Thriving, Not Just Surviving, and How Gen Z Is Rewriting Wellness by Living More Naturally
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
Written by Marco A. Benavides, Marketing Consultant
Marco Benavides leads Trinity Marketing Solutions, bringing over 10 years of digital marketing expertise to help businesses boost online visibility and growth. He's passionate about connecting business owners with proven marketing strategies that deliver real ROI.
In the past, wellness often meant green juices, gym memberships, and the occasional yoga class. It was largely about looking good and feeling okay. But today’s rising generation – Gen Z – is redefining wellness in bold, intentional ways. For them, it’s not about fitting into preexisting molds. It’s about crafting a lifestyle that’s deeply aligned with nature, authenticity, and personal growth.
Gen Z isn’t just surviving the world they’ve inherited; they’re learning how to thrive, and in doing so, they’re rewriting the rules of modern well-being.
The gen z mindset: Conscious, connected, and curious
Gen Z has grown up in a world of constant connection, with unlimited information at their fingertips. But unlike the generations before them, they don’t blindly consume health advice. Instead, they’re hyper-curious, questioning authority and exploring the science behind wellness trends. This cohort values lived experience and crowd-sourced wisdom, often trusting a TikTok explainer video or Reddit thread more than a polished ad campaign.
They prioritize transparency, mental clarity, and ethical alignment. And their wellness habits reflect this mindset: low-tox living, sustainable choices, and prioritizing mental health with the same seriousness as physical fitness.
From consumerism to conscious living
The wellness industry has long been driven by shiny packaging and lofty promises. But Gen Z is turning away from over-commercialized solutions in favor of slower, simpler, and more conscious choices. Instead of spending hundreds on luxury skincare, they’re learning how to make DIY face masks from raw honey and turmeric. Instead of blindly following fad diets, they’re tuning into their bodies’ signals and supporting gut health through fermented foods.
This shift represents a return to basics, minimalism with intention. Think: capsule wardrobes, refillable supplements, herbal tinctures, and thrifted yoga mats. Less consumption, more connection.
Holistic health 2.0: More than just physical fitness
For Gen Z, wellness isn’t something you can buy. It’s how you live, how you think, and how you feel. They view the body, mind, and environment as interconnected; healing one part supports the whole system. This new holistic health takes cues from ancient traditions but adapts them for a digital age.
Instead of just focusing on calories burned, they’re prioritizing practices like:
Cold plunging for resilience and mood regulation
Forest bathing to reconnect with nature and calm the nervous system
Breathwork to reduce anxiety and improve focus
Digital boundaries as emotional self-defense
Their understanding of “health” includes emotional hygiene, spiritual nourishment, and even political activism. Wellness, for Gen Z, is personal, but it’s also collective.
Food as fuel: Natural nutrition and ancestral eating
Gen Z doesn’t see food as the enemy or something to fear; it’s medicine. There’s a growing movement toward functional foods: ingredients chosen not just for taste, but for how they support the gut, the brain, the immune system, and even hormonal balance.
Fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, and sauerkraut are pantry staples. Adaptogenic herbs like maca and ashwagandha show up in smoothies and teas. They’re drawn to “ancestral diets” that mirror how humans evolved to eat – unprocessed, seasonal, and nutrient-dense. There’s a sense that food should come from the earth, not a lab.
It’s a radical shift from calorie-counting to nourishment. From restriction to reconnection.
Nootropics and brain biohacking: The cognitive edge
In today’s overstimulated world, Gen Z is looking for ways to stay sharp without burning out. Enter nootropics – natural or synthetic compounds believed to enhance cognitive function, particularly memory, creativity, and focus. What sets Gen Z apart is their preference for natural nootropics and their open-source approach to experimenting with them.
Substances like:
Lion’s Mane Mushroom: known for stimulating nerve growth and boosting memory
L-Theanine + Caffeine: a duo for calm, focused energy without jitters
Rhodiola Rosea: an adaptogen that helps the brain adapt to stress
Ashwagandha: supports cortisol balance and mental clarity
These nootropics are often stacked together or blended into lattes, wellness shots, and capsules. What used to be niche is now mainstream on social platforms where users share daily routines, stack experiments, and personal results.
When looking for the best nootropic supplements for brain health, Gen Z considers more than just the label. They dig into sourcing, third-party testing, and community feedback. They want ingredients that work with their biology, not override it.
Of course, there's a cautionary side too. Biohacking carries risks when done without proper guidance, and Gen Z is learning to navigate this line, pushing for better education and ethical standards around supplement use.
Sustainability as self-care
For Gen Z, what’s good for the planet is good for them too. They see sustainability not as a trend, but as a foundational aspect of self-care. From supporting regenerative agriculture to buying refillable skincare products, their choices reflect a commitment to future generations.
Eco-anxiety is real, and many young people channel that energy into meaningful action: composting, upcycling, and even climate advocacy. In this framework, cleaning up your lifestyle isn’t vanity – it’s a form of protest. Healing the planet and healing ourselves are the same.
Conclusion: Living naturally, living fully
Gen Z’s approach to wellness is less about looking a certain way and more about feeling deeply alive. They’re not just trying to survive the noise and pressure of modern life; they’re crafting a path to thrive with authenticity, balance, and purpose.
Their commitment to living more naturally, whether it’s through food, nootropics, mental health, or sustainability, is a blueprint for the future of well-being. It’s a reminder that when we stop outsourcing health and start listening inward, we unlock a more vibrant way to live.
Read more from Marco A. Benavides
Marco A. Benavides, Marketing Consultant
Marco Benavides is a digital marketing strategist and founder of Trinity Marketing Solutions, where he has spent over a decade helping businesses transform their online presence and achieve sustainable growth. His expertise spans lead generation, SEO optimization, content marketing, and comprehensive digital strategies that deliver measurable ROI. Marco combines data-driven marketing techniques with faith-based business principles, creating authentic connections between brands and their audiences. Through Trinity Marketing Solutions, he has guided countless business owners in navigating the digital landscape and building lasting success.
