Across North America, success is often measured by how busy you are. Being able to juggle multiple responsibilities and balance a heavy workload is often praised. The busier you are, the more successful you appear.
But burnout and the struggle to succeed should not be glorified. Being constantly stressed and overworked should not be seen as a status symbol.
The normalization of the term ‘hustle culture,’ which promotes overworking and incessant productivity, has created a negative connotation which equates rest with weakness.
At Humber, student life can feel like a relentless hustle. Many students try to balance full course loads with part-time work, commuting and additional responsibilities. There is always something to be done.
According to Universities Canada, 89 per cent of post-secondary students feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities, with 75 per cent reporting struggles with mental health.
Comparison and competition are seen as motivators to work harder and do better. Yet hustle culture leaves us feeling like we are always behind. There is always someone working harder, securing a better job and getting higher grades.
Everyone is competing in a race to the finish line, but who wins?
While success and accomplishments should be celebrated and admired, they should not come at the expense of well-being.
After spending time in Italy recently, I began to see how different life looks when things slow down.
Staying in a small town an hour north of Milan, I was able to witness the daily routines of locals. The town was calm and slow, free from tourist crowds.
In the mornings, locals lingered at café tables and sipped coffee from ceramic mugs. Those who could not sit ordered their coffee at the counter, enjoyed a few sips and were on their way. There were no plastic to-go cups or drive-throughs, and no one rushed out the door.
Elders sat at tables and read the newspaper, while younger pairs shared conversation and espresso. Everyone seemed content.
I was both fascinated and intrigued. Life felt much slower and peaceful.
After lunch, the town slowly emptied and grew quiet. In Italy, lunch breaks are often taken between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and can last up to two hours.
The contrast from North American life was stark.
For many Humber students, coffee is quickly snagged between classes and five-minute breaks in a to-go cup. Meals are shovelled down while emails are answered and classmates plan their next assignment. Moments that should be restful breaks are crammed into productivity sessions.
I find myself hastily rushing to reach the next major milestone, only to never be satisfied when I reach it, and quickly moving forward to chase the next.
The incessant grind and pressure of hustle culture restrict us from enjoying life and leave us with a lack of meaningful fulfilment.
But while the idea of slowing down and enjoying the present moment seems impractical and unrealistic, it can be quite simple. In Italy, I was able to appreciate the moments I would normally rush through.
Students need to understand the importance of balance, as life is not a race to success.
Working hard and accomplishing personal goals should be valued, but not at the cost of mental and physical well-being.
My time in Italy allowed me to reevaluate what success and productivity mean to me. Success is about how we choose to live our lives, and we need to learn to enjoy every moment.
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