Malaysia’s ‘retirement home’ for Gen Z speaks volumes about global work culture

‘The concept is about doing nothing. Just lay down, walk around, and enjoy the scenery.’

This is the sentiment behind Malaysia’s new ‘retirement home’ that isn’t for older people. Namshan Wellness, founded by a 26-year-old, is targeting Gen Z workers, already burned out from perpetual work and study.

Situated across eight acres of land in the small town of Gopeng, tenants are invited to leave the gruelling world of the 9-5 behind, and instead focus on mindful activities like feeding the fish, taking in the surrounding nature, or planting vegetables on site.

Sure, it’s really just another wellness retreat with clever marketing, but the very fact that retirement is appealing to under 30s is noteworthy in itself.

‘There’s a lot of young adults these days, they burn out from their work and their studies,’ the founder shared in one TikTok video.

‘I was thinking that I might be able to provide a place for them to regain their energy and find their purpose of life again.

‘Older people they say, “Young people? Retire?” There’s a lot of backlash from boomers, but the young people, they’re actually very excited to come here.

‘It’s a social experiment. I want to see whether there are people like me.’

The project says it’s for young adults, but there’s technically no age limit. As long as you consider yourself ‘young at heart,’ there’s a place for you.

It’s potentially more affordable than taking a step back in the UK, too, as rent costs 2,000 Malaysian Ringgit per month, which translates to £375.74 – and even includes a generous three meals a day.

Why are Gen Zs ‘retiring’ in the first place?

Clearly, the very concept of a retirement home designed specifically for Gen Zs says something sinister about the world of work.

A 2025 report from Mental Health UK found that one in five people need time off work due to burnout, highlighting a growing concern in the UK workforce.

Young workers are also reporting lower levels of job satisfaction, according to a Pew Research Centre survey from 2024.

As executive coach and workplace expert, Beth Hope, explains, Gen Z aren’t burning out because they’re not prepared. It’s quite the opposite.

She tells Metro: ‘They’re burning out because they entered a world of work that is faster and less psychologically safe than any generation before them.

‘They’re expected to perform constantly, optimise constantly, and everything is visible.’

For the first time in human history, a career is no longer something you can just leave at the office and pick up again in the morning. As Beth says, it ‘lives in your phone, your LinkedIn, your WhatsApp, and your mind.’

‘That creates a sense that you are always behind, always exposed, and always needing to prove yourself,’ she says.

In Beth’s opinion, the trend towards retirement (or extended time off) for Gen Zs doesn’t signify disengagement from work, but rather from ‘chronic nervous system activation.’

Basically, they’re more likely than any other generation to recognise when they’re stuck in a situation that, quite simply, they don’t want to be in. As Beth says, many are ‘recognising early that sustained stress is not a badge of honour.’

‘It’s a biological state that erodes clarity, confidence, and long-term performance. Gen Z have also grown up watching older generations burn out, sacrifice health, and tie their identity entirely to work,’ she says.

‘They’re questioning that model earlier, and choosing recovery as part of performance, rather than something that happens after collapse.’

What do we need to fix the problem? The answer definitely isn’t a retirement home for Gen Z, which, let’s face it, is just another word for a holiday unless you score a Lottery win.

But in Beth’s view, we need to stop bickering about whether one generation is less resilient than the other and recognise that most of us exist in a working world that’s ‘quietly normalised unsustainable pressure, constant comparison, and the erosion of psychological boundaries.’

In other words, we need businesses to change. And it’ll benefit them, too.

‘Organisations that recognise this early and create environments where recovery, focus, and psychological safety are built into performance will not weaken productivity They will strengthen it,’ she says.

‘The future of high performance will not belong to those who can endure the most pressure, but to those who can regulate it.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Comments Add as preferred source