It’s rough out there as an entrepreneur, especially when it comes to engaging on social media. There’s this constant push to constantly be working, hustling, going for it, taking risks, and outrunning everyone else.
And you know what? That shit’s just not fair. “Hustle Culture” has gone from its initial inception of motivating us to stop procrastinating and start our “side hustles” to this toxic world where self-care is a quaint notion, but seen as a weakness and something that should be replaced with doing something that has a definitive monetary gain.
I’m guilty of falling susceptible to this; I spent a lot of time in therapy trying to figure out how to “allow” myself to find a hobby or time where there wasn’t a financial value attached but wouldn’t be seen as a waste of time.
It wasn’t easy; it’s a very hard mentality to break when you’re listening to Gary Vee or his ilk. But I think that, for all his bravado about hustling, Gary’s messages of prioritizing non-business things get missed. Gary may hustle his face off, but he still shows how he makes sure to be there for his kids events or spending time with his wife. And I feel like that gets washed over when people want someone to prop up as a champion of working as much as possible.
It’s an ideology with no winners, and I want to see Hustle Culture fade away and get replaced with something more holistic…but how do we get there? Here are some of my ideas:
How to Move On from Hustle Fatigue
1. Recognize that you’re a person, not a machine
Constantly working/hustling without any time off is a recipe for failure and it is impossible to keep up, because there’s always someone else who is doing it better, faster, and with more profit. Instead of using insecurity as a poor motivator, recognize that we’re all insecure in one way or another and that being fallible is inescapable. Allow yourself some grace.
2. Be your own BFF
I would never talk to my BFF the way I talk to myself, about myself. So why is it alright for others to fail and not myself? It’s unreasonable and goes back to Point 1. Be nicer to yourself and be open to all of the amazing things you already do.
3. Do an activity that has absolutely no monetary value
Spend an hour doing something that has no direct monetary gain. Go get a massage, do some yoga, go for a walk, learn a language. Do something for yourself that takes you away from the hustling and makes you breathe.
4. Shut off completely, if for only 15 minutes
Leave your phone in another room for 15 minutes and break the addiction of feeling needed 24/7.
5. Delegate, automate, eliminate
I should probably just rename my blog “delegate, automate, and eliminate” because I say it so often, but its a solution that helps in so many different ways! If you’re constantly hustling and feeling like you’re hitting a wall, then its probably because you’re busying yourself with tasks that aren’t worth your effort (but still need to be done). Find ways to remove the mundane tasks like social media scheduling, bookkeeping, or anything else that takes time away from focusing on the bigger tasks that move your business forward. It can really help free up time that can be better spent taking care of yourself and getting out of the unwinnable game of hustling all day, every day
