Hustle Culture Is Killing Your Business. Let’s Change The Narrative.
Hustle culture has become a toxic term that glorifies busy at any cost. but what if we made it about working smarter and enhancing your best self, all while maintaining the necessary boundaries for your health and well-being?
When scrolling through social media, you’re often met with hundreds of entrepreneurs, freelancers and start ups who seem to have it all. We’re talking 5 figure launches, consistent wins, luxury travel and non-stop success, they make it look like anything is possible - if you don’t stop working.
We’ve all seen those captions…
“I’d rather be tired than broke”
“Grind while they rest”
“I’ll rest when I’m dead”
“Nobody cares, work harder”
*shivers*
So many influencers promote what is best known as “hustle culture”. If you don’t know what this phenomenon is, hustle culture can be best described as a societal standard in which non-stop work is your only option when it comes to achieving your goals, forcing you to reach your maximum capacity, day in and day out. It creates a guilt around rest and self care, insinuating that time taken to sleep and recharge is time taken away from your road to success.
Sounds exhausting right? What was once a term for creating a life you love and working smarter, now represents a competition of who can work the longest, be the busiest and grind the hardest without stopping for rest.
But Here’s The Tea: Being Busy Does Not Mean You Are Being Productive.
The current movement of hustle culture glorifies busy and therefore many small business owners, entrepreneurs and bloggers end up feeling guilty when it comes to taking time to rest. When you aren’t giving yourself the break you need (and deserve), you will hit a wall of exhaustion - or what most know it as, burn out. It’s not a long term strategy and in the end, non stop hustle is detrimental to your well-being, productivity and dreams.
As with everything in life, your lifestyle is about creating a balance, and in the case of “hustling,” as important as it is to reach your goals, be successful and accomplish the tasks on your list, it’s equally important to rest and recharge. In fact, it’s essential.
Find A Healthy Balance In Your Life Between Working Hard And Resting Hard.
To avoid burning yourself out and falling victim to toxic hustle culture, make sure to take time to do things that replenish and nourish the mind, body and soul. For some, this is taking time away from electronics and cooking a thoughtful dinner. For others, it’s about watching a favorite TV show or visiting their favourite coffee shop. Sometimes it’s even participating in a workout to expel the day’s stresses and thoughts to start anew. Listen to your body and most importantly, do these things without guilt - it’s part of the process and essential to your longterm goals.
Hustling can be incredibly healthy, as long as the necessary boundaries are put into place. As the saying goes: “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” Getting winded early on won’t help you finish the race or achieve your goals. You’ll be left with a leg cramp and unable to finish what you started. Sleep well, nourish your body and look after yourself.
