You are on a road trip, cruising down an open highway, enjoying the wind in your hair. You pass a car that’s rushing forward, weaving through traffic like it is in a race. It looks impressive — until you notice the driver, stressed and clutching the wheel so tightly, their knuckles are white. Sure, they’re moving fast, but they’re also burning out, focused so hard on speed that they’re missing out on the scenery.

“The combination of rising incomes and declining time means that people are spending more money and less time on the things that truly matter to them.”

— The Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure” by Juliet Schor

In today’s society, the motto of hustle culture is everywhere: “Rise and grind,” “No days off,” and “Work harder.” At first look, these statements sound inspiring, encouraging us to seek our ambitions and achieve success. But behind the surface, there’s a darker side to this unrelenting quest for productivity—one that celebrates burnout, erodes mental health, and locks us in a never-ending cycle of tiredness. This ubiquitous worldview promotes perpetual activity, encouraging people to compromise their well-being for ambition. While it promises personal achievement and financial reward, hustle culture often leads to exploitation, fostering an environment where long hours and blurred boundaries between work and life are not just accepted but expected.

UNDERSTANDING HUSTLE CULTURE

I used to get caught up in hustle culture. I got up at 7 a.m. every day to work out for two hours before work. On the weekends, I attended university classes and worked on side projects in the evenings. My full schedule demonstrated my commitment and value, so I wore it like a badge of honour.

Every success story I read, whether it was about a freelancer who made six figures or an entrepreneur who built a garage startup into a billion-dollar business, reaffirmed the notion that hard work was the only way to achieve success. This attitude was further reinforced by social media’s never-ending show of achievements, which made me feel like I was never achieving enough.

But the more I stayed in the grind, the more fractures appeared. I was constantly exhausted and nervous, and my personal life was falling apart. Simple pleasures such as reading a book, spending time with friends, or simply going on a stroll seemed like a waste of time that should have been spent working.

Hustle culture represents a mindset that associates success with continuous action and effort. It pushes people to emphasise work above everything else, treating long hours and great production as badges of praise. Social media plays an important part in this phenomenon, with influencers and entrepreneurs sharing success stories reinforcing the idea that hard effort is the path to success. Phrases like “rise and grind” and “hustle hard” have entered the vernacular, implying that individuals who do not labour tirelessly will fall behind.

NORMALISATION OF OVERWORK

According to a study by the World Health Organization, excessive work hours contribute to a higher risk of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. The normalisation of overwork can create an environment where employees believe they must sacrifice their well-being for career advancement. Data from WHO shows that in 2016, more than 700,000 deaths were caused by working long hours.

Hustle culture promotes a mindset that associates activity with productivity. Individuals are frequently forced to look consistently engaged at work, resulting in “toxic productivity.” Employees may take on more jobs than they can manage, resulting in worse work quality and greater stress. Promoting multitasking and continual productivity can create a cycle of burnout in which people feel obliged to keep pushing despite declining results.

One of the most serious consequences of a hustling culture is losing work-life balance. Many people struggle to separate their personal and professional lives, which leads to feelings of guilt when they take time off or prioritise self-care. The expectation of being “always on” might keep employees from fully engaging in their personal lives, resulting in strained relationships and decreased overall well-being.

Technological developments have made it simpler for workers to continue working after regular business hours. Employees frequently feel tied to their workplaces due to the proliferation of cell phones and remote work. The distinction between personal and professional life may become blurred due to this continual connectedness, which may cause feelings of duty to reply to work-related communications and assignments.

Burnout is real, and its consequences are severe. According to studies, overworking can cause chronic stress, anxiety, sadness, and even physical health problems such as heart disease. Despite these well-documented consequences, hustle culture pushes us to our limits, teaching us that taking a break is a sign of weakness.

WHY IS WORKING YOURSELF TO DEATH GLORIFIED?

