How to navigate work-life balance in a ‘hustle porn’ culture

Olga Bergmans

Every morning, I grab my phone and immediately scroll through social media. What seems harmless for almost every teenager has turned out to be a habit that has become more detrimental than I imagined. As I am greeted with the lives of a million strangers, I now know what they like, who they’re dating, and the career they are pursuing. I see a person just got hired at their dream job, achieving their dream life, and just like that, the brick of comparison lies on my chest. When it comes to a career, it feels as if everyone around me is working harder, smarter, and are all around more successful. Recently, in the media, a term called ‘hustle porn’ has been on the rise, with more students becoming aware of its trap. This begs the question: Is everyone around you actually hustling harder? Or… is that just how it seems on our social media feeds? 

What is Hustle Porn?

Hustle porn is a term commonly used to describe the growing obsession with gaining success and ‘hustling’ to reach your goals. It is the connotation that if you are not constantly working long, strenuous hours, enduring restless nights and making calculated moves to advance your goals, you are simply doing something wrong. Well, I’m here to tell you that you’re not. In mass attempts of students overworking themselves, the term ‘hustle porn’ lingers in our social world like a dark cloud. The message is perpetrated towards a flawed narrative in society, which is that non-stop hustling is the equation to success. In reality, all this has led to, is a generation of overtired students working with no end in sight, and comparing themselves like it’s a practice. So, how does a regular university student not succumb to the ‘hustle porn’ culture?

1. Ditch the toxic productivity mindset 

Social media is an environment where the pressure to live grand lives is inescapable. Instagram pages showcasing motivational quotes and influencers can make you feel like if you are not consistently doing something deemed productive, then the day was not seized to its highest degree. An example of this can be videos on TikTok of morning routines, which over the past few months, have gained increasing popularity. Now, I can’t speak for any other 18 year old, but personally, watching these Tiktoks feels unrealistic. The feeling that because I don’t have a perfected study routine, drink celery juice, and workout every morning at 5 am, I am not working hard enough to be successful. In reality, the idea of constant productivity is not only unrealistic, but counterproductive. If we never allow ourselves to take a night off watching Love Island, while eating an “unhealthy” meal, then the balance of work and life becomes faint. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no stranger to being consumed by my work, and trust me when I say it’s difficult to not feel like you should be glued to the computer. Yet somehow, in my first year as a journalism student, I realized why this balance was essential to my wellbeing. The reason is so that we do not grow to hate our passions. If we contribute to the persistent ‘hustle’ mindset, we will hustle ourselves into a place of neglect, worrying about every move we make, and whether it’s the right one. This is not the goal, and more importantly, leaves a microscopically small margin for growth.

2. Wellbeing and passions can co-exist

I remember believing if I did not wake up and head straight over to my desk, that I should feel guilty. I wasn’t deserving of a break, because what good would that do for me? Only now, I realize that doing the small mundane things, like going on a walk, or meeting a friend for coffee, are key components of life that should be included in your daily routine just as much as the ‘hustle.’ These allow one to obtain an identity beyond work, and not link success to self-worth. Your work, even if you love it to bits, should be an extension of who you are, not all you are. In actuality, the work you are creating will most likely be better if you ensure you are also taking care of your mind and body. 

3. Find your own definition of success (ie. stop comparing)    

Although I can preach to the choir as much as I like, not comparing to others is a discipline I am still trying to master. In terms of success and work, all that matters is what you are striving towards, not others. There have been times where I’ve seen someone get a new job position or experience something cool and bam! Immediately comes the self-inflicted criticism. The little voice in my head that says, “Why aren’t you doing more? Work harder, you’re being lazy.” I need to learn to ignore that voice. Everyone is on a different path, going at a different speed, starting from a different spot. So, don’t compare your step one to someone else’s step five. 

If we can adopt the feeling of being so secure in our own lives, that others’ success can merely enlist a smile on our faces, this will be the moment when we truly succeed. Work-life balance is something that can be a marriage in priority. Do the work, take breaks, and most importantly value the journey as much as the destination. It’ll teach you more than you think. 

• balance
• hustle
• mental health
• wellbeing
• wellness
• work