare up in disbelief that it’s still August while strolling Ossington Ave here in downtown Toronto. Endless cars screech to halting stops as traffic piles up in what is typically one of the west end’s congested neighbourhoods. Colourful litter and scraps poke out of adjacent alleyways, hinting at poor sanitation but a glimpse of life. I popped my head into a nearby cafe, becoming immediately intrigued by Rooms Coffee’s unique decor: old yet aesthetic oak shelves and tables lining up the sides like that of a crowded suburban garage, with your oddball piece sitting here and there for added fun. Conversations amongst guests danced into my ears. It looked like your most typical east coast cafe; I certainly miss this type of vibe every time I fly out.

With my flight back to the west coast planned for that very evening, I found an empty table and hesitated before plotting down to deliberate how I wanted to spend my work day. When I visit the east coast while working a remote job, I typically visit WeWork or nearby cafes anyways. So why did I feel idle?

I found myself spiralling into a deeper series of existential thoughts: is this how I want to be living the rest of my 20s?

Anxiety tends to brew the hardest in our 20s, where our actions start defining how we’ll spend our thirties and beyond. Of course, time is still plenty, but it passes by in a blink of an eye. So does our energy, money, and access to loved ones.

Ironically enough, everything in the cafe delivered half the answers. Some guests worked on documents in a split screen view on their laptop. Others sat near the window, immersed in morning gossip. One was propped up, typing an email and taking a call like their lives depended on it while decked out in business casual. Meanwhile, the baristas never gave up their endless smile as more folks trickled in for their morning caffeine. An abundance of variety, yet one shared theme: we’re all working towards our dreams while managing an underlying anxiety. It’s normal.

This entire atmosphere reminded me that we’re all flowing in a constant — that we’re all finding our footing or moving through life in different phases. Some of us have broader dreams we’re chasing. Others are living day-by-day, focusing on what brings them immediate happiness first. Even for those in their 20s struggling to find their way, we’re still striving for the next adjacent goal.

Why we feel this way

In what is arguably one of the most pivotal moments in modern human history (digital devices distracting us from the outside world, the age of AI replacing everything, one of the toughest job markets for new graduates, and the middle class shrinking ever-so-slightly), it’s no wonder we all feel anxiety. Life doesn’t seem fair; it appears gloomier than ever.

This perpetual anxiety that brews amongst Millenials, Gen Z, and Gen Alphas isn’t uncommon, and will only continue growing. The questions we ask ourselves lay daunting. Did our older generations really have it easier, or are we simply getting lazier in an era of technology that prioritizes only the best of the best to keep their jobs?

So let’s dive deep into what we should all focus on for the remaining years of our 20s and 30s.

Be smart with navigation

All sorts of opportunities can be available – but we have to be smart with our energy.

If you think a rapid shift in our job and personal life prospects is a result of this inevitable fourth Industrial Revolution, you’re not wrong. But it’s important to understand how we navigate this shift instead of sitting and complaining without taking action. Things may appear bleak, but we have to adapt. Perhaps that means identifying hidden openings or opportunities between the weeds, or simply adjusting our skill sets to fit the needs of this new generation. For some, it’s not just about jobs – it’s about mental health. Reducing screen time while machining quality moments and experiences with loved ones may be harder to achieve than in the past. Our daily lives are clogged by digital media and technology to the point where we start comparing ourselves to other unrealistic reference points. Likewise, access to stressful news, political conflicts, and other attention-seeking media continues to stifle us in endless dread.

It’s important to remember that we’re all feeling this way; we’re all anxious. Most of us are consumers of mass media. But let’s turn that cautiousness into energy to improve our mental and physical lives while strategically winning the fourth Industrial Revolution the right way.

Focus on adapting to the wave of AI.

Just because design, artistry, writing, or other forms of creation are part of your career or current role doesn’t mean AI will make you obsolete — you can think about ways to develop your own craft with the help of AI tools instead.

In the first Industrial Revolution a few centuries ago, people adapted to the shift in job composition by moving to burgeoning cities for factory work. They transitioned from farming and skilled rural crafts to machine operation and specialized factory tasks – unlocking a whole set of new professions to get by. Our current fourth Industrial Revolution should be tackled in a similar pattern: if we can adapt by developing new skills that follow where the money goes (or at the very least, leverage these advancing technologies to better our work and livelihoods), we will feel less stressful over the overwhelming wave that is the AI takeover.

Time and health are still the most important.

In my upcoming book, Dare to Dream, I write about the importance of “doing yourself a favor” – meaning: looking after oneself above all else. Our mental and physical health should hold precedence over everything; they must be prioritized. Next comes the energy and time we spend, and allocating said efforts in the activities that bring us the most fulfillment and long term happiness.

For me, I plan to spend the rest of my 20s and 30s investing in my physical and mental health through fitness, meditation, eating healthier, reading, spending time in solitude, and of course, writing. Yes, work is important. But without the body and mind ready to take on the day, we have nothing.

Learn personal finance.

Some of us simply aren’t educated enough on the importance of financial management and investing. If we take a step deeper, a subset of us don’t even save money because we’re spending it like it’s Trump change.

We should be be leveraging mass media access for educational purposes rather than doomscrolling Reels. An hour-long breakdown on personal finance is one YouTube video away – yet some of us still don’t invest the time needed for financial independence or retirement.

And even if you are educated, explore ways you can save and/or earn more as you ride out your 20s and 30s. Don’t let time win the battle.

Keep your loved ones close, but your friendships equally as tight

Humans are fundamentally social creatures, but we also thrive off of deep, genuine, and emotional connections. Friends are easy to let go or keep afloat with half-assed strings, but it’s worth it to invest more energy and time as long as the relationships are meaningful. Spreading our eggs across multiple sources (baskets) of happiness ensures greater stability.

I sigh in regret as I write this myself. It puts a retroactive guilt on my shoulders just thinking about all the times I could’ve expressed more reciprocation, actions, gifts, and appreciation to those that extended their hands to me. I sure bet keeping relationships healthy and valued will pay dividends in our 30s and 40s.

Putting our anxieties at bay

A cool breeze strokes my nape as I strolled back and forth near a river while finishing this article. Watching those around me enjoying life to the fullest makes me both happy and surprised. Why aren’t they worried like I am? I wonder. I think this all the damn time. Chances are, some of them probably do experience elements of anxiety. How would I know for sure they’re just happy all the time?

So just know that none of us are alone. We all feel it. But we need to start taking the steps to fundamentally set ourselves up for success in this tough economy, whether that includes our health, relationships, digital screen time, or identifying winning opportunities in a saturated job market.

But most importantly, keep that smile from dwindling :) Keep up the fire!

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