Hustle culture once ruled my life — from red-eye flights to late-night deadlines, I wore exhaustion like a badge of honor. Beyoncé’s “6 Inch” was my anthem: “She grinds day and night.” For years, I honestly did.
Growing up in survival mode, I learned to equate overworking with progress. I began working at 8 years old and, by adulthood, my calendar was stacked with full-time travel, weekend side hustles, and late-night attempts to build an online brand. Even in airports, I worked furiously — laptop open, phone in hand, consistently producing.
But then 2020 happened. Everything slowed. And so did I.
When Hustle Culture Collapsed
The early days of the pandemic were strange but productive. With nowhere to go, I thought, This is my moment. I poured myself into creative projects, convinced that this stillness was meant for reinvention. But May 2020 came, and with it, profound grief. My motivation vanished. My depression deepened. I couldn’t fake it anymore.
I let go of my influencer goals. After four years of trying, the return on investment never justified the personal cost. For the first time in decades, I just worked—no side gigs, no photo shoots, no performance. At first, I felt invisible. But over time, I realized I was finally free.
Still, the pressure of hustle culture lingered. It whispered, “Do more. Be more.” When I received feedback that I was “doing too much” at work, it shook me. I had to ask why I kept proving myself when no one asked me to.
The Dangerous Illusion of Always Doing
Hustle culture glorifies output over well-being, and many of us, especially Black women, carry this burden harder. We're taught to perform beyond the norm to be accepted, protected, or seen. For years, I used achievement to distance myself from my past. If I could succeed, I thought, maybe I wouldn’t have to feel the pain of where I came from.
But chasing that validation cost me. I rarely celebrated wins, and I barely rested. I built a life that looked successful but felt empty.
That’s when I began the hard work of self-reflection and healing.
3 Ways I Reclaimed My Well-Being From Hustle Culture
1. Check your motivation
Why are you grinding so hard? If the answer is tied to comparison or a highlight reel you saw online, it may be time to unplug. Social media can amplify feelings of inadequacy. If your goal truly excites you, it’ll still be there after a break. Schedule your content in batches and take time offline to reconnect with your rhythm.
2. Look at your life as a whole
Sometimes, we hustle to fill other voids. Maybe you’re single and longing for deeper connections. Maybe you’re a caregiver whose entire identity revolves around serving others. Either way, constant motion can distract from the areas that need tending — relationships, rest, and creativity. It takes courage to be still and endure the discomfort of not doing.
3. Redefine what success looks like for you
Success doesn’t have to mean 16-hour days and a six-figure side hustle. It might look like logging off at 5 p.m., walking, or being present. Choosing well-being over performance isn't laziness — it’s a radical act of reclaiming your life.
Your Worth Isn’t in the Grind
Leaving hustle culture behind doesn’t mean you’ve lost ambition. It means you’ve gained clarity. You’re no less valuable because you’re not chasing a million-dollar launch, a picture-perfect feed, or another accolade.
You are worthy because you exist.
You are whole — even in your rest.
And you deserve a life that’s sustainable, joyful, and real.
If you’re on a similar path, know you’re not alone. And if you need a guide as you pivot toward purpose and peace, I’m here to help.ot lost on me how our society conditions what being a real woman is by doing all the things while needing to look fabulous at the same time, and this is even more compounded when you add the intersectionality of being a Black or POC woman.
Accept being ordinary
Our society often rewards those who go above and beyond at the cost of balanced care. In my life, the single motivator was to put as much distance between me and my impoverished upbringing. It made my thirst more than what I am, the all-encompassing focus for all I do. I believed for many years I had no reason to sleep or rest as I wasn't successful yet. This ultimately cost me in various areas of my life. In my quest to be an ideal Black woman, I lost my ability to appreciate how I was uniquely crafted and my gifts. I noticed a trend many years ago that those celebrated and often idealized were the world's unicorns.
Being ordinary in our society is unacceptable! We shun anyone who isn't trying to be up on this. As I look over my life, I'm not a millionaire model who is highly visible or well-known. To accept that I may never be what I hold as the standard is challenging. However, we have all done hard things. It's freeing to be able to choose our hard. By focusing on what I'm good at, even if it's not going to lead to being a NY Best-Seller book or allow me to speak in front of millions, it would be a better quality of life to invest in my abilities and flourish within reason on the scale I can.
I hope this post helps someone who may be stuck on the hustle culture loop, as it robs you of joy in life. Your identity isn't wrapped in what you do but how you can show up in the world. So often, the things we hold dearly or idolize will be broken, especially if they inhibit us from flourishing. I would love to hear your thoughts, be it good or bad. And always, if you need help in strategizing your life, always hit the contact page, and let's connect!
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