Emma Chamberlain

I, as with many of you, am a victim of hustle culture, okay?

I wouldn't say that we're at a point societally where hustle culture is peaking anymore.

Like I feel like it peaked a few years ago, but it's still definitely prevalent.

Hustle culture, according to the internet, plagues people with the mindset that constant work, productivity and self-optimization are the ultimate measures of worth.

And despite my belief that hustle culture is toxic, I find myself captured by it anyway.

It's so ingrained in our culture, it seems, that it's very hard to keep perspective and to remember that it's toxic.

And I think too, hustle culture peaked a few years ago in a pivotal moment in my life, you know what I mean?

Where I was young and trying to figure out my work ethic and how to have a work ethic.

And while I was on that journey, all of the media that I consumed on the internet, the undertone of it all was coming from hustle culture, you know?

And I know, I know that it's toxic.

I know that it's not conducive, like believing in hustle culture, believing in, I mean, listen, it's tough because like being productive and having discipline and all these things are good.

But I think the problem with hustle culture is that it's too extreme.

There is no room for relaxation and soulfulness in hustle culture.

It's very much like our purpose as human beings is to get shit done.

And I know that it's not true.

I know that it's toxic, but it just sometimes it creeps in anyway.

And so it's safe to say that I am not built for rest.

And on top of that, we are not living in a time where rest is valued, where it's celebrated.

Rest is not.

It is not in.