Hustle culture is the idea of constantly grinding. It’s when there is an intense focus on productivity, ambition, and success, with little regard for down time and self care. The foundation for hustle culture was laid during the entrepreneurial boom of the 1990s and 2000s. During this time a new standard emerged of the ‘go hard’ or ‘go home’ mindset. It’s the idea that you can only find success by working hard and long hours and when you think you are working your hardest, push yourself even harder. Sacrificing your leisure time is the way to reach your goals of success.
The concept of hustle culture has been glamorized by society and the media. We see successful entrepreneurs who got to where they are by putting in long hours and not taking time off for themselves. They are often viewed as role models, but the negative effects of how they got to be so successful are not often shown. The pandemic gave people the time and space to re-evaluate their work-life balance. Now, according to a 2022 pulse survey of 2,000 US workers by Prudential, 70% of workers are prioritizing their personal lives and 20% are willing to take pay cuts for a better work-life balance.
In recent years, we have seen Gen Z really pushing for a change in how we participate in hustle culture. Younger generations are beginning to prioritize mental health, setting boundaries with employers, and ending hustle culture. But this idea is not limited just to Gen Z-studies are showing that workers across all generations are feeling burned out to varying degrees. Workers are suffering motivation drops due to lack of sufficient pay, lack of time off, additional responsibilities at home, and lack of appreciation. Work also gets in the way of pursuing personal interests and spending time with family and friends. Studies have shown that as you get older you end up spending more time throughout your life with your coworkers than you do with your family and friends.
The rejection of hustle culture is characterized by finding purpose and fulfillment in what you do. People are beginning to realize that to get ahead in life, you also need space and time to rest, conceptualize, and ideate. There is no way to do any of those things if you are always busy and constantly working.
Effects on Mental Health
Hustle culture has a toxic impact on mental health. It causes feelings like anxiety, guilt, and apathy. It creates a toxic positivity cycle where there is little room for failure and mistakes. In many cases, it leads to physical exhaustion that causes psychological distress and increases the risk of illness.
How to Break Free
The first step in breaking free of hustle culture is to recognize the signs that you may be part of it. Ask yourself the following questions:
Do you answer work emails and phone calls at all hours of the day?
Do you feel like you are punished or criticized for taking time off work?
Do you feel obliged to choose work over family?
Have you lost passions and interests outside of work?
Are you constantly pushing yourself to do more and be better?
Have you become addicted to work?
Do you choose work over sleep?
Have you pushed friends and family away because of work?
Do you catch yourself thinking that there is never enough time in the day?
If you answered yes to some of these questions, you are participating in hustle culture. There are a few strategies to break free from hustle culture. You must define what success means to you. Ask yourself important questions to pinpoint your priorities, vision, and goals. What does a perfect day look like? Where do I want to be in one year, five years, ten years? If I could do anything, what would I do? What do I get most excited about? What am I really working toward?
The following are some suggestions on how to reject hustle culture:
Set healthy boundaries with employers. Setting healthy boundaries is essential to protecting your mental health and wellbeing.
Take breaks. Regular breaks throughout the day will help keep stress levels low and allow your mind to rest. This helps you stay productive without burning out. Short breaks could include, stepping away from desk, going for a walk, listening to music, chatting with a coworker.
Prioritize self care. This helps maintain good mental health. You should make sure each day that you do at least one activity dedicated to taking care of yourself. This could be going on a walk, reading a book, journaling, working out, practicing meditations, or spending time with friends and family.
Lastly, be kind to yourself. Focus on the positive things you have done and celebrate the small accomplishments. Don’t compare yourself to others but instead focus on your own journey and personal growth.