Last week, I stood in line at a coffee shop and noticed something odd: every single person ahead of me was fidgeting with their phone, earbuds in, eyes darting between screens and the counter. I realized — this isn’t just about passing time. This is about coping.
We are a generation that’s constantly connected, but also quietly overwhelmed. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 75% of adults reported feeling stressed about the future, finances, and personal responsibilities in the past year. And it shows — not just in how we talk, but in what we reach for when we need a break.
For some, it’s a scroll through TikTok. For others, it's snacking, zoning out with music, or stepping outside for a breather. In recent years, many adults have turned to flavored alternatives to smoking as a means of self-regulation — a small act that feels like taking back control.
One brand that’s gained attention is RAZ, which offers discreet, flavorful options designed with adult users in mind. Their flavor collection is less about trends and more about taste and experience — watermelon, banana freeze, lush ice — simple things that bring back a little joy. While vaping is a personal choice and not for everyone, the idea behind it is universal: people are looking for moments of relief.
What’s striking is how quiet these coping mechanisms have become. We don’t talk about them openly — the quick walks around the block, the private rituals between meetings, the tiny sensory resets that help us push through the day.
But maybe we should. Not to glorify them, but to normalize the fact that modern life is a lot, and that adults need tools — some healthy, some habitual — to manage the mental load. It’s not weakness. It’s reality.
There’s often stigma around how adults manage stress, especially if the methods aren't seen as traditionally “healthy.” But not every coping tool needs to be a meditation retreat. Sometimes it’s just about finding one thing — one moment — that brings you back to yourself.
It could be journaling, a vape break, a long shower, a five-minute walk. What matters isn’t the method. It’s that we all need room to breathe — especially when no one else is watching.
So the next time you see someone step outside for a breather, or pause for a quick moment with something comforting in hand, don’t judge — they might just be trying to stay afloat, like the rest of us.
