Hustle culture is the glorification of overworking and the constant pursuit of achievement for achievements sake. It is a culture that tells us that we are only worthy if we are constantly striving and producing more, more, more. It is a short sighted mentality, focusing on the short-term monetary gain for companies, but losing sight of the mid to long term effects on employees. It is hugely toxic, leading to burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental and physical health problems. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety costs the global economy $1 trillion each year in lost productivity. So, far from making us more productive, hustle culture is making us, overall, much less so!
Why is Hustle Culture Not Working for us?
- It is unrealistic and unsustainable. It is simply not possible to work long hours, seven days a week, indefinitely. Eventually, our bodies and minds will break down.
- It leads to burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. It can lead to a number of negative consequences, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and health problems.
- It is bad for our mental health. Hustle culture can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. It can also make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships and engage in activities that we enjoy.
- It is bad for our physical health. Hustle culture can lead to a number of physical health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It can also make it difficult to get enough sleep and eat a healthy diet.
The Toxic Masculine Ideal: “Keep Pushing”
Hustle culture is often associated with a toxic masculine culture of keeping going no matter what. This culture tells us that we should never give up, that we should always be working harder and striving for more. It can lead to us ignoring our physical and mental health needs. It can also lead to us feeling guilty and ashamed when we need to take a break or slow down, exacerbating the problem further!
Resilience is not about pushing through
Elite Athletes are known for their hard work and dedication. However, they also know that it is important to listen to their bodies and take breaks when they need to. They know that pushing themselves too hard can lead to injuries and burnout and that it is important to balance their training with rest and recovery. They also understand that it is important to have a life outside of their sport. This allows them to come back to their sport refreshed and motivated.
Slowing Down to Go Faster
It may seem counterintuitive, but slowing down can actually help us to go faster in the long run. When we are constantly working hard and pushing ourselves, we are more likely to make mistakes and burn out. When we take breaks and allow ourselves to rest and recover, we are able to come back to our work refreshed and focused.
Embracing the Divine Feminine Attributes
Hustle culture is based on traditional command and control leadership, characterised by long hours and high pressure, where no level of goal achievement is ever really ‘good enough’. In contrast the divine feminine leadership model, long forgotten in many ‘high performance’ environments, promotes the idea of listening to the innate wisdom and intuition of our bodies and is characterised by the following:
- Intuition: Listening to intuition and making decisions based on gut feelings. Trusting intuition is a valuable source of guidance.
- Compassion: Compassionate with oneself and others. Able to understand and empathise with the feelings of others.
- Creativity: Being creative and innovative. Able to see the world in new ways and come up with new solutions to problems.
- Nurturing: Nurturing and supportive. Can create a safe and supportive environment for their team members to thrive.
- Collaboration: Collaboration and teamwork. Value the input of others and are able to work together to achieve common goals.
It is important to remember that ‘toxic masculine’ does refer just to men, there are plenty of women operating from this place, and likewise ‘divine feminine’ is not necessarily talking just about women, but rather it’s about embracing the feminine qualities within all of us, regardless of gender.
Conclusion
Hustle culture is a toxic culture that is not working for us. It leads to burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental and physical health problems. It is a short-term mindset, which may increase productivity in the very short term, but in the long term ignoring the divine feminine leadership attributes will cost us heavily, both in monetary and social terms.
