Generation X, the much maligned "slackers" born of the baby boomers, turned out not to be angst-ridden lazy bums after all.
In fact, according to the Longitudinal Study of American Youth at the University of Michigan, they're actually hard working, active, balanced and - gasp - happy people:
The LSAY has released its first quarterly report on the 4,000 young adults who have participated in the study since 1987 and who continue to complete an annual survey. Generation X is widely defined as individuals who were born between 1961 and 1981 and who are today between 30 and 50 years of age. LSAY participants are between 36 and 40 years old and represent the middle segment of Generation X.
In broad terms, young adults in Generation X may be said to be active, balanced, and happy. They have completed more formal education than older American generations, work longer hours, and most report that they are satisfied with and enjoy their work. Two-thirds of LSAY participants have minor children at home and report that they engage in a wide variety of child-parent activities at home and through the child’s school. These young adults read a lot of material (after all, the Internet is the world’s largest reading machine) and often attend plays, concerts, and sporting events. By subtraction, they may sleep fewer hours than previous generations.
BTW, I was born in 1981, which by some metrics I've seen is the cutoff year between Generation X and Y. I work 45-50 weeks at my day job entering data, plus volunteering once a week at Learning Ally (where I record textbooks for people with reading disabilities, usually in 2-hour shifts), plus giving tours at WGBH, and writing scripts and recording voice over for an online animated series. So I guess I'd be in light blue, FWIW.
I would point out, however, that it is typical of any generation that your 40s and 50s are the core of your professional career, and hence that age group will tend to work more. In other words, the older managers work more hours than the younger workers in Average Corporate Office. Gen X just happens to be in the meat of that age bracket right now. We have several Gen Y types here in my office that are very hard workers and well motivated to succeed and improve -- an attitude which we encourage with regular raises and promotions.
This ain't, as they say, rocket science.