The COVID-19 pandemic has brought along a lot of things with it.Â
For starters, it spurred the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the highest unemployment rate (14.8%) our country has seen since it began recording those figures in 1948, and a death toll that has cinched the top spot nationally and the eighth spot globally in all recorded history of pandemics.
Our generation has been forced to live through a once in a lifetime ongoing traumatic event that no one has the answers on how to properly deal with. We’ve attended countless funerals, missed moments and milestones we’ve spent our entire lives looking forward to, spent unnatural amounts of time in isolation from one another, and waited anxiously for what comes next.Â
Yet, despite surviving through an unprecedented time- which will undoubtedly affect us in the long term physically, mentally, and emotionally–, an alarming number of our peers have taken it upon themselves to become self-appointed promoters of hustle culture.Â
What is “hustle culture” you may ask?
The largely internet-driven subculture is predicated upon an obsession with one’s work, the admonishment of rest, constant comparison of oneself with their peers, and the never ending quest to accumulate wealth.Â
Although it is in no way a new phenomenon, it has seen a disturbing uptick in popularity since the beginning of the pandemic. These days, if you’re on social media in any capacity, it’s nearly impossible to avoid.
Social media accounts completely dedicated to sharing “hustle quotes” or helping people develop a “millionaire mentality” boast hundreds of thousands of followers who, in turn, disseminate their posts for all to see.Â
These posts can range from seemingly harmless quips such as “Rise and Grind” or “Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done”, to much more alarming messages of so-called encouragement, such as a post I saw shared a few weeks ago that read, “Do you have a 100k in the bank right now? Didn’t think so, get out of bed and go to work”.Â
It doesn’t stop there.Â
One can also expect a constant barrage of “motivational” videos about how people remaining poor is a result of their own doing as opposed to deeply complex social structures that allow and encourage poverty to persist.
In addition, one is sure to see self-congratulatory posts about the returns on various investments through enterprises such as Forex or Bitcoin, along with the critique of how you personally aren’t doing enough to manage your finances and need to secure multiple sources of income.Â
Last but not least, be prepared to encounter the message of how working your 9 to 5 job simply isn’t good enough because you’ll never have the pleasure of starting your own business from the ground up and being your own boss, free from having to answer to anyone, ever.Â
Although the intentions of this movement may be good, its manifestations are anything but, and while nice in theory, hustle culture simply isn’t realistic.Â
It oversimplifies people’s very real and complex problems, circumstances, and overall lives; then, it tosses them simple one-size-fits-all solutions. It leaves no room for grace or understanding- excuses of any kind, no matter their validity, are unacceptable.Â
This type of mentality is dangerous anytime, but especially now as we grapple with the consequences of a pandemic that has brought the world to a practical standstill.Â
It’s understandable that with widespread shutdowns and limited economic opportunities, many young people have searched eagerly and relentlessly for new and creative ways to generate income. Wanting to start your own business, become an entrepreneur, and/or forge your own path is admirable, but criticizing and shaming other people for not choosing the same path as you is not.Â
Considering the sheer toll of this pandemic, what people need more than anything right now is rest, not critiques about how much harder and better they can be working.Â
Working to the point of exhaustion isn’t something we should be celebrating. In trying times like these, simply surviving is more than enough.