Gen Z and Millennial Mental Health: Journaling Adoption Surges in 2025
Younger generations are over-indexing on mental health tracking, with 35% of Generation Z indicating they do personal journaling and 34% of Millennials tracking their exercise and mental wellness.
Why Gen Z Journals More
Several factors drive higher journaling rates among younger generations:
- Reduced stigma: Mental health is openly discussed
- Digital natives: Comfortable with journaling apps
- Stress levels: High academic/career pressure drives self-care
- Social media influence: Wellness influencers normalize journaling
Digital vs. Traditional Journaling
Gen Z: 62% use digital journaling apps
Millennials: 52% digital, 48% traditional
Gen X/Boomers: 75% prefer traditional pen and paper
Popular Journaling Methods by Generation
Gen Z Favorites:
- Mood tracking apps
- Voice journaling
- Photo/video journals
- Social accountability (private Discord groups)
Millennial Preferences:
- Bullet journaling
- Gratitude journals
- CBT-based prompts
- Hybrid digital/analog systems
Mental Health Tracking Trends
Rising stress, burnout, and mental health awareness are making wellness journaling more important than ever. 2025 trends include:
- Integration with therapy (sharing entries with therapists)
- Gamification (streaks, achievements)
- Community features (anonymous sharing)
- Biometric integration (sleep, heart rate data)
The Science Backs It Up
Journaling is no longer seen as a "nice-to-have" but as a mechanistic pathway for emotional regulation. Gen Z understands this and treats mental health tracking as essential self-care.