In today’s fast-paced world, “hustle culture” has become a popular mindset, pushing us to work harder and longer hours, attempting to increase productivity. But is this relentless grind truly the key to success? tldr answer: nope, it is most definitely not. Take it from a recovering lawyer and former addict of hustle culture, who is now recuperating in one of the slowest places in the world – Puglia, Italy!
This blog post will explore the negative effects of hustle culture on mental and physical well-being, and discuss the importance of taking breaks for a balanced life. Discover why overworking may be doing more harm than good, and learn how to build a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle that prioritises self-care. If you are reading this chances are you know already that you need to slow down, so you can also check out my post on the Benefits of Slow Living.
What is Hustle Culture?
Hustle culture is a term used to describe the glorification of overworking and the belief that hard work and constant productivity are the keys to success. A recent BBC article defined hustle culture as the idea that there is “always more to strive for: more money to make, a bigger title or promotion to secure and a higher ceiling to smash.” Although hustle culture is often associated with the tech and startup industries, it is now prevalent in other fields as well. In fact, it’s seeped into almost every aspect of our lives, hustle culture inspires constant productivity, but not without a downside.
Origins of Hustle Culture and What’s It All About
The origins of hustle culture can be traced back to the Protestant work ethic, which emphasized hard work, discipline, and frugality as a means of achieving success and salvation. However, the modern version of hustle culture has been fueled by the rise of the gig economy and the increasing pressure to be constantly productive and available. And, spoiler alert, cell phones have definitely exacerbated the problem. If you are 100% available 100% of the time, your brain is not getting time to refresh.
One of the foundational beliefs of hustle culture is the idea that success is directly linked to the amount of work you put in. This can lead to a dangerous cycle of overwork and burnout, as individuals feel pressure to constantly push themselves to work harder and longer hours.
Additionally, hustle culture often emphasizes the importance of side hustles and entrepreneurial endeavours, further perpetuating the idea that success is only attainable through constant work and productivity. While having a side hustle can have benefits like adding a passion project to your daily life or building wealth through extra income sources, one needs to be mindful of the time being invested and balance that with the benefit of investing said time.
While it is important to work hard and pursue your goals, hustle culture can have negative consequences on individuals’ mental and physical health. It is important to strike a balance between productivity and self-care in order to avoid burnout and achieve long-term success. The way I achieve this balance is to look for ways to work smarter, not harder.
The Negative Effects of Hustle Culture
For many years, society has glorified the idea of grinding out long hours, pushing yourself to the limit and sacrificing everything for the sake of success. If you’ve ever read a John Grisham novel or watched a movie based on the book, you’ll recognize that practising corporate lawyers, at least those in big cities, seem to embody hustle culture. But just because you aren’t burning the midnight oil in a law firm, poring over textbooks doesn’t mean you are not susceptible to the same work spiral fueled by hustle culture. As you can imagine, strenuous hours and sacrifices to well-being have negative effects on our mental and physical well-being, as well as our personal relationships.
Burnout and Mental Health Struggles
The pressure to constantly work can lead to burnout, which is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. This can result in decreased productivity, fatigue, and even depression. It is important to recognize the signs of burnout and take steps to prevent it. One way is to take breaks and prioritize self-care. You should seek help from a mental health professional if you are struggling with burnout or other mental health issues.
Decreased Productivity and Creativity
Contrary to popular belief, working harder and longer hours doesn’t always lead to increased productivity and creativity. In fact, overworking can lead to a decrease in both. When we are constantly working, our brains don’t have time to rest and recharge, which can negatively impact our ability to come up with new ideas and solutions. Taking breaks, going for a walk, or engaging in a hobby can actually boost productivity and creativity. One piece of advice I received before entering the workforce was when you feel tired (which is every second of every day when you are burnout, am I right?) is to close whatever you are working on and come back to it with fresh eyes in the morning. Sleep and rest will make you much more attentive to details and may even generate some new ideas your tired brain couldn’t come up with the day before.
