Okay, first things first, this whole hustle culture thing, it’s everywhere now. You open Instagram or LinkedIn or even just YouTube, and someone is talking about waking up at 4 AM, working three jobs, drinking black coffee, and pushing through “grind mode” like they’re training for war. There are quotes, reels, motivational speeches. “Sleep is for the weak.” “Rise and grind.” That kind of thing.
And I won’t lie, sometimes it sounds inspiring. I’ve had moments where I’ve thought, yeah okay, I should do more. I should push harder. I’m wasting time. Especially when someone younger than me is already running a startup, posting about “10x productivity,” and casually dropping phrases like “revenue streams” and “burn rate.”
But then… there’s this other part. A quieter, tired part. The one that just wants a nap. Or a weekend without feeling guilty. The part that thinks, is this really healthy? Like, deep down, is this sustainable? Or are we just convincing ourselves that constant stress and burnout is somehow a badge of honour?
I think that’s where this question really comes from. Not whether working hard is bad, because of course not, working hard is important. But whether turning that into a lifestyle, into an identity, something we glorify, maybe that’s what’s slowly messing with our heads.
What Even Is Hustle Culture?
Maybe we should define it, or at least try to. Hustle culture isn’t just about being busy. It’s about tying your worth to your productivity. It’s this mindset that if you’re not constantly working or improving or building something, then you’re falling behind. That rest is weakness. That taking breaks is lazy.
It sounds a little extreme when you say it out loud, but that’s kind of the point. The messages we get every day, especially online, often push exactly that. And it sneaks into your thinking. You start feeling weird if you’re not doing something “productive” all the time. Even when you are relaxing, your brain’s like, should I be doing something else?
Honestly, I’ve felt this personally. Even while watching a movie with my family, I’ve had moments where I suddenly think, wait, I could be reading something useful right now. Or working on that side project I keep putting off. Why am I wasting time?
And that’s exhausting. Mentally, emotionally. It’s not even about the work anymore, it’s about the constant pressure to be better every second of the day.
But Isn’t Hustling Necessary?
This is where it gets tricky. Because some part of hustle culture makes sense, especially for people like us. Let’s be real, in countries like India, you can’t always afford to take things easy. Competition is brutal. Whether it’s for a job, a university seat, or even just some basic recognition in your field, the grind is real.
And for a lot of people, hustling is survival. It’s how they move up in life. Especially if you don’t come from privilege. So saying “don’t hustle” feels… a bit unfair. Like you’re telling people to relax when their entire future might depend on how hard they’re working today.
Even culturally, we’ve always respected hard work. There’s this idea that sacrifice and struggle are noble, and often, they are. Our parents, for example, didn’t have the luxury to talk about “mental health days” or “work-life balance.” They just did what they had to.
But I think what we’re seeing now is something different. This isn’t just about working hard. It’s about making work your whole personality. And pretending like you’re okay, even when you’re falling apart inside.
The Mental Toll No One Talks About
Burnout is real. Anxiety, guilt, comparison, it adds up.
One of my friends started an online business during the pandemic. She was doing really well, but the pressure to keep up with others online, the constant comparisons, the fear of missing out, it got to her. She told me once, “Even when I’m doing my best, I feel behind.” And that sentence stuck with me.
This pressure to be constantly improving, to always be chasing the next thing, it’s not healthy. Not for the mind, not for the body.
Sleep suffers. Relationships suffer. You don’t even enjoy the wins anymore because you’re already worried about the next goal. You get this constant low-level stress, like your brain’s always buzzing, never shutting off.
And the worst part? You might start thinking this is normal. That if you’re not anxious or overwhelmed, you’re not trying hard enough. Like peace of mind is somehow a sign you’re slacking.
Social Media Isn’t Helping
Let’s be honest, we all post the highlight reel. Hustle culture loves that. You’ll see someone working in a café at midnight and think, wow, they’re so committed. What you don’t see is the breakdown they had an hour before, or how they haven’t seen their friends in weeks.
And then you compare yourself to that image. You think you’re not doing enough. You open LinkedIn and suddenly everyone’s a “thought leader” or “serial entrepreneur” or whatever the latest buzzword is. It feels like a race, and you’re always last.
We don’t post the messy parts. The anxiety, the doubt, the days we do nothing because we’re just too mentally tired. So we get this warped idea of what success and effort actually look like.
Is There a Middle Path?
So then what? Do we stop working hard? Do we reject ambition? Probably not. I don’t think that’s the answer either.
Work is important. Purpose is important. Striving for something, it gives life meaning, in a way. And some amount of hustle is probably always going to be part of modern life, especially when you’re trying to build something from scratch.
But maybe we need to question the glorification part. The idea that more is always better. That rest is weakness. That if you’re not constantly “on,” you’re wasting time.
What if we stopped treating burnout like a trophy? What if we stopped applauding people for working 80-hour weeks like it’s some kind of superpower?
I think it’s okay, actually, healthy, to slow down sometimes. To say no, to log off, to have hobbies that aren’t monetised, to do things just because you enjoy them, not because they’re “productive.”
And honestly, sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is rest without guilt.
Final Thoughts (Though I’m Still Figuring It Out)
I won’t pretend I’ve figured this all out. I still feel guilty on slow days. I still compare myself to others online. I still have those moments where I feel like I’m not doing enough.
But I’m trying. Trying to find that balance between ambition and well-being. Between working hard and actually enjoying life. And I think that’s what more of us need to talk about.
Because at the end of the day, what’s the point of success if you’re too exhausted to feel it? If you’re constantly chasing something and never actually arriving?
Maybe we need to redefine what “hustle” means. Not constant activity. Not glorified burnout. But meaningful effort, with room for rest, relationships, even boredom.
Because we’re not machines. And the goal isn’t to be the busiest person in the room, it’s to be okay. To be whole. To feel, well… alive.