Hustle Culture is Toxic

Credit: NewYork Times

I saw the greatest minds of my generation log 18-hour days — and then boast about #HustleCulture on Social Media. When did performative workaholism become a lifestyle?

I hate waking up every single day and thinking I am just not doing enough or I need to be on top of every thing or I need to be better than others. I am 29 year old who has been working a corporate job for the past 7 years but I still feel like shit because I know I need to do more. Every minute of free time I get, I feel like I need to be productive or else I’ll be left behind everyone. Using shitty networks like LinkedIn just inflates my insecurities seeing others getting into X University or starting the super blue Y job or giving a crappy lesson on how waking up at 6 AM and working on a million other projects (that they are doing only for their CV and show) made Elon musk bust on their faces. I am not lazy. I try my best but this culture just makes me feel like a f***ing dog trying to bite its own tail all the damn time and spinning in circles exhausting itself!

If I don’t get a higher degree I will be a piece of trash. If I don’t put extra extra effort above the already overtime I do, I won’t “learn”. If I don’t earn more, I’ll be a disappointment to my parents. Just stop already please! MAYBE i just want to work at the job at this level for sometime and grow gradually, maybe get a masters, maybe I don’t! Why is it so difficult to not just, be.

Our society is a breeding ground today for competition and comparison. It’s become so superficial.