Welcome to hustle culture. It seems that most people these days are obsessed with working long hours and striving relentlessly. On social media, you’ll often see posts that inspire people to “rise and grind.” Indeed, hustling has gone mainstream.
Recently, I came across an article about Basecamp CEO Jason Fried rejecting hustle culture. As a solopreneur who loves balance, I agree with Jason Fried when he said, “Yeah, I’m not a fan at all of the hustle and grind culture. I think it sends a terrible message and forms the wrong habits. It’s unsustainable over the long-term. A big part of that is because people are busier than they’ve ever been, but they’re not getting more work done.”
How about you? Do you find yourself feeling guilty of not hustling enough? Are you feeling a constant pressure to deliver more, even if you’ve given your very best? Here’s why I think we need to unsubscribe to the #hustle mentality.
3 Reasons to Reject the Idea of #Hustle
1. It brings anxiety and panic.
The anxiety of not getting things done when you expect them to be done creates unnecessary stress. I say this kind of stress is “unnecessary” simply because we live in an imperfect world. Life gets in the way. You had an emergency to deal with in your family. Your overslept (and that’s okay). These things are out of your control. Don’t waste your time worrying about them.
2. Good things happen when you take a break.
Have you tried getting overwhelmed by a problem and you stepped away from the situation by napping, and then later found the answer out of nowhere? Breaks benefit our brains. Spending downtime can prevent decision fatigue. Because when you frequently make decisions, your willpower decreases. Breaks restore your motivation so that you stay focused on your long-term goals.
3. You don’t need to work like everyone else.
Each person has his own version of hardwork, progress, and productivity. It’s essential that you discover the amount of work and pace you’re most comfortable in. Last but not least, it needs to be in line with your personal values. Don’t compromise your values in order to fit in.
Here’s What to Do If You Overwork
If you have become a workaholic and you’re considering a change, I’ve prepared a list of things you can do starting today. These ideas will help you create a balanced life and experience more calm while you’re on your way to success in business.
Make a conscious decision. The first step to quit overworking is to be intentional about it. I want you to make a commitment to yourself right now to be a balanced person. Notice the areas of your life that you’ve neglected as a result of overwork. Is it your health? Relationships? Sleep quality? Hobbies?
Be willing to let go. If you want to achieve more balance in life, you need to take a risk. Taking a risk is the only way to know if something works.
When you leave work, leave work. Don’t go through your weekend stressing about unfinished tasks and things to do next week. Checking and responding to emails while you’re having a family vacation won’t make your life easier.
Ask for help. Don’t be too proud to admit that you need help in some areas of your business. My tip for you here is to build a team that you can afford. Outsource tasks that you cannot realistically handle yourself due to time constraints. For example, blog writing and social media management.
Final Thoughts
Working hard is worth it. But working hard at the expense of your health, happiness, and well-being? It’s the worst thing you can do as a solopreneur or entrepreneur. Make this year a year of self-care. I challenge you to get started!
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