Hustle culture forgot we’re human

We live in a time where rest feels suspicious, where slowing down feels like failure, and where “busy” has become the new status symbol. It’s as if we’ve been conditioned to believe that our value lies solely in how much we can produce, how fast we can move, and how long we can keep going without burning out. In this culture of constant hustle, we’re told to do more, be more, prove more – always chasing the next milestone, the next upgrade, the next version of ourselves. But somewhere in the middle of all this striving, we’ve quietly lost sight of something essential: we are not machines.
We are people – with limits, with needs, with messy thoughts, tired eyes and soft hearts that can only take so much. Not every hour of our day is meant to be optimised. Not every interest needs to become a side hustle. Not every moment of rest requires an excuse. Sometimes, success doesn’t look like a trophy or a promotion or a neatly colour-coded planner; sometimes, it looks like managing to get out of bed even when everything feels heavy. Sometimes it’s laughing with a friend between responsibilities, or it’s simply allowing yourself to do nothing, and not feeling guilty about it.
This isn’t an argument against ambition, nor is it a rejection of discipline or growth. It’s a reminder that we are allowed to exist outside of our output- that our worth doesn’t evaporate just because we paused. Hustle culture rarely makes space for humanity. It doesn’t ask how we’re feeling. It doesn’t care if we’re exhausted. And it certainly doesn’t wait for us to catch our breath. But being human – fully, honestly, and gently – might be the very thing that keeps us grounded when the world demands too much.
As a student, I’ve felt this pressure firsthand – the kind that quietly tells you that taking a break means falling behind. There’s this constant hum in the background saying, “You should be doing more.” But the more I chase perfection, the more I lose the joy in learning, the meaning behind why I started in the first place. I’m learning- slowly – that it’s okay to take breaks, to be tired, to not have it all figured out. I’m learning that being human is not a flaw in the system. And there you have it- the crux of the matter.
Ms. P. Leroyia,
B.A. 5th Semester
Department of English, Modern College, Piphema