{"id":3609,"date":"2023-04-21T13:38:27","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T13:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/?p=3609"},"modified":"2023-04-24T12:26:02","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T12:26:02","slug":"how-to-reject-hustle-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/how-to-reject-hustle-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"How to reject hustle culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s think about addictions: Alcoholism, Shopaholism, Ludomania, Nymphomania\u2026 They all sound like major red flags, right? Well, there seems to be one exception: Workaholism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we think about the word \u201cworkaholic\u201d \u2013 someone with the compulsion or the uncontrollable need to work excessively hard and long hours, we can certainly recognize the negative connotations (\u201cuncontrollable\u201d, \u201cexcessively\u201d) but somehow you wouldn\u2019t think it\u2019s that nefarious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workaholism seems to be the one addiction that often gets a pass in our society. Entrepreneurs like Elon Musk are glorifying it, Silicon Valley employees are celebrating their own exploitation with their \u201cWorking 9 to 5 is for losers\u201d t-shirts, and movies like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Devil Wears Prada<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are making it look fashionable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/AG4jgI7PtJ7O\" width=\"480\" height=\"219\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/sick-funny-fashion-AG4jgI7PtJ7O\">via GIPHY<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, we call this \u201cHustle culture\u201d, also known as burnout culture or grind culture. It refers to a work environment where productivity, ambition and success are considered the only things that matter in life, and working to the bone and sacrificing your mental health are the positive signs that you\u2019re getting closer to success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It sounds uncannily similar to that old tale of the American dream, and like the American dream, it\u2019s just one very large burst bubble. The only thing you might get out of this hustle culture is probably medical bills for treating anxiety, stress and even depression.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hustle culture needs to end, and this is what you can do to reject hustle culture at work:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Log off and stay off after work<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it\u2019s the end of your work hours, log off and head off. Don\u2019t feel guilty about leaving just because you\u2019re the first to take off or you\u2019re leaving earlier than your manager.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ignore new messages and emails coming after work hours. It may be easier for you if you delete your work email account and any work messaging apps from your phone. The least you can do is turn off the notifications. Out of sight, out of mind!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disconnect completely outside your working hours, meaning stop thinking about work-related tasks. If you\u2019re ambitious, read self-help books or listen to career podcasts instead of dreading an actual work task.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Set boundaries<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be crystal clear about your needs, your capacity, and work style to your manager and colleagues. Don\u2019t be a \u201cYes man\u201d. No one will think you\u2019re so hard-working and indispensable because you\u2019re always there to help. Most likely, they will see you as a pushover. Meanwhile, saying \u201cyes\u201d to everything will cost you your precious time and your happiness. Similar to \u201cquiet quitting\u201d, if the request is outside your job scope and you really don\u2019t have time to deal with it, say \u201cno\u201d. If it\u2019s really part of your duties but you think the deadline is unrealistic, share that thought with your manager, explain why it\u2019s not feasible to get it done by that deadline, and propose a new timeframe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rule of thumb is to be outspoken about your boundaries. Update your status on the messaging app when it\u2019s lunch break, for example, something simple like<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cI\u2019m on my lunch, come back in an hour.\u201d <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most importantly, don\u2019t respond if someone messages you. You are entitled to an undisturbed lunch break.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re on vacation, add an email signature saying that you\u2019re out of office and when you will be back. Resist the urge to check your messaging app or inbox. Enjoy your holiday. Most US workers only get around ten days of paid time off anyways, meaning you\u2019re spending most of your time in a year on work. You deserve to take your vacations without thinking about work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3619 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sander-dalhuisen-nA6Xhnq2Od8-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"838\" height=\"558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sander-dalhuisen-nA6Xhnq2Od8-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sander-dalhuisen-nA6Xhnq2Od8-unsplash.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Reject \u201chustle\u201d behaviors<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people like bragging about how hard-working they are at work, for example, how they get so little sleep last night because they are working on a presentation, skip lunch for meetings, or wake up at 6am to work on some projects. Don\u2019t be that person. Don\u2019t make \u201cI\u2019m so busy\u201d become your catchphrase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you could do is to take as many breaks as you need. Your health should always come first, and your performance should be gauged by your work instead of how many hours you clock in. Remember \u201cwork smarter, not harder\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/cKWT0B7bTCQzlNogW3\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/nickelodeon-btr-gustavorocque-cKWT0B7bTCQzlNogW3\">via GIPHY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Reward yourself<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find small ways to celebrate success, whether that be treating yourself with a glazed donut, exploring a new area close to your office or going to that nice lunch place you\u2019ve been wanting to visit. You\u2019ve earned it. It\u2019s important to reward yourself for your work in time, not postpone it to \u201clater\u201d because we all know that \u201clater\u201d will never happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3612 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/jason-leung-U4cej4pdb5U-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"791\" height=\"527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/jason-leung-U4cej4pdb5U-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/jason-leung-U4cej4pdb5U-unsplash.