Capitalism has turned the United States into an individualistic society. Everyone is for himself. Individualism has resulted in working long hours, excessive work competition, and an unhealthy pursuit for fulfillment. Modern Americans attribute their behavior to the hustle culture or “the grind don’t stop” movement. Hustle culture is a modern lifestyle that gives priority to work and other aspects of human life take the back seat. While work is necessary for productivity, people can produce counter to their expectations when work is done for the wrong reasons. Hustle culture has been proved multiple times that it is toxic because it leads to unhealthy competition, burnout, poor work-life balance, and low self-worth.
Hustle Culture leads to Unhealthy Competition
Competition is necessary for work because it improves creativity and encourages people to strive for their maximum potential. Business experts encourage competition in the market as a strategy for separating organizations with low-quality products and services from companies with a reputation for high-quality services. However, competition can be unhealthy when it promotes selfish ambitions. Hustle culture promises promotion and better opportunities for individuals with the highest work rate. These increase rivalries between employees or organizations seeking to outdo their competitors. The unhealthy competition can force some workers to compromise on other important human values such as their personal health or the life of consumers.
Hustle Culture increases burnout
Burnout is a mental condition that occurs when a person feels emotionally drained due to the inability to meet certain life demands. In the case of hustle culture, the inability to meet work demands leads to burnout. According to psychologists, workers can tap into their most productive habits when their minds are relaxed and composed. Calm minds are also sources of productivity. Hustle culture breeds a work environment that counters the prerequisite for creativity and productivity since it demands increased work rates and raises expectations for workers. The hustle culture adds more stress on the workers by triggering feelings of guilt whenever the workers are not working. According to research, most workers in America feel guilty when they do not put extra hours into their work.
Hustle Culture Undermines Self-Worth
According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, humans find complete satisfaction when they meet self-actualization needs such as personal growth, purpose in life, less concern about others’ opinions, and increase mindfulness. The psychologist claimed that human needs with the second-lowest satisfaction are security and safety needs, which the hustle culture promotes. People who subscribe to hustle culture end up losing value for themselves because they achieve needs that fail to completely satisfy them. The hustle culture demands an increased work rate at the expense of the mental and physical health of the workers.
Hustle Culture Leads to poor work-life balance
Life is not all about work. Leisure, community activity, and sleep are all necessary for a fulfilling life. Hustle culture values work and undermine everything else that is important for making life complete. Victims of the hustle culture feel overwhelmed since their minds and bodies are denied other important activities. It limits the time workers spend with their family, friends, and community members. As a result, their healthy begins deteriorating, and productivity reduces, creating room for stress and depression as seen in most Americans.
Working is beneficial for people as it brings a sense of contribution and fulfillment. However, it can be unhealthy when work is the only source of satisfaction as seen in the hustle culture. Hustle culture is toxic to most Americans. It has undermined their physical and mental health by increasing burnout, undervaluing their self-worth, encouraging unhealthy competition and undervaluing other life elements.
