February 19, 2025

Omneti

Trusted Partner

How to Put in Extra Effort Without Going Overboard: Pros and Cons of the Hustle Culture

The “hustle culture” discussion appears to be omnipresent at the moment.

It’s a mentality that prioritizes hard effort and ongoing improvement; examples include taking a cold shower at 5 a.m., running three enterprises, and intermittent fasting to get in a marathon.

All this usually has negative effects on one’s health. Thankfully, more members of Generation Z are speaking out against this negativity.

Jason Calcanus, a well-known businessman and early-stage angel investor, recently tweeted a day in the life of one of his young employees with the description, “The TikTok generation is different.” The film opens with an unhurried workout and free breakfast, encapsulating the spirit of today’s prospective workforce.

Many people of my generation and older chimed in, and the discussion went off the rails. It reminded me of my early days working in a sales call center, when if you weren’t on the phone, you’d get something thrown at your head almost right away for not Cons Constantly “smiling and dialing.”

I want to be clear that I do not approve of that sort of thing. But what I’m trying to emphasize is the vast difference between the way things are now and the way they were twenty years ago, when “work” meant what it said it meant.

Having a wide range of perspectives has been invaluable to me as a CEO and manager of employees of varying ages. I can see the pros and cons of hustle culture with the benefit of experience.

The pros should come first.

The Benefits of the Hustle Mentality

  1. Productivity Growth: There is a correlation between participation in a “hustle culture” and higher productivity and the ability to complete more tasks and achieve more goals. Why not make the most of the time we spend working?
  2. Inspiration and drive: People might take cues from the hustle culture and be inspired to push themselves to new limits.
  3. Because hustle culture encourages people to take charge of their own lives and make their own way in the world, it can be seen as a vehicle for professional advancement.

Downsides of the Hustle Mentality

The negatives will now be discussed.

  1. Individuals who are always under pressure to work harder and accomplish more may experience burnout as a result of this “hustle culture.” There’s a good reason why most of us stop pulling all-nighters once we graduate from college: our bodies can’t handle it.
  2. Lack of work-life balance: In today’s “hustle culture,” people may put their careers before of other vital elements of their lives, like relationships and self-care. However, as said in one of literature’s finest works, “Your degrees won’t keep you warm at night.”
  3. Because of the pressures to continually perform and succeed, hustle culture can also lead to a stressful and anxious atmosphere. You’ll never escape this never-ending hamster wheel.

Methods for Successfully Including Hustle in Your Professional Life

Where then may we find more equilibrium, or at least harmony? My 20 years of business ownership have taught me a few things about working harder without becoming burned out:

  • Set a priority order for your work. Prioritize your work based on how quickly or critically it needs to be completed. You may get more done in less time and prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed by a mountain of tasks. There will always be more to do in our always-connected, always-on environment. If you want to take control of your day instead of having it take control of you, it helps to write down your top priorities.
  • Think on what you’re actually capable of accomplishing. Motivating yourself and preventing feelings of being unable to cope can be achieved through the deliberate setting of attainable goals.
  • Control your schedule. You can boost your focus and productivity by working in 25-minute intervals using the Pomodoro technique or another time-management method. If you break down your goal into manageable chunks, you can probably make it happen.
  • Pace yourself. Taking short pauses during the day can do wonders for your mental health and help you avoid burnout. We are not interchangeable parts in a machine. Short breaks to move about, get some fresh air, and stretch can do wonders for productivity and concentration.

Work is not an end in itself; rather, it is a means to an improved quality of life. Put your desk in the corner, and every time you go down to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the centre of the room, as Stephen King advised regarding work-life balance in his office setup. Art doesn’t have a foundation in real life. The situation is inverted.

  • Take care of yourself. Maintaining your mental and physical health is just as important as taking breaks. Maintaining your energy and concentration throughout the day requires a combination of healthy eating, sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and self-care practices. Consider them to be absolutes. The workload will remain consistent. However, today is the last day you can work out.
  • Strive for work-life balance. Take the time to do the things you enjoy and to connect with the people who matter to you. This will save you from being burned out and allow you to approach your task with new eyes.

Concluding Remarks

Keep in mind that “working hard” does not equate to “working nonstop.” Your physical and emotional health will benefit from a long-term strategy that allows for periodic downtime.

You have to put in a lot of effort if you want to see results, but not so much that you burn out. Achieving any significant goal, like anything else in life, demands striking a balance. This also holds true for “hustle” culture.