“Hustle culture” refers to a mindset or lifestyle that prioritizes hard work, constant productivity, and the relentless pursuit of success. This lifestyle is marked by dedication to one’s career, which, according to conventional wisdom, will lead to professional achievements and personal development. Influencers, entrepreneurs, and businesses often promote “hustling” as a virtue, suggesting that the more you work, the more successful you’ll become. “No days off” is a common mantra among those who promote this lifestyle.
However, these high-achieving practices are not always healthy or sustainable, as they often come at the expense of personal well-being, leading to burnout, stress, and a lack of balance between one’s work and personal life. The constant pressure to work can harm mental health, relationships, and overall happiness. A life revolving around work may also lead them to neglect the importance of rest, creativity, and strategic thinking, focusing only on productivity without considering quality or well-being.
It is no surprise that people long to be successful, but what does that really mean?
The Western notion of success is highly shaped by capitalism and countless other economic influences, social values, and conventional ideals such as the “American Dream.” One of the most prominent markers of success is financial stability or the accumulation of wealth, which is often seen as a reflection of hard work and intelligence. Westerners commonly label people successful when they hold a prestigious job title, own an extensive array of material possessions, and are regarded as respected professionals within their field.
These associations can vary depending on individual or specific cultures, but the general trend in Western societies tends to emphasize individualism, achievement, and the visible signs of prosperity as measures of success. While there is no harm in striving to live a comfortable life, it may be beneficial to reframe our understanding of what success means.
I would argue that the popular modern view of success lacks something critical. Many of the most prominent measures of success are superficial and often do not correlate with health, happiness, or general well-being. This is because these markers are purely external. This narrow view of success can diminish the importance of other life aspects, such as personal growth, relationships, or emotional well-being, which are just as, if not more, essential for a fulfilling life.
I have found that the most dangerous consequence of “hustle culture” is that it leads people to over-identify with productivity, so that their day-to-day emotions are tied to their careers. This is harmful not only because it can result in mental and physical exhaustion due to a work-life imbalance, but also because it perpetuates unrealistic expectations and promotes the idea that success is only possible through endless work. These unrealistic standards then lead to feelings of inadequacy when people can’t meet them. It reinforces the idea that our worth is directly tied to our career output and financial gain, which is not only unhealthy but also untrue.
Rethinking success: what the West can learn from Buddhist enlightenment
Buddhism would likely offer a critical perspective on Western hustle culture, emphasizing the importance of balance, mindfulness, and the avoidance of excessive attachment to worldly pursuits. In my opinion, the first step toward finding a healthier work-life balance would be to entirely reframe our preconceived notions of success, chiefly by detaching self-worth from career success.
According to Buddhist thought, the concept of the ego or self is an illusion. Hustle culture often promotes the idea of “self-made” success, where individuals work hard to prove their worth and achieve personal goals. Buddhism challenges this notion, teaching that the “self” is not fixed or permanent and that attachment to a self-centered, ego-driven life can lead to suffering. Rather than focusing solely on personal achievement, Buddhism encourages a shift toward personal growth by letting go of ego-driven ambitions.
Similarly, attachment to the desire for material wealth, status, and success is viewed as a source of suffering (Skt: duhkha). To relentlessly pursue financial gain and recognition is to foster attachment, which can lead to dissatisfaction and a cycle of craving. Hustle culture’s emphasis on constant striving and the idea that success will bring happiness can lead to a continuous cycle of wanting more. As people chase after the next promotion, goal, or material possession, they may fail to recognize that these desires do not bring lasting happiness or fulfillment.
A relentless pursuit of career growth and financial success is also intensely centered around individual achievement, which can foster a competitive or selfish mindset. Aspirations that ignore the needs of others are counterproductive to spiritual development and harmonious living. Instead of wealth and social status, Buddhism teaches that true contentment comes from detaching from these external outcomes. Instead, we should seek to find fulfillment in compassion (Skt: karuna) and caring for the well-being of others. Buddhism encourages collaboration, kindness, selflessness, and gratitude in combating greed and ego-driven attachments.
