Demi Lovato has said she wishes she had a “backup plan” in her career

At 15, Lovato rose to childhood stardom after starring in the 2008 Disney film Camp Rock.

“I was filled with gratitude and there was this sense of awe and excitement,” she said. “It was very much the honeymoon phase of my career, right before the train moved in a way where I couldn’t pump the brakes.”

Lovato, 31, has continued to face the struggles of early stardom, from addiction to eating disorders. “I didn’t realize that child popularity could be traumatic — and it’s not traumatic for everyone, but it was for me,” she said.

Lovato added that she wants her future child to have a “backup plan.”

“(It’s) something I wish I had done, because sometimes I think it’s time to move on, but I’m in this weird position in my career because I still rely on music for my income,” said Lovato, which, like other Disney stars – including Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus – have made the transition to a career in music.

The importance of backup plans

Lovato’s comments come as more Gen Z workers leave their jobs without backup plans. In 2023, management consulting firm Oliver Wyman spent two years studying more than 10,000 Generation Zers in the US and UK. The study found that this generation is more likely than other generations to quit unfulfilling jobs – even without having other jobs lined up.

Basant Shenouda, 27, a LinkedIn creator, previously told Business Insider that she quit her toxic job in less than a year to take care of her mental health. Although he did not regret the decision, he had left during a bad job market, which caused him stress. She advised others to consider their finances and assess their risks before giving up without a backup plan.

Similarly, Amber Smith, who quit her corporate job to become a reseller and content creator, told BI she quit because she wasn’t happy. Smith, 27, said it’s important to have a budget and a backup plan. If self-employment didn’t work out, she planned to become a waitress or bartender.

It’s important to be well prepared before quitting, she said. “Get a good idea of ​​your expenses and income so you’re really prepared so you don’t find yourself having to go back to that job before you want to, if ever.”

A representative for Lovato did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.