There’s something to be said for hard work, but even more so for the negative side effects that can manifest from it. When people push themselves past their limit, they can quickly find themselves in a state of burnout. This is observed in almost every aspect of life, especially when it comes to working.
Work is an inevitable part of life, that is a given. And it is important to try your best at what you do. However, there is an unhealthy mindset that has been pushed onto society and that is hustle culture. Urban Dictionary describes it as “The glorification of working very long hours in hope of reaching one’s professional goals while having a disregard for their health, and relationships with loved ones.”
The demographics that are often associated with this unhealthy work culture are the older generations that precede Gen Z. Often parents are the first ones to ingrain idealisms that praise hard work into their kids. This is especially prevalent in a lot of ethnic households where the parent’s expectations for their children can be unreasonably high and ruthlessly demanding.
Parents pushing their kids to work hard is a good idea in theory but as they grow up, those kids turn into adults who do not know how to take care of themselves beyond just simply making money. This leads to the deterioration of their mental and physical health which inevitably lowers their quality of life.
What some people do not understand is that the issue at play is not hard work itself, but rather the glorification of it. Like everything in life, hard work is good in moderation. There needs to be a balance between the hustle and the rest period in order for a person to perform at their best and live well.
Shame prevents many from taking the necessary and adequate amount of time away from their work to relax. Young people especially are told that they do not have a reason to be tired and that they are being lazy if they refuse to do more. Toxic and invalidating messages such as these make them feel like they need to suck it up and be quiet. This only resets in making them feel fatigued, burnt out, and overwhelmed.
People need to take time to heal from the daily stresses of their jobs or else they will bring their work problems home with them. It is necessary for animals of all kind to feel like they have a safe space for themselves, so why don’t people allow the same for themselves? Unplugging from work and recharging at home is a key component to cultivating personal happiness and success in life.
The Netherlands is a great example of a country where the people do not glorify work and are therefore, happier and actually more productive. This European country has the shortest work week (29.5 hours/week) in the world, yet it still maintains a national employment rate of 81% as of 2021. In comparison, the U.S. has an average work week (38.7 hours/week) and a national employment rate of 60.10% as of 2022.
These statistics are stark in contrast and allude to the theory that less work prevents burnout which in turn leads to a higher level of productivity in people. Perhaps Americans should take notes from the playbooks of working professionals in the Netherlands and seek to find more balance in their lives.