Hustle Culture is Hurting Us

In the last few years, hustle culture has become idolized. The idea of constantly working and grinding became the new norm for many, including myself. We got used to having jam-packed days which represented to others as us being “productive.” This notion fuels many students on campus and adults in the workplace. But in reality, hustling too hard isn’t healthy for you mentally or physically. 

“We hustle too much, and it’s killing our focus and productivity. We are not like the machines we’ve built, and evolution is going to take a while (a few thousands of years, at least) to catch up our biological bodies with the hyper-connected, lighting-speed, automated digital environment that we’ve created,” written in Forbes Magazine last year. 

A new school year and semester brings new challenges to every student, let alone during a worldwide pandemic. We are all working out how to be our most productive selves while attending quote-on-quote Zoom University. Going to class and keeping on top of deadlines can be challenging at the best of times without the added element of it being 100% online. On top of classes, many of us have other responsibilities, hobbies, and interests that we take part in. Whether that is being a part of a club, volunteer work, working, having an internship, exercising, participating in a sport, etc. By the time the week draws to an end, you can be left feeling exhausted and burned out. 

Last semester, I felt exactly that. The minute I opened my eyes to when I shut them in the early hours of the morning, I felt mentally exhausted from balancing my various goals to complete throughout the day. My time bounced between classes to homework to work to internship work to working on my now published book (Check it out!) with the added pressure of managing the new-normal. 

While it is great to take new opportunities and be involved with various parts of campus life or life off-campus, it is so important not to burn out by spreading yourself too thin. There are only a certain number of hours in the day and you don’t need to be rushed off your feet for all of them. Now, I’m not saying it isn’t important to work hard, and I think it is healthy to be involved with at least one or two things outside of the classroom. But if you reach the end of the week feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, it is time to look at how you are spending your time! 

I did just this at the summer. Now, this semester I won’t feel overwhelmed, and I can dedicate more time to the things I am doing, rather than rushing by them to simply tick the complete box. So far, I am feeling less stressed, more optimistic, and just as productive during the day, if not more productive because I can concentrate on what I am doing properly. As the saying goes, It isn’t always about working harder but working smarter. Self-care should be in the top three of all our lists right now. We may not be able to control what is happening outside of our front doors, but we can control what we do in our every day lives, in return how we are feeling. 

So, this is a reminder to not overload yourself with responsibilities this semester! Make sure you have a balance between working hard and looking after yourself, especially during this difficult time. Take on new opportunities and be involved outside of the classroom but be careful of the hustle culture. While it may have a perception of being a good thing, more often than not, it is hurting us and not helping. 

• burnout
• college
• HCCLU
• hustle culture
• new semester
• university