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-  Fatma Ghayyour

Many of us have heard of “hard work is the key to success” or “you have to work hard to get what you want”. This is an idea that is perpetuated by the hustle culture, also known as burnout culture, toxic productivity or workaholism. Working towards one’s goals and aspirations is great since it keeps us motivated which fruits happiness. However, the hustle culture perpetuates working hard in a self-sacrificial manner to get happiness, money, respect, achievements or any other goals/wants of an individual. 

What Is Happening Inside Us When We Hustle? 

Today’s economic structure has led to a culture of long working hours. Let’s try to understand what actually happens to our bodies when we work in such environments. When an individual works for long hours, their body identifies it as a form of stress and releases the hormones ‘Cortisol’ and ’Adrenaline’. 

These hormones signal one’s body to prepare itself for a fight-or-flight situation. In normal situations, once the stress/threat is gone, the body goes back to normal. But working long hours or “hustling” could lead to overexposure to these hormones which can disrupt various bodily functions and processes. This can make an individual more susceptible to various issues such as digestive problems, bodily pains, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sleep disorders and impacts cognitive functioning. Over time this harms one’s well-being and quality of life. 

According to a joint study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), working more than 55 hours a week may make an individual more susceptible to various impacts of overworking. Ever since the eve of the pandemic, lockdowns have been imposed to curb the spread of the virus which has resulted in working hours being more flexible. The WHO estimates that working hours have increased by up to 10% during the pandemic and this trend may increase in the upcoming years. 

What Can be Done to Combat The Effects of Hustle Culture? 

Let’s look at the various changes that can be made to tackle the Hustle Culture. To combat this action needs to be taken not only on the individual level but also on a corporate and governmental level. 

On an individual level, it is important to first have a sense of awareness of the constant cycle of toxic productivity. You may do so by reflecting on how your day(s) have been and asking yourself about how you feel. A great way to do this and keep track is through daily or weekly journaling. 

Taking out time to address your needs and pursue a hobby/something enjoyable helps to decrease the impact of overworking. Spending time with friends and family is also a great way of enjoying and socializing. This may not only help you but also help your family and friends tackle burnout and exhaustion. Practising self-compassion and gratitude frequently can go a long way in tackling burnout. During work hours it is important to take frequent breaks. Multiple studies have shown that taking short breaks during the day help decrease exhaustion and stress in turn increasing cognitive functioning and productivity. 

To bring about a long-lasting change, there must be change on the corporate and governmental levels. The first step should be to create a sense of awareness about the issue at hand. Access to mental health services needs to be increased to help those who have been facing burnout and various other implications to toxic productivity. Employers must provide days off for mental health breaks to their employees to promote a healthy and happy working environment. 

Working long hours has various negative implications on an individual. It has become increasingly important to tackle this to live a healthier life. So the question arises, ‘is hustling harder really worth it in the long run?’