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Contemplate your purpose in life<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bit philosophical. What do you want to get out of life, and where does your career stand? How much do you want to be defined by work? Based on your reflections, rethink your priorities. To avoid letting work take over your life, channel your energy to something else, for example, develop new hobbies, build your morning and evening routines or even get a side hustle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>If you\u2019re a manager\u2026<\/h2>\n<h3>Encourage your team to take a short break<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people might feel shy to go for a break because no one else is doing that, or they\u2019re simply not aware that they need a break. A series of microbreaks during the workday is essential, unless your coworkers are robots. Make sure they get away from their desks from time to time. If you work in an office, grab a cup of coffee with them or have a walking meeting. If they work from home, ask them to take a walk on a sunny day or order coffee to their apartment from time to time. Be creative. If you\u2019re not the outspoken, extrovert kind of manager, you can lead by example. Take breaks from time to time to show your teammates that it\u2019s OK to take breaks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3617 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/mindspace-studio-knW4wDXEbsI-unsplash-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"752\" height=\"424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/mindspace-studio-knW4wDXEbsI-unsplash-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/mindspace-studio-knW4wDXEbsI-unsplash.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Master the art of meetings<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meetings can be stressful and overwhelming for employees but they don\u2019t always have to be. When you set up meetings, never schedule several meetings straight in a row without any breaks. Allow your teammates to have at least a 5-10 minute break between meetings to decompress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most meetings should be 30 minutes or less, and an hour is really the maximum length. Stick to this timeframe, and if meetings happen to end earlier than expected, allow your coworkers to have their time back instead of blathering or repeating what had been said until the due time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Respect their time off and let them disconnect<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This rule sounds really simple but it is often hard to follow for many leaders. As a leader, you may think it must be harmless to ask your junior a yes\/no question 10 minutes after their work hours or to reply to emails where you cc-ed them at 9pm. However, for them, it is very likely to make them question if they need to be always \u201con\u201d to succeed in their roles or if they will be seen as \u201clazy\u201d if they don\u2019t answer promptly. As a matter of fact, even if you\u2019re on a manager grade, don\u2019t forget you\u2019re also an employee. You shouldn\u2019t overwork either.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/srBfw58fUvrPNZBXiR\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/zoeysplaylist-nbc-zoeys-playlist-extraordinary-srBfw58fUvrPNZBXiR\">via GIPHY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Reassess your team\u2019s workload<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn about your team\u2019s capabilities and workload, and keep them in mind whenever you are assigning tasks. Be clear about priorities if they are simultaneously working on several tasks and be explicit about deadlines. Avoid assigning new tasks towards the end of the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3622 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/eden-constantino-iJg1YzsEfqo-unsplash-300x236.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"949\" height=\"747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/eden-constantino-iJg1YzsEfqo-unsplash-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/eden-constantino-iJg1YzsEfqo-unsplash.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 949px) 100vw, 949px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Get better at compliments<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giving compliments can be anxious. Even though we think someone is doing a great job, we probably will just keep it to ourselves. However, when you\u2019re managing others, a little flattery can work wonders. Learn how to be specific about your compliments so they sound genuine. Focus on their output and performance and avoid praising things that might reinforce hustle culture, for example, long working hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3620 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/gus-ruballo-ckVHrnvndPE-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"921\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/gus-ruballo-ckVHrnvndPE-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/gus-ruballo-ckVHrnvndPE-unsplash.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11\/svg\/1f4a1.svg\" alt=\"\" \/>\u00a0<\/strong>Read more:<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rage-applying\/\"><b> Everything you need to know about rage applying<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s think about addictions: Alcoholism, Shopaholism, Ludomania, Nymphomania\u2026 They all sound like major red flags, right? Well, there seems to be one exception: Workaholism.\u00a0 When we think about the word \u201cworkaholic\u201d \u2013 someone with the compulsion or the uncontrollable need to work excessively hard and long hours, we can certainly recognize the negative connotations (\u201cuncontrollable\u201d,<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/how-to-reject-hustle-culture\/\"> Continued \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":3614,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[148,137],"tags":[140],"class_list":["post-3609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-market","category-life-at-work","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}