The grindset mentality in the U.S. promises success, but it’s just making people miserable.
For years, Americans have been sold the idea that working harder, grinding longer, and sacrificing personal time is the key to success. It’s the reason phrases like “rise and grind” and “sleep is for the weak” have become badges of honor. The problem? Hustle culture isn’t leading to happiness or financial freedom—it’s just burning people out.
The push to always be productive has turned work into an identity and exhaustion into an achievement. People feel guilty for resting, ashamed for not monetizing their hobbies, and pressured to be available 24/7.
Meanwhile, wages remain stagnant, costs keep rising, and mental health is taking a massive hit. If the hustle was truly worth it, more people would be thriving instead of barely surviving.
It’s time to call out the biggest problems with hustle culture and rethink what real success should look like.
1. Hustle culture glorifies burnout like it’s an achievement.
Working hard is one thing, but the idea that being overworked and exhausted is a sign of success is completely backward. Hustle culture convinces people that sacrificing sleep, skipping meals, and pushing through exhaustion is just part of the process. In reality, it’s a fast track to burnout, chronic stress, and even physical health issues, as stated by Depti Dadlani of The ESTD.
No one performs their best when they’re running on fumes. Productivity actually decreases when people overwork themselves, leading to mistakes, mental fog, and lower-quality results. Instead of rewarding overwork, the focus should be on sustainable success—one that allows people to be productive without destroying their well-being in the process.
2. It turns people into machines instead of humans.
When your entire self-worth is tied to your productivity, you stop seeing yourself as a person and start treating yourself like a machine. Hustle culture tells people that time spent resting is wasted and that every minute of the day should be monetized, optimized, or used for self-improvement, according to Millennial Executive.
This mindset robs people of joy. Hobbies become side hustles. Social time feels like a distraction. Relaxation is replaced with guilt. The result? People feel empty, disconnected, and constantly behind. Work should be something that supports a fulfilling life, not something that becomes life itself.
3. It ignores the reality that success often requires privilege.
The hustle narrative makes it sound like anyone can succeed if they just work hard enough. But it conveniently ignores the role that privilege plays in financial success, as stated by the writers at Culture Monkey. Factors like generational wealth, education, access to networks, and plain luck all play a major role in who gets ahead.
Not everyone starts at the same place. Someone working three jobs just to survive isn’t in the same position as someone with family money to fall back on. Pretending that everyone has equal opportunities in the workforce is not only dishonest—it also places unnecessary guilt on those who are struggling, making them feel like failure is their fault instead of a systemic issue.
4. It devalues rest and makes relaxation feel like failure.
In hustle culture, rest isn’t just undervalued—it’s seen as laziness. Taking a break is treated like a weakness, and people are made to feel guilty for prioritizing mental and physical health. But here’s the truth: rest is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
The human body isn’t built for non-stop productivity. Sleep deprivation and chronic stress lead to anxiety, depression, and even increased risk of heart disease. Countries with healthier work-life balances consistently report higher levels of happiness and productivity. Maybe the real key to success isn’t grinding harder—it’s knowing when to step back.
5. It tricks people into working more for less.
Hustle culture convinces people that working harder will automatically lead to more money. But in reality, many industries exploit this mindset to squeeze more labor out of workers without increasing pay. The expectation to always be available, work overtime, or take on extra projects for “exposure” has led to stagnant wages and burnout.
If hustle culture really worked, people wouldn’t need multiple jobs just to survive. The real problem isn’t that people aren’t working hard enough—it’s that wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living. Companies push the hustle narrative because it benefits them, not the workers.
6. It turns every passion into a side hustle.
Not everything needs to be monetized, yet hustle culture has made it feel like hobbies are a waste unless they generate income. Painting, writing, playing music, or even baking used to be things people did for joy. Now, there’s pressure to turn them into businesses, YouTube channels, or Etsy shops.
The problem with monetizing everything is that it takes the joy out of it. Once a hobby becomes a side hustle, it comes with deadlines, pressure, and expectations. People forget how to do things just for fun, and that’s a huge loss for creativity, self-expression, and mental well-being.
7. It ignores the mental health crisis it’s creating.
The constant pressure to hustle isn’t just making people tired—it’s making them miserable. Anxiety, depression, and burnout are at an all-time high, yet the response is often to push through it rather than address the root cause. Hustle culture doesn’t just ignore mental health—it actively worsens it.
Instead of treating exhaustion as a normal part of life, more workplaces need to acknowledge the impact of overwork on mental health. Real success includes balance, rest, and happiness—not just a never-ending grind toward an unrealistic idea of success.
8. It prioritizes quantity of work over quality.
Working 12-hour days might make it look like someone is getting more done, but in reality, long hours don’t always mean better results. Hustle culture pushes the idea that being constantly busy equals being productive, but research shows that working smarter, not harder leads to better efficiency and creativity.
Many of the most successful people in history—authors, artists, and even tech leaders—build time into their day for rest, reflection, and breaks. The ability to think clearly and creatively is more valuable than simply working long hours for the sake of it.
9. It keeps people trapped in toxic work environments.
When overwork is normalized, toxic workplaces thrive. Employees feel pressured to take on unpaid overtime, ignore personal boundaries, and sacrifice their well-being to meet unrealistic expectations. Instead of fixing poor management or unfair workloads, many companies encourage hustle culture as a solution.
People shouldn’t have to feel guilty for wanting fair treatment, reasonable hours, and a life outside of work. A culture that rewards burnout is one that doesn’t value its workers—and that’s a huge red flag.
10. It creates a false sense of control over success.
Hustle culture sells the idea that success is purely based on how hard someone works. But life is unpredictable, and hard work isn’t always rewarded fairly. People can put in years of effort only to be laid off, face unexpected hardships, or struggle due to economic downturns.
Tying personal worth to hustle makes setbacks feel like personal failures instead of the natural ups and downs of life. Real success isn’t just about effort—it’s about opportunity, timing, and sometimes, pure luck.
11. It makes life feel like a never-ending to-do list.
When work dominates every part of life, it becomes impossible to feel satisfied. There’s always something more to achieve, another goal to hit, or another side hustle to start. Hustle culture erases the joy of simply existing, making life feel like a constant race with no finish line.
People deserve to experience life beyond work. Time with family, slow mornings, creative hobbies, or just being present in the moment are just as valuable as any career milestone. The real flex isn’t working yourself into exhaustion—it’s learning how to live a life that actually feels good.