If you’re feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel of time sensitive to-do’s without reprieve, you’re not alone. Feeling guilty for taking one afternoon off to do nothing? It’s not just you. Even when our drive for success and our never-ending tasks are linked to meaningful life goals, the side effects of hustle culture and toxic productivity can be exhausting, causing us to lose sight of the very reasons we’re working hard to begin with.
What is Hustle Culture and Toxic Productivity?
Hustle culture refers to the drive to work harder and get ahead by any means necessary, which can come at the cost of self-care, mental health, and even physical wellbeing.
Similarly, toxic productivity is an unhealthy compulsion to be productive at all times, often at the expense of our mental and physical well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Hustle culture and toxic productivity can lead us to believe there’s no way we can succeed unless we’re juggling a million tasks at once and swapping down time for side hustles.
But that’s simply not the case. In fact, the opposite is often true. Rest and relaxation are necessary to operate at peak performance, and research has shown that multitasking can actually lead to more mistakes and a reduction in overall productivity.
Tips for Ditching Hustle Culture to Live With Intention and Ease
By choosing balance and intention instead of urgency and hustle, we can kick burnout to the curb while nurturing our goals and passions in a sustainable way. So how do we do this? Here are six soul-nourishing ways to start letting go of the hustle mindset while still living a fulfilling life.
1. Redefine What “Productive” Means to You
“Busy” does not always mean “productive,” and measurable output is not the only way to define accomplishments. Take time to reflect on what “productive” means to you. Remember that rest, reflection, and recreation can be productive because they recharge our mind and body so we can work more efficiently when the time comes. Instead of asking yourself, “What can I get done today?” ask yourself, “What will feel the most fulfilling or beneficial to do today?”
2. Embrace & Protect “Slow Days” Without Guilt
Constant urgency, obligations, and stimuli can deplete creativity and energy. Normalize down days, creative lulls, and saying no when necessary. Consider scheduling a weekly or even daily “no-output” block in which you meditate, take a nap, read, or wander.
3. Celebrate Enoughness
Hustle culture thrives on “never enough.” Take time to determine what success means to you, not others. Reflect on what in your life is already working well, and practice gratitude for all that you have at this time. It’s okay to have drive and passion, but don’t let that overshadow what you’ve already accomplished.
4. Unfollow the Grind
Social media can sneak hustle culture into our subconscious—especially accounts that push constant productivity or glamorize overwork. Take some time to audit and curate your feed. Follow people who demonstrate balance, softness, and rest—and mute those who make you feel behind or insufficient.
5. Trade Multitasking for Mindfulness
Toxic productivity glorifies juggling 10 things at once—but studies show it reduces focus and efficiency while increasing stress. Try doing one thing at a time, with intention. When working on an assignment that requires focus, mute your email and text notifications. When drinking coffee, just drink coffee. No phone. No planning. Just be present. Set boundaries if needed to reduce interruptions and breaks in focus. You’ll likely not only find you get more done with this approach, but that you feel calmer overall as well.
6. Notice & Name Internalized Hustle Scripts
Bring awareness to the inner critic that says “You should be doing more.” Replace negative self talk with sage compassion. Instead of “I didn’t get enough done today,” try “I’m allowed to rest. That’s not failure—it’s wisdom.” Can’t get rid of the nagging guilt? Try journaling to explore the triggers and root causes of those feelings.
From Hustle to Harmony
Letting go of hustle doesn’t mean giving up—it means choosing a more sustainable, soul-aligned path forward to achieving your most meaningful goals. As you work to combat hustle culture and toxic productivity, remember that the transition might be a gradual one, and it’s okay if you falter here and there. What hustle habits are you ready to release?