Breaking Free from Hustle Culture: Rediscovering Joy in Rest and Hobbies
by Jay Zegan-Lister, MS, LPC
November 21, 2024
In a world where hustle culture dominates, the pressure to constantly be productive has seeped into every corner of our lives. Even our hobbies—those sacred spaces meant to bring us joy and relaxation—are increasingly seen as opportunities to generate income. While financial realities can make this appealing, the result is often a loss of the pure enjoyment these activities once brought.
The Problem with Hustle Culture
Hustle culture glorifies being busy, equating self-worth with productivity and achievements. This mindset convinces us that rest must be earned, not something we inherently deserve. It pushes us into a survival mode where slowing down feels like failure, and any unproductive moment is viewed as wasted time. Talk about a lot of things to unlearn!
But this constant striving comes at a cost:
Burnout becomes a chronic state, leaving us mentally and physically drained.
Joy and creativity take a backseat as hobbies transform into side hustles.
Self-worth becomes tied to external validation, often in the form of financial gain.
The Monetization of Hobbies
Hobbies are meant to be a reprieve from daily stress, a chance to immerse ourselves in activities we love simply because they bring us happiness. Yet, the growing trend to monetize hobbies—whether it’s selling artwork, starting a blog, or turning crafting into an online store—turns these sources of joy into more work.
While there’s nothing wrong with earning money from your skills, the problem arises when monetization becomes an expectation rather than a choice. It creates a cycle where even leisure time feels like work, leaving no space for genuine relaxation. This flip can entirely change an enjoyable, stress-free, act of self-care into something that actively removes all of these positive attributes from our engagement in said activity.
You Don’t Need to Earn Rest
One of the most damaging messages of hustle culture is that rest must be earned through hard work. In reality, rest is a fundamental human need. It’s essential for our health, happiness, and ability to function. If you think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, rest is part of the foundation of our physiological needs! If we hold on to the lie that we must “earn rest”, we actively are harming both our mental and physical needs and creating additional pressure to produce even more.
Choosing to rest or engage in a hobby without tying it to productivity is not lazy—it’s liberating. It’s a way of reclaiming your time and well-being in a world that constantly demands more. It may be a challenge in the beginning to give ourselves permission to rest without any ties to “earning it”. Keep practicing. Keep reminding yourself you do not need to “earn” rest. We all require rest in order to function as our best selves.
Embracing Joy Without Guilt
Here are some ways to break free from hustle culture and rediscover the simple joy in hobbies:
Set Boundaries: Decide which hobbies are just for you and resist the urge to monetize them.
Schedule Rest: Treat rest as a non-negotiable part of your routine, just like work or exercise.
Redefine Success: Measure success by how fulfilled and balanced you feel, not by how much you produce.
Disconnect from Social Pressure: Avoid comparing your life to curated online images of constant productivity or "success."
Final Thoughts
Hustle culture has taught us that every moment must be optimized, every passion turned into profit, and every rest earned. But this mindset isn’t sustainable—or healthy. Joy, creativity, and rest are not luxuries; they’re necessities. Reclaim them unapologetically.
Life is about more than just survival or financial gain. It’s about thriving in ways that make you feel whole, not just busy. Give yourself permission to rest today. You don’t need to earn it.