Hustle culture is frequently glorified for a variety of reasons, including societal and workplace dynamics that contribute to its widespread acceptance:

1. Success narrative: Hustle culture is commonly associated with success tales of individuals who have achieved extraordinary results via hard effort and perseverance. The “hustle to succeed” narrative may be powerful, motivating others to take a similar approach to achieving success.
2. Economic pressure: In competitive economic situations, the fear of falling behind or experiencing financial insecurity motivates individuals and organisations to work hard. People who believe working more would result in higher financial rewards are more likely to compromise their well-being for professional achievement.
3. Entrepreneurial idealisation: The emergence of entrepreneurship as a career choice has contributed to the glorification of hustle culture. Entrepreneurs regularly tell tales about overcoming obstacles through hard effort, inspiring others to follow suit.
4. Social validation: Successful people may look to their jobs for approval and recognition in a culture emphasising output and accomplishment. Being active and accomplishing career objectives are viewed as indicators of one’s value in the hustle culture, which provides a framework for social validation.
5. Technology and connection: The lines separating work and personal life have blurred due to technological advancements and more communication. The flexibility to work remotely and maintain communication about job-related responsibilities promotes a constant, hustle-driven mentality.
6. Fear of missing out (FOMO): The fear of missing out on opportunities or falling behind peers can drive individuals to embrace hustle culture. Social comparison and the desire to keep pace with others in a rapidly changing world glorify constant productivity.
7. Corporate expectations: In corporate organisations, individuals may feel compelled to demonstrate passion and commitment via long hours and the relentless pursuit of professional objectives. This expectation, whether implicit or explicit, might contribute to a culture of workplace hustling.
8. Media influence: The media plays an important part in promoting hustle culture by highlighting the success stories of those who work diligently to attain their goals. The continual barrage of images and narratives about successful entrepreneurs and influencers emphasising “hustle” as the path to success perpetuates the notion that continuous effort is required to reach the top.
9. Peer pressure: In certain social groups, working nonstop and being occupied signifies desire and achievement. This peer pressure can drive people to adopt a hustle culture to fit in or obtain respect in their group, contributing to the normalisation of burnout and overwork.
10. Short-term gratification: Hustle culture prioritises visible, short-term outcomes above long-term sustainability. Immediate accomplishments or rewards, including promotions, recognition, or financial gain, can be addictive, prompting people to strive more to continue enjoying these advantages. This emphasis on rapid outcomes over long-term health and balance feeds the never-ending cycle of hustling.

BREAKING FREE FROM THE GRIND

Breaking out from the hustle culture does not imply giving up on ambition or settling for mediocrity. It entails reframing success on your terms and accepting that rest is not the enemy of work but rather an essential component. Here are a few actions that helped me regain my time and sanity:

1. Set Boundaries: Make a clear distinction between work and personal life. Turn off notifications after hours and avoid checking emails during downtime.
2. Prioritise Rest: Set aside time for rest as if it were a business meeting. Sleep, exercise, and hobbies are crucial for general health.
3. Redefine success: Success is defined by achievements, happiness, health, and relationships. Remember that you are not defined exclusively by your productivity.
4. Practice Mindfulness: Take time during the day to check in with yourself. Do you work because you want to or because you feel obligated to? Being attentive to your motivations might help you make better decisions.

And by employing the following strategies, businesses may establish a supportive and sustainable work environment that supports the recovery from hustle culture burnout, resulting in healthier, more resilient workers:

1. Encourage open communication: Create an environment where people feel comfortable sharing their burnout experiences. Encourage frank discussions about the workload, stresses, and personal issues.
2. Flexible Work Arrangements: Provide workers flexible work hours or remote work choices to help them better manage their professional and personal lives and obligations. This adaptability can help prevent burnout.
3. Provide mental health support. Provide employees with access to mental health resources such as counselling services or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to help them manage stress and burnout.
4. Educate on time management: Provide training on efficient time management and prioritisation. Helping employees plan their responsibilities can lead to a more manageable workload and less stress.
5. Recognise and appreciate achievements: To instill gratitude in employees by acknowledging and applauding their successes. This praise can enhance morale and mitigate the harmful consequences of burnout.
6. Offer professional development opportunities: Provide chances for skill development and personal improvement. This can restore a feeling of purpose and motivation, counteracting the monotony of burnout.
7. Create a supportive work atmosphere: Cultivate a workplace culture that values support and collaboration. Encourage coworkers to help one another during busy periods and share duties.

While hustle culture might result from capitalist ideology, it reflects cultural views about labour and achievement. The pressure to be always busy can have serious mental health consequences, including burnout and feelings of isolation. As society grapples with the repercussions of this attitude, there is a rising need for a more sustainable approach to work that prioritises well-being, community support, and a good work-life balance. Creating workplaces that foster cooperation, value mental health, and respect personal boundaries helps remove the worst parts of hustle culture, opening the way for a better, more balanced approach to work and life.