The new face of self-care this winter

Gen Z are rewriting the rules of winter wellness – swapping hustle for hibernation, teddy bears for tissues, and TikTok for the NHS.

So move over hot lemon and stiff upper lips, as it appears that young adults aged 16-28 are taking a whole new approach to looking after themselves this cold and flu season.

According to the Annual Fisherman’s Friend Cold & Flu Survey 2025, the nation’s youngest workers are taking better care of their health than older generations, reporting similar numbers of cold and flu episodes to their older colleagues, but taking more days off work to recover.

Aston spoke to psychologist Jo Hemmings.