“American Sikhs of the millennial generation are pioneering new human rights groups and are highly literate when it comes to Sikh teachings and rituals”, This is according to Religion Watch in an article published in the journal Sikh Formations. Indeed, American millennial Sikhs (born between 1981-1996) are a unique generation in the sense that many were born and raised in the U.S. with no first-hand experience of the Sikh conflict in India. Rather, the aftermath of 9/11 had more of an influence on their lives, as well as the experience of maintaining their Siikh identity while fully integrating themselves in American culture. Today, Sikh American millennials tend to champion a principles-based approach to life that helps them maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a stronger connection to God.
A healthy work-life balance in suburbia
“Rise in the early hours of the morning, and take your cleansing bath. Before you go to bed at night, remember to worship the Lord”, as is written in the Guru Granth Sahib. Indeed, Sikh millennials strive to maintain a good work-life balance that allows time for worship and relaxation, and supports their overall mental and physical health. In fact, 90% of millennials prefer not to be constantly tethered to their jobs — which inevitably leads to overwhelm and burnout — and say room for a personal life is a top priority when choosing a position, a recent Forbes survey reveals. To facilitate this healthier, holistic lifestyle, millennials, including Sikh millennials, have embraced suburban living with larger, more affordable homes and flexible, hybrid work arrangements. “Millennials are leaving urban areas at a rate similar to previous generations, even though they’re living in the city at a greater rate than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers did at their age”, new research from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies reveals.
This is in contrast to the “back to the city” movement that Sikh millennials were once very much part of as young people flocked to big cities to live and work in the 2000s and early 2010s. But, now cheaper, quieter locations are increasingly popular over trendy, amenity-packed urban neighborhoods. Connecticut, for example, has the highest level of inbound migration (62%) in the U.S., closely followed by Florida (60%) and South Carolina (58%). As these states are fairly affordable, and, thanks to the rise of remote work, they can offer millennials a better work/life balance and more enjoyable quality of life.
Values-based living: spirituality, equality, and service
Sikh millennials have also embraced values-based living that helps them maintain a closer connection with God. For example, American academic and activist, Simaran Jeet Singh, is popular in the millennial Sikh scene as he champions the values of Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak — namely, spirituality, equality, and service. Many millennial Sikhs strive to live by these values in their everyday lives in order to create a sense of purpose and fulfillment. However, people can choose different values that resonate most with them. For example, Singh’s personal values to live by are five he chose with his family: love, faith, service, integrity, and excellence.
“A values-based approach to life is like a compass, both clarifying and instructive”, Singh tells Deseret News. “It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the ups and downs of our busy lives, losing sight of what we’re doing and why. This is normal. It’s part of being human”. For Singh, values-based living has helped him get through numerous emotional challenges in life. “We fall into problems when we’re not purposeful about our decisions”, he continues. “So where do we turn in times when we realize that we have lost our way? How do we deal with these moments of crisis so that we come out stronger and not weaker?”. Through values-based living, millennials are able to make better decisions and deal with tough situations with confidence, wisdom, and grace.
As Sikh millennials continue to make their mark on the world, their strong commitment to Sikhism sets a positive example for all generations, old and new, to emulate. Values-based living, in particular, helps them maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a stronger and more fulfilling connection to God.