Overworking ourselves isn’t the only way to succeed

Linette Garcia | Contributing Writer

I’ve been romanticizing hustler culture for a few years, but it’s putting me in a severe burnout state.

There’s a toxic belief that working nonstop is the only way to be successful. Society values stimulating movement and busyness— if I’m not continuously working on my tasks, I subconsciously view myself as “lazy”.

It feels like if I’m not constantly hustling then I’m falling behind socially, academically and financially. 

We’re suffocated with external pressures from society, parents and peers  to use all our time to achieve perfectionism. During my downtime moments, I get a pang of overwhelming guilt for resting instead of being productive, especially compared to my friends who are “ahead” of the game.

This propagated idea of obsessing about getting stuff done is rooted in history, entrenching in our workplaces, schools and personal time.

Social media for one pushes the prioritization of productivity above anything else. 

I’ve seen TikTok and YouTube influencers vlogging their daily lives working or studying all day and night with rose-tinted glasses. Some don’t appear exhausted after hours of laboring and even seem overly happy doing so.

This glorified illusion of overworking is being instilled in us.

I was assigned almost 10 psychology assignments due on Sunday and it was only the second week of the semester—I was ready to crash out.

This is college students’ depressing reality, but I was told this is the only way to know I am succeeding—but is that still the case?

We feel physically, mentally and emotionally drained when we’re burned out. This can lead to a depleting academic performance and experiencing physical symptoms such as sleepiness and appetite problems.

Developing this bad habit is sadly something we know all too well. We crave to work hard to the bone for validation from our peers and to prove that our time spent overworking is worthwhile. 

It may feel like all the hard work is justified, but for most, post-grad life won’t deliver the satisfaction you expect after leaving FIU. 

Instead, you’re often left with a reality that rarely lives up to the expectations and a diploma as proof you graduated.

The unhealthy addiction to work incessantly is not something to admire. It’s also not something to solely depend on for success. So what can help?

We must embrace the “forbidden” concept of boredom. 

Despite what we’ve been told, lying down and doing “nothing” isn’t the worst idea. It can help increase productivity, produce creative thinking and improve the mindset. Taking a break for a few hours to prioritize our mental health with mundane tasks is the perfect balance in this gratifying world. 

Our overworking society has ingrained in us that boredom is the enemy and an inconvenience to avoid. Instead, we should embrace boredom as a positive opportunity for growth in many aspects of our lives, including success. 

We all feel pressure to achieve more, whether from outspoken overachievers or our demanding inner monologues. But when it comes to pursuing success and fulfillment, overworking yourself is not the best solution.

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.