Don’t Let Toxic Hustle Culture Define Your New Year

What is the point of chasing your dreams if you are destroyed in the process?

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The bells aren’t only ringing in the new year. They are also ringing in the hustle culture propaganda that will be bursting from professional social media. After all, what better time to preach the glorious riches of hustle culture than when everyone is trying to shape and show off their new-year-new-them plans?

I already know the word vomit that will show up on my LinkedIn and Twitter feeds in the coming days. Words of “Work harder than everyone around you” sandwiched with “take time for yourself” posts written by recruiters who expect 7 years of coding experience on a language in its fifth year of existence.

The toxicity of modern-day hustle culture never fails to shock me.

Don’t get me wrong; Hustle culture is not without its strengths. I admire those who work hard, never give up and go above-and-beyond. But as with anything else, moderation is key. Even the best traits become toxic when they are amplified to be the holy grail.

I am all for diving headfirst into your big dream. But you should not have to trade happiness in your pursuit of success. And you sure as hell should not have to be proud of that toxic tradeoff.