Hustle Culture Is Dead, But Its Zombie Lives On in ‘Self-Care Routines’
The death knell for hustle culture, the societal trend that emphasized a relentless work ethic above all else, seemed to have been sounded. However, it appears that this culture is not fully dead but has taken on a new form: self-care routines. This blog post will explore this recent development and its implications.
The Rise and Fall of Hustle Culture
In the past decade, hustle culture became a phenomenon, particularly within the tech start-up world. It was characterized by:
However, the glorification of overworking started to lose its shine as the harmful effects on mental and physical health became increasingly apparent. People began to realize that working non-stop didn't necessarily lead to success, but often to exhaustion, burnout, and a decrease in productivity and creativity.
As a result, there was a societal shift. Hustle culture was declared dead, and a new trend emerged: self-care.
The Rise of Self-Care
Self-care became the new buzzword, seen as the antidote to the toxic hustle culture. It emphasized balance and wellness, suggesting that taking care of oneself physically, mentally, and emotionally leads to better productivity and success.
Self-care practices often include:
The idea was to create a healthier and more sustainable way of living and working, allowing individuals to thrive in all areas of life, not just work.
The Zombie of Hustle Culture in Self-Care Routines
However, it seems that the ghost of hustle culture is still haunting us, this time in the form of self-care routines. Instead of being a relaxing and restorative practice, self-care has become another task on our to-do lists, something to be optimized and perfected.
Many people feel pressured to have the perfect self-care routine, incorporating all the latest wellness trends, from green smoothies and mindfulness apps to high-intensity workouts and sleep trackers. They feel guilty if they don't stick to their routine or if they don't see immediate results.
In essence, the hustle culture's relentless drive for productivity and success has seeped into our self-care routines. We are starting to treat self-care as a performance, something to be achieved rather than experienced.
The Problem with Treating Self-Care as a Task
The issue with this development is that it goes against the very essence of self-care. Self-care is meant to be a personal, intuitive practice, focused on what makes us feel good and replenished. It's not about achieving a certain goal or ticking boxes on a checklist.
Treating self-care as a task can lead to:
How to Avoid the Hustle Culture Trap in Self-Care
If you find yourself stuck in the hustle of perfecting your self-care routine, here are some tips:
Conclusion
While hustle culture might be officially dead, its spirit seems to have found a new home in our self-care routines. As we strive to perfect our wellness routines, we risk turning self-care into another stressor, another task to be optimized.
The key to avoiding this trap is to remember the true purpose of self-care: to nourish and replenish ourselves, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Instead of striving for a perfect routine, we should focus on what makes us feel good and fulfilled.
So let's say goodbye to the zombie of hustle culture and welcome authentic self-care, free of pressure and perfection. Let's reclaim self-care as a restorative practice, a time to tune into our needs and desires, a gift to ourselves rather than a task to be completed.