SAYACINTAINDONESIA — “STOP WHEN YOU’RE DONE, NOT WHEN YOU’RE TIRED.”
Many people out there, believe that success will come to those who work hard. So, if based on these principles, to be more successful one has to work very hard. This habit reaches the point where we will feel restless if we don’t do something even though there is nothing else to do. The COVID-19 pandemic has also added to this pressure because a lot of people think that with the remote work system, we should be able to complete more work than usual. But, why do we admire something so obvious? Is it good for us?
That’s a little picture of Hustle Culture a lifestyle that is often applied by young people who glorify the act of being “workaholic” to the point of sacrificing rest time.
Yes, It Is Absolutely Different from Hard Work
At first glance, hustle culture looks like something motivating. For some people, adopting a hustle culture can lead to a promotion or earn more money quickly. However, there is a slight difference between implementing a hustle culture and working hard normally. People who apply hustle culture in their lives will usually:
- Work overtime almost every day.
- Boasts about the fact that he doesn’t get enough sleep and does a lot of work.
- Claimed to be tired but still forced himself to work.
- Mention how much coffee or other energy drink he consumes to stay awake for work.
- Believe that resting is something that is not productive and just a waste of time.
This is the difference between hustle culture and working hard. Although motivating, hustle culture is toxic. Hustle culture “sells” success by getting as much work done as possible. In fact, this can lead to poor mental health, increased anxiety, and depression.
The Reason Why People Are Stuck in Hustle Culture
Up to this point you might be thinking “If it’s that bad, why do so many people still apply it?” One of the simplest reasons is: This culture is ingrained among young people and companies that have a fast-paced working environment. Based on a survey conducted by The Finery Report, it is known that almost 70 percent of respondents admitted that almost every week they used the weekend to work and 60.8 percent felt guilty if they did not work overtime.
Regarding the average working hours per week, most spend 75-80 hours per week working, twice as high as the work schedule of full-time workers which should be 37-40 hours per week. Not to mention the existence of social media that helps promote the concept of “work hard” through quotes of motivational sentences that convince us that by working continuously, success will just come.
So How To Deal with Hustle Culture?
Rejecting hustle culture is not easy. Sometimes, voicing these cultural-related arguments will make us appear lazy or go away from challenges. Some people who complain about this to their colleagues or superiors, instead of being given a solution, will get a similar response: “If you feel like you’re being overworked, it probably means that this isn’t your place. You’re not cut out to work here.”
One of the things that makes hustle culture so toxic is the fact that it only focuses on the future and doesn’t take into account the present. People leave their hobbies to fulfill their work needs. Refuse to meet and have fun with friends and family in order to satisfy the client. It’s as if we have to choose between life and work. Therefore, it is necessary to have a balance between these two aspects or often known as the concept of “work-life balance.”
Instead of working hard, it would be better if you worked smart. This means that in your work you also take into account other aspects of your life such as relationships with other people and health, both physically and mentally. With this, you can avoid feeling burnout. In addition, you must also be able to limit yourself. When is it time to work and when is it time to rest. To successfully do this, it takes habituation and a change in mindset both from yourself and where you work. But you should no longer feel guilty or like you’re being judged just for taking the time to rest.
Picture: youthopia.sg