Hustle Culture Impacts Personal Relationships
Finally, hustle culture can also have a negative impact on our personal relationships. When we prioritize work over spending time with loved ones, we will obviously miss out on important moments and experiences, which you cannot get back or redo. Constantly talking about work and being stressed can likewise put a strain on relationships. Have you ever sat at the dinner table with your partner, both complaining about work and felt exhausted? Yup, this is what I’m talking about. It is important to set boundaries and prioritize time with loved ones to maintain healthy relationships. That means, set some ground rules, e.g. Friday through Sunday, don’t discuss work, no work talk over dinner and carve out time with your family where you are fully dedicated to them as opposed to checking your phone or contemplating that Monday presentation you have to deliver.
The Importance of Taking Breaks
As mentioned above, taking breaks can actually help to improve productivity and creativity, as well as provide numerous physical and mental benefits.
Physical and Mental Benefits of Rest
Taking breaks can have numerous physical and mental benefits. If you are a desk jockey, it can help to reduce physical issues like eye strain, headaches, and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Have you heard the expression “sitting is the new smoking”? Well, my massage therapy bills to relieve back pain are evidence it’s true. On a break, get up, move around, stretch, do a quick downward dog yoga move and you’ll save your back and improve your posture.
Breaks away from your desk or work station can also improve your stress level, mood, focus and concentration, as well as reduce decision fatigue. Any reduction in daily frustration can truly help improve your job satisfaction. You’re at your job a lot of the time, so you might as well enjoy the time you’re spending there (or, at least, enjoy it more than you are now).
How Taking Breaks Can Improve Productivity and Creativity
Taking breaks gives our brains a chance to rest and recharge. This can lead to better problem-solving skills, as well as improved memory and retention. Creativity can also be boosted by spending time outdoors in nature, as nature impacts our cortisol levels. So the next time you are feeling overwhelmed and overworked, spend some time in nature to lower your stress, 20-30 minutes is all it takes to significantly drop your cortisol levels.
Tips for Incorporating Rest into Your Life
Feeling like you are constantly on the go is extremely common. Between work, family, and social commitments, there never seems to be enough time in the day. How do you maintain the balance between getting things done and getting the recuperation time you need? Here are some tips for incorporating rest into your life:
Setting Boundaries
One of the most important ways to incorporate rest into your life is by setting boundaries. This means learning to say no to commitments that don’t align with your values and goals. It also means setting aside time for yourself each day, whether that’s taking a walk, reading a book, or simply sitting in silence or meditating. Time is money, but it’s, much more importantly, your time and you should spend it doing the things most valuable to your well-being.
Prioritizing Self-Care
Another key aspect of incorporating rest into your life is prioritizing self-care. This means taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. Examples include exercise, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and spending time with loved ones. It’s important to remember that self-care looks different for everyone, so find practices that work for you and prioritize them in your daily routine. If it’s hard to “make time” for self-care and things that are important to you later in the day or after work, carve out time early in the morning or first thing when you get up. Or at lunch, instead of checking emails, go for a walk outdoors, sit in a park, get away from your desk, even 15 minutes of time to yourself can go a long way to improving your self-care routine.
Mindfulness and Meditation Practices
Mindfulness and meditation practices are also great ways to incorporate rest into your life. These practices can help you to slow down, be present in the moment, and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. You may want to try deep breathing, yoga, or guided meditations. I know you’re thinking – ugh – I do not have time for this, I am a busy human being. Sure, I hear you but we are talking about a short break here, this doesn’t need to be an hour-long hot yoga, try a 5-minute guided meditation between meetings, a super way to allow you to get the most from a break. And guess what? There’s an app for this! Or 200,000 apps helping you to be mindful and meditate.
Conclusion
If you are feeling pressured by all the hustle culture hype – do more, strive for the next level, work every second of the day to be successful – it’s time to step back and slow down. You body, mind and loved ones will thank you. You can achieve your goals and be successful in any aspect of your life without filling every second with a task. Take regular breaks throughout your day and experience the benefits of rest: less burnout, improved mental and physical health and, big surprise, an increase in productivity and creativity.