“Your maximum is someone’s minimum.”
This phrase may already be familiar to social media users. At a glance, it sounds like motivation for continuous growth. However, beneath this encouraging message lies a pressure that makes one feel that whatever they have done is never truly enough.
In an era where productivity is the measure of success, busyness seems to have transformed into something to be proud of. Waking up before sunrise, exercising, working all day, juggling various activities, and finishing tasks late into the night are seen as the portrait of an ideal life.
Social media further reinforces this view. Academic achievements, organizational experience, training certificates, and career trajectories are showcased as proof that one has utilized their time well.
It is not surprising that some people have begun to measure their success based on the achievements of others. A LinkedIn profile full of experience, rows of awards, or posts about productive activities on Instagram have become the unwritten standards for how life should be lived.
However, there is a question that rarely finds space in the midst of this race: must life always be filled with busyness? Why is exhaustion often seen as proof that someone is on the path to success?
This phenomenon is known as hustle culture. To understand why this culture so strongly influences modern life, the thoughts of two philosophers, Jean-Paul Sartre and Byung-Chul Han, offer an interesting perspective.
Hustle Culture and the Assumption that Rest is Weakness
Hustle culture refers to a culture that places excessive hard work as the primary path to success, wealth, and social recognition.
In a study by Metris and colleagues (2024), this phenomenon is discussed as a tendency that drives individuals to work continuously and pursue success without pause.
This culture is quite close to the lives of the younger generation, including Generation Z, who grew up amidst the development of digital technology and the relentless flow of information regarding the achievements of others.
The problem arises when productivity is no longer viewed as a means to achieve a goal, but instead transforms into a measure of self-worth.
One can feel guilty when resting, even though their body and mind require recovery. Leisure time is considered a wasted opportunity, while failure is perceived as a sign that the effort put in was not hard enough.
This way of thinking is also influenced by the narratives of several business figures who glorify long working hours.
On 2018, Elon Musk, the leader of Tesla and SpaceX, once expressed the view that no one changes the world by working only 40 hours a week. This statement subsequently sparked a debate regarding the relationship between working hours, productivity, and worker health.
Although hard work is an important part of achievement, working longer does not always mean producing something better.
So, why are humans so easily trapped in a culture that constantly demands productivity?
Jean-Paul Sartre: When Humans Hide Behind Busyness
The French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre offers a way to read this phenomenon through the concept of bad faith or mauvaise foi which is discussed in his book, Being and Nothingness.
Simply put, bad faith is a state where a person deceives themselves by denying their freedom and responsibility for the choices they make.
In Sartre's thought, humans are not born with a fully determined identity and purpose in life. Humans shape themselves through the actions and decisions they take throughout their lives.
The problem is that this freedom does not always feel pleasant. Freedom can actually cause anxiety because every decision carries consequences that must be accounted for.
This is where hustle culture can be read as a form of escapism.
When someone says they must keep working because everyone else is doing the same thing, they may be using social pressure as an excuse to avoid questioning their life choices.
Phrases like "everyone is busy" or "if you want to succeed, never stop" are slowly accepted as undeniable realities.
Yet, according to Sartre's existentialist approach, humans need to realize that they still have the responsibility to determine how they live their lives, even if those choices occur within various limitations.
Sartre is famous for his idea that humans are condemned to be free. Freedom is not just a right, but also a responsibility that is not easily avoided.
In the context of hustle culture, this thought invites us to ask: is the busyness we endure truly a conscious choice, or merely an attempt to fulfill a portrait of success created by others?
Byung-Chul Han: A Society That Exploits Itself
If Sartre helps us understand the issue from the side of individual freedom, contemporary philosopher Byung-Chul Han invites us to see how modern society shapes the demand to constantly achieve.
Through his book The Burnout Society, Han describes the shift from a disciplinary society to an achievement society.
In a disciplinary society, individuals are controlled through rules, prohibitions, and obligations that originate from outside themselves.
Conversely, in an achievement society, humans are encouraged to believe that they are capable of doing anything as long as they have the will and work hard enough.
Expressions like "you can do it," "don't be easily satisfied," or "keep improving your skills" sound positive. However, when these messages are present without limits, motivation can turn into psychological pressure.
Han observes that modern humans do not always need others to force them to work. Individuals can exploit themselves because
Comments 0
Write a Comment Share your response