To Those Who’ve Fallen to Hustle Culture

Hustle, hustle, hustle. Hustle culture surrounds us in our modern world. When we open Instagram, we see people posing with perfect bodies and houses, claiming they “hustled” their way there. People all over social media talk about working out profusely in the gym, constantly “on that grind” for the next promotion, or starting their own side business. In a world where everyone seems to be earning their success or financial independence, society tells us, “if you just work hard enough, you too can be like those wealthy YouTubers, social media influencers, and self-made entrepreneurs.”

So what is hustle culture? Hustle or grind culture is the idea that we must work as much as possible (more than we need to) every day to achieve our goals, whether in school, our professional, or our personal lives. It’s where work becomes the number one priority in our lives, and family, friends, and self-care are neglected. Hustle culture tells us that taking time to rest is shameful because we could always be doing more. Today, hustle culture has become somewhat of a trend among young people and is often normalized and spoken about in a positive light by people online and society as a whole.

But the truth is, hustle culture is just a glamorized way to say “overworking yourself,” an obsession with constant productivity. As a result, hustle culture is not only detrimental to mental and physical health but is also counterproductive.

Ultimately, constant work leads to constant burnout, a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. Burnout causes one to be more irritable and worsens mental disorders like depression and anxiety. Burnout also often materializes in physical consequences. Increased stress means a weaker immune system, so people who overwork often get sick more easily, suffer frequent headaches, and experience insomnia.

But hustle culture never achieves its intended goals, either. On the contrary, it often does the opposite. Your work quality will suffer if you’re mentally and physically exhausted from burnout. You will take longer to do what you set out to do because you are tired. You might even procrastinate more because the built-up stress makes you not want to confront your work. Put simply, “hustling” is not a sustainable way to live or work.

So how do we fight against hustle culture? The first step is self-reflection. Hustle culture often stems from something deeper inside of us. If you find yourself becoming a workaholic, ask yourself why you’re working so much more than you need to. Is it because you’re comparing yourself to others? Or because you’ve put your self-worth into professional success? Or is it because you’re avoiding feeling certain emotions or grief by always keeping your mind occupied? Whatever it is, identifying what is causing you to overwork yourself can help you address the root of the problem.

Next, take the time to cultivate a healthy work-rest balance in your life. Rediscover hobbies and interests that you enjoy; activities that you do simply for the sake of doing them and that have no greater purpose (So no, the other side-hustle you have doesn’t count). Avoid mindlessly scrolling through social media as a way to rest. Social media often heightens our anxiety, and we end up scrolling for hours without real enjoyment or mental engagement. Instead, find activities that give you genuine satisfaction and ones that you feel you can limit yourself when doing them. For example, an activity you’re addicted to probably won’t give you the rest you need to feel re-energized. In addition, find ways to release tension - like running or going for a walk with some music - and integrate them into your routine. Listen to your body when it tells you to rest and make time for friends and family! Remember that cultivating a healthy work-rest pattern is not about never working hard; it’s about taking the time to rest between the work you do. If you take the time to find what gives you rest and find your own rhythm of interchanging work and relaxation, you’re well on your way to healthier habits.

Finally, to make sure you avoid burnout from hustling in the future, go back to those roots of overworking yourself that you identified and work towards addressing them, whatever they may be. And set boundaries for yourself and others. Catch yourself when you’re taking on too many obligations; learn to say no to your peers, coworkers, bosses, and even friends when they ask you to take on something you don’t have the mental or physical space for. Learn to say no to yourself; you don’t have to take on every opportunity that comes your way, and it’s much better to pick and choose so you can fulfill your commitments well. Lastly, if you feel that the people around you pressure you into participating in hustle culture in whatever form or make you compare yourself to them, perhaps it may be time to consider surrounding yourself with different people.

You’ll find that setting boundaries and giving yourself the rest you need will help you be happier, more productive, and create better quality work. The bottom line is that if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of others or achieve your own goals.

Sources

• Angermann, Marlena. “Are You Part of Hustle Culture? It Might Be More Harmful than You Think.” Utopia, 24 Mar. 2022, utopia.org/guide/are-you-part-of-hustle-culture-it-might-be-more-harmful-than-you-think/#:~:text=Hustle%20culture%20tells%20us%20that%20we%20should%20be.

• Jackson-Gibson, Adele. “How to Identify Hustle Culture and What You Can Do to Break Away from It.” Good Housekeeping, 13 Dec. 2021, www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a38416524/hustle-culture/.

• Mayo Clinic. “Know the Signs of Job Burnout.” Mayo Clinic, 5 June 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642.

• Nortje, Alicia. “What Is Burnout? 16 Signs and Symptoms of Excessive Stress.” PositivePsychology.com, 27 Feb. 2021, positivepsychology.com/burnout/.

• Shaw, Steven. “Hustle Culture Affects Students’ Work-Life Balance Negatively.” The Shorthorn, 23 Mar. 2022, www.theshorthorn.com/news/hustle-culture-affects-students-work-life-balance-negatively/article_8b74bf68-9e78-11ec-9f0c-8f585dd80e18.html