The Culture of Hustle: Burnout, Well-being, and Redefining Success
In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of the “hustle” has become a cultural phenomenon. We are constantly bombarded with messages encouraging us to work harder, longer, and faster, often at the expense of our mental and physical health. Social media platforms are filled with inspirational quotes about grinding, making sacrifices, and embracing the struggle to achieve success. While the hustle culture can be inspiring to some, it has a darker side that has led to widespread burnout, anxiety, and a need to redefine what true success should look like in modern society.
The Rise of Hustle Culture
Hustle culture is a product of a society that equates constant productivity with personal and professional success. Rooted in ideals of individualism and achievement, the hustle mindset has grown alongside the expansion of global markets, digital economies, and the pressure to compete. In today's world, particularly in Western societies, the hustle is not just encouraged—it's expected. Success stories of entrepreneurs, CEOs, and influencers often feature tales of relentless work, sleepless nights, and personal sacrifices made in pursuit of their goals. These narratives have become aspirational models, implying that without extreme effort, success is unattainable.
In recent years, digital platforms have only amplified this message. Social media influencers, especially those with large followings, often portray the hustle as a key ingredient to achieving financial freedom, status, and self-fulfillment. Inspirational posts and motivational quotes about working harder, sacrificing, and pushing through are abundant on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. This constant messaging fuels the belief that to be successful, one must always be grinding, often leading individuals to adopt unsustainable work habits.
However, while this culture of nonstop work is often glorified, it comes with significant downsides, particularly for mental and physical health. The pressure to keep up with the pace of constant productivity can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and even anxiety, as people feel they are never doing enough. In this environment, multitasking becomes a survival mechanism—a way to juggle multiple responsibilities while striving to meet impossible expectations.
This pressure to multitask was recently spotlighted in a controversy involving employees at Ernst & Young (EY), where the culture of hustle and multitasking collided with strict corporate policies, leading to employee terminations.
EY and the Consequences of Hustle Culture
In a recent scandal involving EY, a number of employees were terminated for multitasking during their professional development courses. The employees had reportedly watched multiple training sessions simultaneously, which, unbeknownst to them, was against company policy. The reaction by EY—a mass firing of those involved—has raised questions about the ethics of multitasking in a workplace that encourages high levels of productivity.
Employees first learned of the impending terminations through meeting invites. "At EY, you know when you get a meeting invite, that’s a termination," one insider remarked, highlighting the company's culture of fear and the gravity of the situation. Many of the terminated employees felt the company's actions were extreme and unfair, especially given the ambiguity of the rules around multitasking.
One employee noted that EY's internal messaging around professional development appeared to encourage attending multiple training sessions. "Their emails marketing EY Ignite actually encouraged us to join as many sessions as our schedule allowed," one of the staffers who was fired explained. This sentiment reflects the broader issue in hustle culture: a constant push to do more, be more efficient, and maximize productivity, even at the risk of bending or breaking the rules.
The high-pressure environment at EY, which demands billing 45 hours a week alongside completing internal work, fosters a culture of multitasking. Employees are often left with no choice but to juggle multiple tasks at once to meet expectations. "If you are forced to bill 45 hours a week and do many more hours of internal work, how can it not?" said another fired employee, emphasizing that multitasking was almost necessary to manage the heavy workload.
Many employees defended their actions, saying they were genuinely interested in the professional development sessions and had no intent to cheat the system. One insider explained that the overlap between courses was often minimal, with many sessions running concurrently for just 30 minutes. "There was no cheating. Being in two meetings, you’re multitasking? You can’t complete the requirements of your job without multitasking. 70 hours a week. It’s quite egregious," the source added, pointing to the unsustainable work demands placed on employees.
The scandal is particularly sensitive for EY, as the company had previously faced scrutiny over ethics violations. In 2022, it was revealed that hundreds of EY employees had cheated on their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams. The firm had also been accused of withholding evidence of the cheating from regulators. Given this history, EY may have overreacted to the multitasking issue in an attempt to protect its reputation.
Redefining the Expectations of Success
The situation at EY highlights the contradictions inherent in hustle culture. While companies encourage employees to be hyper-productive, the boundaries of what is considered ethical behavior can become blurred. Multitasking, a skill often praised as a marker of efficiency, was punished harshly in this instance, leaving many employees feeling betrayed by the very culture they had worked so hard to adapt to.
As more stories like this emerge, it becomes clear that the traditional definitions of success—defined by non-stop hustle and multitasking—are increasingly unsustainable. The pressures of constantly grinding can lead to burnout, unethical behavior, and a toxic workplace environment. Success, both for individuals and organizations, needs to be redefined in ways that prioritize well-being, balance, and ethical work practices.
Moving forward, companies must find ways to encourage productivity without sacrificing the health and ethical standards of their employees. True success should not require relentless hustle, but rather thoughtful work, rest, and a culture that values the long-term well-being of everyone involved.
Redefining Success in a Modern Context
Given the growing awareness of the negative effects of hustle culture, there is an increasing need to redefine what success looks like today. The traditional definition of success—accumulating wealth, climbing the corporate ladder, and achieving professional recognition—is slowly being challenged. Many people are beginning to prioritize balance, well-being, and fulfillment over material achievements.
One key element of this shift is the growing emphasis on work-life balance. Rather than measuring success solely by career achievements, more individuals are focusing on how their work integrates with their personal lives. The rise of remote work, flexible hours, and the gig economy has provided many with the opportunity to create a lifestyle that aligns with their personal values and priorities. Success is no longer defined by how much time you spend at the office, but by how much control you have over your time.
In addition to work-life balance, there’s also a growing recognition of the importance of mental health. Employers are increasingly offering wellness programs, mental health days, and flexible benefits to support their employees’ well-being. For individuals, success now includes the ability to maintain mental clarity and emotional resilience while pursuing professional goals. Mental health is becoming just as important a measure of success as financial stability.
Moving Toward a Healthier Definition of Success
To redefine success in a healthier, more sustainable way, it’s important to shift the focus away from constant productivity and toward fulfillment and purpose. This means embracing rest as a necessary component of success, rather than viewing it as a weakness or failure. Rest is essential for creativity, problem-solving, and long-term achievement. By prioritizing downtime, individuals can avoid burnout and maintain the energy needed to pursue their goals effectively.
Success also needs to be viewed as a personal, individualized concept. What works for one person may not work for another. For some, success may still involve working long hours to achieve a specific goal, while for others, it may mean having the freedom to travel, spend time with family, or engage in creative pursuits. The key is understanding that success is not one-size-fits-all, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations should be resisted.
Conclusion
Hustle culture has ingrained the idea that constant work is necessary for success, but the toll it takes on mental and physical health is significant. As society becomes more aware of the dangers of burnout and the importance of well-being, there is an opportunity to redefine what success means. By prioritizing balance, mental health, and personal fulfillment, we can move toward a healthier, more sustainable way of living that values rest and reflection just as much as hard work. True success is not just about what we achieve, but about how we feel while achieving it.