Elon Musk, a millionaire, stated in late 2018 that “nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week”. People who are successful in life, those who have "made it," typically cite the importance of hard work, perseverance, drive, sacrifice, and putting in long hours as the secrets to their success. You are expected to work hard, long, and intelligently when working at Amazon, according to Jeff Bezos.
People are frequently motivated by such remarks to push themselves and "hustle" to success. The phrase "condition of overworking to the point where it becomes a lifestyle" can be used to describe hustle culture. It is an obsessive urge that appears to be a successful motivational movement.
But a pertinent question here is: is it indeed all that it claims to be?
While people like Jeff Bezos promote the advantages of hustle, they keep hidden the fact that they are beneficiaries of privilege. Bezos, for example, received more than $250,000 from his parents in 1995 as an investment. During her tenure at PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi was one of the best paid CEOs in the world, earning more than 650 times the salary of the typical employee of the firm.
Most of us work regular 9–5 jobs and struggle to pay our bills since we live paycheck to paycheck. And whether you're "hustling" to fulfil your dreams, advance at work, or ask for a raise, the 9am job doesn't finish at 5pm.
A beleaguered generation battling the pandemic and slowing economies is rejecting 'work hard, party hard' for 'work well, sleep well'.
Meena Harris, a businesswoman and New York Times best-selling book, recently shared on her Instagram account, which has more than eight lakh followers, that "no days off is not a flex, you need rest, babe.”
Young people who have begun to reject the "hustle culture" respond favourably to Harris' call for "rest." For "hustlers," working excessive hours and producing as much as possible throughout the day are the only ways to succeed. This had seen a generation of young individuals willing to start their own "side hustles" and take on gigs instead of regular 9 to 5 work, sacrificing weekends, sleep, and meal times.
Unfortunately, it's become popular to overachieve. Because doing minor chores can become addictive, taking a break becomes challenging. There is an adrenaline surge when you do something. Your brain's dopamine reward centre gets a pleasure out of it, much like in intense sports. So you miss this kick when you purposefully attempt not to work. Although this kick may feel nice in the moment, we must keep in mind that it is not healthy.
Burnouts can result from blurring the barriers between personal and professional lives. These burnouts can affect other areas of life as well, such as the ability to eat and experience happiness.
Younger generations are beginning to place more importance on work-life balance as a result of the pandemic's altered work environment and economy. It's difficult to shake the persistent feeling that you aren't doing enough, especially in light of the continual presence on social media of influencers who are fans of the hashtag "hustle." Unrealistic expectations might be created via social media. It could result in low self-esteem rather than serving as a motivator.
Spending the first 30 minutes of the day alone can help you cope with this. Don't check your office email when you wake up each morning. Take part in at least one enjoyable activity each day to relieve stress. Every so often, pause to reflect. Have I taken care of my physical and emotional health, spent time with my family and friends, and been social? If your priorities don't change frequently, you should do so more deliberately. If you have a deadline, for instance, you concentrate on your work; if it's a festival, you concentrate on your house.
Young adults are already worried, depressed, and overwhelmed by life as a result of hustle culture. Just because you saw a friend succeed doesn’t mean you will. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just support the people you know who are succeeding instead of competing as it will just make you sad and miserable. People need to understand that running a business is not like putting together a box of cake mix; you need to take the time and put in the effort to mix everything together; otherwise, it will all pour out and your time and effort will be squandered.
Not that you shouldn't try to start your own business, but you should quit idolising those who claim to work three jobs continuously and love it because that is untrue. Why would anyone want to romanticise work when we only get jobs to support the lifestyles we desire to live?
Hustle culture tries to judge your self-worth based on your net worth and narrowly defines success as professional accomplishment. But not everyone has the same perspective on success. Some people define success as honing a passion or starting a family, two things that are frequently forgone when leading a hustling lifestyle. A fast Google search of significant industry leaders may turn up tales about their divorces or even issues with addiction.
You have indeed demonstrated the thought process of Generation Z. In few places I found the loose ends but you rock with the conclusion part (last para) wherein each line is impactful and true. Good work.