The Birth of a Movement
In 2021, the "lying flat" movement emerged in China as a quiet protest against the relentless grind of work culture and societal expectations. Known as Tang Ping, it spread globally, resonating with millennials and Generation Z who feel overworked, undervalued, and disconnected from traditional measures of success.
But not all who embrace this movement are rejecting a toxic system with clarity and purpose. For some, lying flat has become a justification for apathy and entitlement—a way to reject effort entirely while still hoping for rewards. This duality forces us to take a closer look at what the movement represents and what it means for societies worldwide, including here in Jamaica.
The movement is neither wholly virtuous nor entirely misguided. It reflects a generation navigating the tension between systemic inequities and individual responsibility, between striving for fulfilment and avoiding accountability.

The Global and Local Context
The statistics underpinning this movement tell two stories. On one hand, they highlight systemic failures. Depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide, disproportionately affecting people under 30, according to the World Health Organisation. Gallup reports that 59 per cent of Generation Z workers feel disengaged in their roles, while the International Labour Organisation notes youth unemployment rates are three times higher than those of adults.
In Jamaica, the realities are similarly stark. Limited opportunities, rural stagnation, and cultural stigma around mental health leave many young people feeling trapped. For some, lying flat is a way to resist systems they see as unfair or unattainable. However, there is also a troubling undercurrent: a segment of young people who disengage not out of frustration with inequity but because they desire success without effort. This includes those who aspire to wealth and status while refusing to cultivate the skills, discipline, or work ethic required to achieve it.
The challenge lies in recognising both truths. While systemic barriers undeniably exist, there is also a need to cultivate resilience, ambition, and a sense of responsibility in young people.
A Call for Reflection and Action
The lying flat generation forces us to confront two fundamental questions: Are our systems failing young people? And are young people rising to meet the challenges of their time? The answer, of course, lies somewhere in the middle.
For some, the movement is an invitation to reimagine how we define success. It is a rejection of hustle culture that prioritises profits over people and grinds individuals into exhaustion. For others, it is an excuse to avoid the hard work required to build meaningful lives.
At NexxStepp, we see this complexity as an opportunity for action. Our programmes are designed to address both sides of the equation. Through critical thinking workshops, entrepreneurship training, and leadership development, we teach young people that they can live lives of purpose and harmony—where rest, effort, income, and impact coexist. We empower individuals to find their rhythm, where success is not synonymous with burnout but also does not come without effort and intention.
This is about helping young people understand that while the systems they operate within may need transformation, their own transformation is equally vital. It is not enough to simply opt out; they must rise up.
From Lying Flat to Standing Tall
The lying flat generation is not monolithic. For some, it is a moment of self-preservation. For others, it is a troubling surrender to inertia. As social innovators, educators, and policymakers, we have a responsibility to address both realities.
At NexxStepp, we teach that progress should not come at the expense of well-being, but it also cannot be achieved without effort. We equip individuals with the tools to create meaningful lives, showing them that rest and productivity, ambition and impact, can work in harmony.
To the young people who feel trapped by broken systems: your frustrations are valid, but your response must be purposeful. And to those who hope for reward without effort: the world will not give you what you are unwilling to build for yourself.
This is a call to rise—not just against systems that fail us, but against complacency within ourselves. When we choose action, resilience, and purpose, we move from lying flat to standing tall. And when this generation rises, so does the world.
The future depends on balance—not balance in percentages, but a harmony of effort, rest, and purpose that fuels personal and collective progress. Together, we can build systems and mindsets where both progress and well-being thrive. Let us rise to the challenge.

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