It’s 8 PM. The day is almost over, yet you feel like it never really began. You’ve finished work, cooked a meal, done the dishes, maybe ran a last-minute errand, or cleaned the bathroom. You’re exhausted, so all you feel like doing is scrolling through social media. A video pops up: it features an attractive person promising life-changing advice, so you decide to give them a shot and listen to what they have to say.
They wake up at 4 AM to meditate, stretch, and drink an organic, homemade shake before work. Then it’s showtime. They go above and beyond every day, nail all their presentations, shine at every meeting, network like pros, and when it looks like the workday is over, they go the extra mile to get that extra coin. And you know what? That’s an everyday thing—slowing down is not an option; sleep is for the weak. They encourage you to do the same because you can—all you must do is want it enough. It’s all about #grindset.
Even if you haven’t come across this kind of content, its message may still sound familiar. That is because the hustle culture we’ve known for generations is still here, still relevant, and just as important to overcome. Let’s explore it.
The meaning of hustle culture
In simple terms, hustle culture (also known as grind culture) is the belief that the more you work, the more success you have. That sounds fair enough, right? You can probably recall working late hours on a project and seeing it go through thanks to that extra effort. But you may also recall how the mere fact that you had to work extra was due to mismanagement of some kind: you started late or did not have enough time to begin with. Someone disagreed with someone else, slowing down the process as a result. Things like these are to be expected in work environments—they are problems to be solved. However, as far as hustle culture is concerned, these are not problems. These are opportunities.
Hustle culture values monetary success above all else, meaning the conditions never matter—only the outcome. Things like efficient communication, collaboration, and teamwork are just buzzwords that have no impact on results. If something didn’t turn out right, that’s because you didn’t put in enough time or effort. In other words, it’s because you have a healthy work-life balance, a family you care for, or even simple things like an extended lunch break with your colleagues. The #grindset doesn’t allow you to care for anything but financial profit because, ultimately, that is what hustle culture is all about. The more money you make, the better… or not?
Why less is more
People are still asking why hustle culture is toxic, and for good reason. We need to believe that working hard is worth it and that our efforts bring us happiness and a life with meaning. The problem is that, in most cases, this financially driven mentality drives us further away from the things that matter, the things that truly make us feel fulfilled—which rarely have to do with money.
The truth of the matter is that spending all your time hustling, networking, and working your way up one corporate ladder or another will only earn you a mental health crisis, such as burnout. Once you reach that stage, no amount of money can get you out. It takes time, self-care, and, honestly, a village—things you may no longer have or know how to build. That is the part that the glorification of workaholism we see online leaves out.
But what now? How do you escape the grind?
Lifestyle design, but in a healthy way
Lifestyle design refers to reorganizing your life in order to enjoy every aspect of it, from work to holidays and personal life in general. In a way, that equates to a well-established work-life balance.
For most people, satisfaction and meaning—happiness, in many ways—can’t be found in one place. You may derive plenty of satisfaction and meaning from excelling at your job, but you may also discover that that is not enough, or that 24/7 hustling is not sustainable. Eating well, being active, having hobbies, and bonding with others are all time-consuming, yet essential aspects that ensure our well-being and promote a good professional performance. These are not just leisure activities but crucial elements of a balanced and fulfilling life.
Online, the solution seems to be going rogue. Quitting your job in favor of an entrepreneurial endeavor sounds great. But what if you don’t have the funds, knowledge, or a viable idea or the passion to fuel that endeavor? What if your plan is only to make money, not caring for the product you are selling or the ethical dimension of your enterprise? The internet makes it seem all fine and dandy when it’s not, and many have to learn that the hard way. Like most things in life, the sweet spot is a good balance where your work and life are separate, albeit integral parts of your week.
Conclusions
If there’s any positive takeaway from hustle culture, it is that hard work can bring you enormous satisfaction. In that sense, excelling at your job is a project worth pursuing—the way you pursue it, though, is what makes all the difference.
Since the pandemic, companies big and small have come to a realization: to retain their workforce and ensure productivity, they need to provide specific accommodations. This has led to a surge in perks such as flexibility, support, and self-improvement opportunities. The rise of the hybrid work model has empowered employees to build the lifestyle that suits them best, putting them in the driver’s seat of their professional and personal lives.
For many, going to the office is essential in keeping different aspects of life separate. If you work from home and have no option to go into the office, WeWork OnDemand may come in handy. With countless office buildings around the world, WeWork is quite a few steps above having a place to work from. It offers top-notch alternatives to working in a café and is easily adaptable to your needs. Necessities such as printers and meeting rooms are a given, while unique amenities like green leisure areas are easy to come by. But whether this model fits you or not, it stands to show that there are options for everybody and, most importantly, that being comfortable at work is an achievable reality.
