Money Hustle: Making You Rich or Killing You?
Hustle Culture and Its Impact on Mental and Physical Health
In recent years, hustle culture has taken social media by storm, with celebrities, influencers, and business leaders glamorizing the idea of working relentlessly to achieve success. 💪💼
You've probably seen numerous social media posts with motivational captions accompanied by the hashtag #hustleculture, showcasing people's achievements, from job promotions to buying extravagant cars and homes. 📈🚗🏡 The underlying message? Success is attainable through relentless "hustling." However, hustle culture is rapidly losing its allure and is no longer viewed as an inspiring movement. 📉🙅♂️
But what exactly is hustle culture? It essentially promotes the notion that you should always work tirelessly to achieve your goals. It goes beyond simply putting in effort; it demands that nothing obstructs your path to success. In essence, if you're part of the hustle culture, every moment of your free time should be devoted to productive activities, even at the expense of leisure activities like watching Netflix on the weekends. 📺🕒🚫
While on the surface, hustle culture may seem positive, emphasizing hard work, determination, and goal achievement, there's more to it than meets the eye. The reality of non-stop hard work is far more challenging than it appears. Imagine dedicating all your waking hours to your job, even returning to the office on weekends – it might impress your boss, but it can lead to burnout, stress, and a complete lack of work-life balance, negatively impacting your mental and physical health and personal relationships. 😓⏰💼
Here are some reasons why hustle culture is falling out of favor:
Counterproductivity: Hustle culture makes it seem like you need to be productive all day long. But guess what? That’s not humanly possible. Moreover, with burnout and exhaustion, you’ll end up achieving even lesser than what you aimed for. 📉🤯
Unhealthy Competition: Imagine a scenario of two employees of the same designation working for a particular company. The first employee constantly works and responds to emails even after work hours, while the other prioritizes work-life balance and unplugs after working hours. Unhealthy competition among colleagues makes for a toxic work environment. 🏢🙅♀️
Impact on Mental and Physical Well-being: You’re human, not a machine. Overworking leads to high levels of stress, low levels of happiness, and fatigue. All this will in turn affect your work performance and pull you further from reaching your professional goals. 🧠💔🏃♂️
Neglect of Work-Life Balance: There’s no such thing as work-life balance in hustle culture. The word ‘hustle’ is in there for a reason. Thinking of catching a movie date with your partner? Hit the playground with your kids? Traveling to Bangkok with friends over the long weekend? It’s a no to all of the above. 🍿🌞🌴
The negative consequences of hustle culture are increasingly evident, as shown by various surveys and studies. A 2022 survey conducted by Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence found that 70% of C-level executives were contemplating leaving their jobs to seek better well-being support. Over 40% of employees reported feeling exhausted and stressed, while 30% of executives felt lonely. 😞📊
In Singapore, hustle culture has also taken a toll on mental health, with Mercer's 2022 Global Talent Trends Study revealing that Singaporean employees are the most de-energized in Asia. Furthermore, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) reported declining mental and emotional health among Singaporeans, especially those in their 20s and 40s. 😔📈
It's crucial to understand that not everyone has the same resources and opportunities to achieve success through constant hustle. The internet often portrays success as the result of relentless hard work, ignoring personal limitations. Realistic goal-setting and finding a healthy balance between work and personal life are essential for long-term well-being. 🎯⚖️🙌
The Roots of Hustle Culture
The roots of hustle culture can be traced back to the entrepreneurial boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in Silicon Valley. The tech industry's intense work culture and the success of companies like Google and Facebook served as models for the "work harder" mindset. However, this narrative has spread beyond the tech world, perpetuated by social media platforms. 💻📈🚀
🌍 In summary, while hustle culture still has its proponents, an increasing number of people are rejecting its demands for constant work and are prioritizing health, family, and well-being. The pandemic has played a crucial role in reshaping work attitudes, emphasizing the importance of a balanced life over relentless hustle. 📅🔄🌟
Some experts further contend that some exposure of widespread inequality during the pandemic challenged the idea of hustle culture as a meritocracy – the idea that anyone, from any background, who grinds can succeed at scale with the resources they already have. 🌐🤝💼
An Evolution – Not Evaporation – of Hustle Culture
Hustle culture hasn’t entirely faded, of course. There are still examples of people who subscribe to and promote the rise-and-grind approach – including ones with large platforms. 📢💼
In March last year, Hardik Pandya, senior vice president of design at one of India’s largest educational-tech companies, Unacademy, posted a Tweet declaring that “those who say you shouldn't work weekends and all, have probably never tasted what amazing work is”. The post sparked major debate, and has had 1.2 million views as of this writing. 💬📱👏
Yet overall, experts say constant work and the pursuit of one-size-fits all professional milestones have become less culturally aspirational for some people. 📊🙌
🌟 Chung believes home-working played a pivotal role in diluting the trend, as employees had greater control over their hours and routines. “Workers identified that shorter hours or taking that one-hour lunch break walk helps them get things done,” she says. “They acknowledged that, yes, they wanted a promotion, but also wanted to spend time with their families.” 🏡🌳👪
Long hours and hard-core working might have once been the ultimate status symbol for many, but following a tough few years – and more economic hardships and possible layoffs to come – some people appear to be prioritizing health and family over the hustle. 🤗👨👩👦👦💪
Resources
If you're still eager to hustle, here are some resources to help you do it smarter:
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter' by Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson
In this unique self-help guide, Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson shares his incredible journey, from overcoming personal losses to becoming a thriving businessman and cable's highest-paid executive."
In conclusion, hustle culture is undergoing a seismic shift as people increasingly prioritize well-being, balance, and happiness over relentless work. It's not the end of ambition, but a new era where success is redefined to include personal fulfillment and a balanced life.
