How To Hustle In A Healthy Way
“New year, new me”… “The grind never ends”… “I can sleep when I die”
If that strikes you as odd, you’re absolutely right. If this sounds like you, don’t worry, that was me 6 years ago when I first started my studies here at U of A. The hustle culture interestingly tries to bring out the best in us by demanding hard work and knowing that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Yes, there are many benefits to these ideas, but one thing that’s obviously missing is a health and sustainability component. What is the point of achieving those goals if your mental, emotional, and physical health is not intact? If you really want to achieve your goals, then balance is key. Here are a few of my tips on how to find that balance. Or in other words, how to cough in a healthy way.
But first… What is Hustle Culture?
To me, hustle culture is a lifestyle where you devote yourself to achieving goals you set for yourself, even if it comes at a cost. What that cost is depends on your current lifestyle, but a key element is something that needs to be given to prioritize that goal. For students, it can be our GPAs, extracurricular activities, and our off-campus life that can be very stressful. How we exert ourselves to achieve our goals could determine how embedded we are in the culture that we really are.
Set yourself realistic goals
Setting realistic goals for both the short and long term is key to achieving a healthy balance. Focusing on achievable things you can accomplish in an hour, a day, a week, and a month is the only way to see real progress. It’s not about seeing big changes because that will probably keep you from the original mission. I try to focus on 3-5 tasks I can complete in a day, 5-7 tasks a week, and 5 tasks a month. Bite-sized chunks make reaching your goals more digestible.
Set aside time to achieve these realistic goals:
It’s not just about setting goals, it’s about achieving them. The way to do this is to have a structure or schedule for how to get this done. In my experience, being able to just go with the flow when you have time to achieve those goals is a way of getting overwhelmed and thrown off track. A little tip to keep in mind when creating the schedule is to allocate time for “ketchup” time, which is when you allocate time to catch up on anything you might not have done in the allotted time.
Schedule time to rest or your body schedules it for you:
Building on the point above, it’s important to schedule a time to rest, otherwise your body will choose for you. The last thing we all want is to burn out on the last stretch. Scheduling time for yourself to spend with friends and essentially doing things that help you recover is the best way to be realistic. You can’t always be rushed.
Winners do not win alone:
Most people who do great deeds and deliver victory speeches almost always mention the people who have supported them along the way. This is just another way of saying that it’s easier to win with a support system when you’re winning alone. It also makes winnings more enjoyable when you have people to share them with. Whether it’s friends, family, mentors, or even resource center staff, it’s always humbling to know how many people are really in your corner.
Check in and be yourself:
Just like I am writing this blog post, you need to edit, edit and re-edit it. In the context of your goals, it is important to continuously reflect on how things are going. First and foremost you have to ask yourself how you are doing. Then put that in the perspective of your goals. Were you successful, yes or no? If not, why not? Don’t take your losses too personally, but see them as a necessary obstacle to the greatness that life has in store for you next. Using your losses as a humble approach to shift your efforts is a necessary step in getting back on your feet. It’s also worth asking yourself if the goal is worth it. Do not continue if it does not serve you or your larger goals.
Set and remember your limits:
Boundaries with friends, family, work and most importantly ourselves. You know the things that can throw you off track. Whether it’s distractions, vices, or anything else you want to eradicate, having boundaries is important to better understanding yourself and how they may affect your goals. Don’t feel bad about having to be honest with the others in your life about what you really need.
Do you have a system of accountability:
Accountability systems can help you stay on track. If you trip or fall, these systems can catch and reposition you. For some people it’s their daily affirmations, for other people they trust and for others it’s reading and writing past/future letters to themselves. Whatever it is, make sure you have mechanisms in place who you can hold responsible for what you want. Don’t get in the habit of collecting red flags, and accountability will ensure that doesn’t happen.