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Let’s Talk About Hustle Culture. Is It Toxic? How Does It Affect Our Productivity?

In this article, let’s talk about hustle culture and how it affects productivity.

by Jam Buenavista, BusinessTrends Marketing

October 24, 2022

You know the hustle: you’re working late nights and weekends or pulling great extra shifts to build your résumé, impress potential employers and earn bonuses. But have you ever felt guilty that there’s no time for yourself? Have other coworkers treated your hard work as a compliment—or worse, valued it at its true value?
The hustle culture is a mentality that one must work all day every day in pursuit of their professional goals. With our busy lifestyles, this has become a common way of life. That’s when the “Every day I’m Hustlin’” became a mantra. It may be an advantage to some people who work for extended hours or acquire side hustles besides their day job to climb the ladder of success and support their basic needs, but for the majority, it has become an overwhelming routine that compromises your well-being and work-life balance, it is distinguished as toxic and many people don’t glorify the busyness to sacrifice your health. The pressure to be productive can be so intense that experts have even found that many people will say that they’ve worked more hours than they logged to appear to be “the ideal employee”.

According to McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business Associate Professor, Erin Reid, some employees pretended to work 80 hours a week to be lauded as “stars” and “superheroes” by management. Meanwhile, men who openly asked to pull back from the heavy workloads were denied promotions and marginalized among their peers. While hustle culture glorifies overworking as a badge of honor, it often sets up an environment of fear, guilt, and shame especially when you don’t feel like running at the same pace as everyone around you.

The good news is that we can all learn from those who have “been there” and returned to their inner peace. We can also use technology and mindset to manage our time and help us achieve success.

Set Your Boundaries, Re-Evaluate Your Schedule, and Define the Meaning of Success for You

A race is easy to finish when there is a finish line, but without it, it could be an endless competition without knowing who would win. Just like in life, we should know when to start and stop. In an environment where Hustle Culture has become a practice, the pressure of getting along with it may foster. Learn to overcome this by setting your boundaries at work. If your colleagues are working overtime doesn’t mean that you’d have to do the same. If you get to finish your work on time, commend yourself for being punctual and having time for your leisure and personal life. It is important to have a schedule for your relaxation to allow your body and mind to recuperate from a long, tiring day. It is okay not to evolve your whole life in work, there are other things you could do when you have free time, explore new things and discover new hobbies that will fascinate you and make you grow at the same time.

Setting boundaries isn’t selfishness, it just proves that you are prioritizing your health and productivity aligns with your working hours. Shaming other people just because they don’t glorify extending working hours shouldn’t be normalized. We all have different energy levels and coping mechanisms; some may be prone to burnout and some may not. As long it doesn’t affect the performance, it shouldn’t be a problem. In today’s generation, success isn’t measured by how long you work per day. It only compromises your work-life balance. It is defined by how you take every opportunity that may come to you and plan your actions every step of the way.

Sources:
Hustle Culture Can Be Toxic—Here’s How To Navigate It Successfully
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/03/31/hustle-culture-can-be-toxic-heres-how-to-navigate-it-successfully/?sh=5fc7707244e1
Why Some Men Pretend to Work 80-Hour Weeks by Erin Reid
https://hbr.org/2015/04/why-some-men-pretend-to-work-80-hour-weeks?ab=at_art_art_1x1
Hustle Culture: How “Every Day I’m Hustlin’” Became a Mantra
https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/what-is-hustle-culture#:~:text=Also%20known%20as%20burnout%20culture,pursuit%20of%20their%20professional%20goals.
How to Identify Hustle Culture and What You Can Do to Break Away from It
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/a38416524/hustle-culture/
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