In Buddhist monks’ rejection of the desire for material wealth, they actually renounce everything as part of their path toward enlightenment. The renunciation or “detachment” is seen as a way to free themselves of greed-imposed duhkha. By overcoming attachment, focusing on spiritual practice, and serving their communities, monks are able to adopt a simple lifestyle. This simplicity is considered a form of purification, freeing them from the distractions and complications of everyday life. They aim to cultivate contentment, compassion, and mindfulness by living humbly. While not all of us are destined to be Buddhist monastics, we can all surely learn immense lessons from them, and if they can renounce everything, then we can surely renounce a fraction of that in order to begin to alleviate ourselves from our own egos.
The Middle Path and the importance of rest
The Buddhist approach to work-life balance would also suggest utilizing the Middle Way, one of the core Buddhist teachings, in order to avoid burnout. The Middle Way rebuffs living life in extreme states and teaches that enlightenment and inner peace can be achieved through moderation, where one does not give in to excessive desires or engage in extreme ascetic practices. Basing one’s self-worth on work and financial success is undoubtedly an extreme that disregards the need for rest, balance, and self-care. Buddhism encourages people to find a balance between work and rest rather than pushing themselves to the point of exhaustion (as the Buddha himself found out).
Once people have taken the initial steps in reconceptualizing their notions of success, they will be far more capable of taking the necessary time to rest without criticizing themselves for it. The Buddha taught the importance of rest and mental clarity in spiritual practice. Just as meditation requires time for quiet reflection, Buddhism teaches the value of rest for maintaining well-being. Hustle culture’s glorification of non-stop work and sleeplessness is unhealthy and unsustainable in the long run, as rest and rejuvenation are necessary for a balanced life.
Buddhism in the corporate world: can compassion and capitalism coexist?
We must acknowledge that work is essential to existence in modern Western society, and many of us still greatly rely on our careers to get by. This is simply the nature of our collective capitalist culture. So when we cannot rest or shift our attention away from our careers as much as we may want to in order to tend to our spiritual development, how can we remain mindful and intentional?
This is not an easy question to answer, and I am inclined to urge people not to accept jobs that do not align with the general goal of making our society more loving and equitable for all people. While this is a powerful sentiment that I wholeheartedly believe in, it comes with many complex nuances as to what jobs satisfy these requirements and who is technically “qualified” for said “acceptable” jobs. While I would love to go down that rabbit hole, I think it would be more beneficial to keep it simple and outline some general rules of thumb for healthy workplaces that do not pressure people into productivity obsession.
Right livelihood (Skt: samyag-ajiva), a key principle in the Buddhist teachings, encourages individuals to engage in work that is ethical, honest, and supportive of the well-being of others. By embracing this principle, businesses and employees can foster environments where integrity, fairness, and social responsibility are prioritized. This approach not only ensures that employees feel valued and respected but also promotes long-term sustainability by aligning business practices with ethical standards. Applying right livelihood in business can lead to increased trust, reduced stress, and a sense of shared purpose, creating a positive and productive workplace culture. Both employers and employees should commit to right livelihood to improve the lives of everybody associated with and affected by their business decisions.
Finally, right livelihood combined with a workplace mindfulness practice can improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance well-being in almost any workplace. Mindfulness is being fully present in the moment without distraction or judgment for oneself and others. By being mindful at work, one rejects a future-focused mindset that leads to a hostile or competitive workplace. Mindfulness encourages people to appreciate the present moment and find peace in their current experience, regardless of external achievements.
Similarly, a mindful understanding of the impermanent nature of all things, including our achievements, possessions, and the goals we strive for, can allow us to more easily let go of failures or pressures at work that may haunt us or negatively affect our daily attitudes. Buddhism would encourage a more profound understanding that material success and societal recognition are fleeting and true happiness comes from within, not external validation or possessions.
In short, Buddhism would likely view Western hustle culture as potentially harmful because it promotes a relentless focus on material success, attachment to outcomes, and an unhealthy work-life imbalance. Instead, Buddhism encourages mindfulness, balance, detachment from desires, and compassion for oneself and others. It emphasizes that true peace and fulfillment come from within, not from constant striving or external achievement. By recognizing impermanence, practicing the Middle Way, and cultivating inner contentment, we can find a more harmonious and sustainable approach to life, in contrast to the often stressful and exhausting nature of hustle culture.
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