True or false, grind culture is toxic. Why or why don't you agree?

Question

Personally, I've been there and done that; therefore, I will not be doing it again. You miss out on the more important and fun things in life. Now, I only work extra hours short term if I have goals to reach, for example, paying off a debt. So I may work extra for two to three months then stop.

wolfcat87 · Accepted Answer

I think it's really empowering, so many people have new options to get ahead and do their best. There's a reason why the upper class is growing so quickly. Media around grind culture posted so many fresh ideas for businesses, side hustles, etc. With step by step instructions. Sharing the inside scoop that few had access to before. This stopped a lot of gatekeeping that was keeping new people out of industries. It put the power to earn and fulfill your dreams into the hands of all individuals. Everyone who's willing to work for it can get it. 😍

No one is being forced into it. I think the only people who think it's toxic are the people who don't want it and resent those who stick with it and get ahead. Otherwise, it's a personal choice so why would anyone be upset?

Work your whole life and suffer regularly or work harder earlier and be done earlier. Same amount of work over different lengths of time. It's like being angry that someone else decides to run 10 miles to a party and enjoyed the whole thing while you decide to walk and miss most of it. Both are valid choices, and the only issue is the person getting angry at the other.

My husbands and I are all for it, and that's why we are so far ahead in our 30's. We have far more now than most currently retired people do, and my husband is only a year and a half away from a pension. My father was doing the hustle and grind back when it was just called being a workaholic with two jobs. 😆

LazerBean · Accepted Answer

I think it definitely can be toxic. But there's a lot of people out there who have no friends and no family and nothing better to do. If I were single and childless, I would probably work a lot, but not so much that it keeps me from doing the fun things that I like. Certainly now that I'm married, it's not something that would be good for us. My husband's dad was kind of a workaholic, even though he kinda disliked that his dad was also one. But then he saw his best friend stroke out then turn into a vegetable in his 40s, leaving him unable to enjoy any of the money he made as a veterinary. Left behind a wife and a bunch of kids. Now dad does a lot to enjoy life more, and that's good in my opinion. Nobody is promised tomorrow, so while I don't advocate for being irresponsible I do think people should enjoy every stage of their life and be careful not to neglect who they have in that moment. I had a cousin who dated this guy for 10 years and just kept putting off marriage for whatever reason. Finally they got married and he moved over to her country, just for him to die less than a year later. My husband and I could pretty easily double or more our current household income if we wanted to, but it's just not worth giving up the time that we are currently able to spend together and with the people we love.

ScienceThumper · Accepted Answer

I don't know if I should repeat after @d_bone_steak or quote the fucking bible. Have you also noticed that this site started censoring the word "fаggоt"? Anyway I don't agree with this at all but I must post it in order to say later @thanks_for_the_mho : Luke 12:16-21 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

D_Bone_Steak · Accepted Answer

That obsessive-compulsive mentality about money throws me off. Then it often feels like the turds that have money on the brain like that are always in need of more. Like no shit they're the same people that will ask to borrow money. It makes me ask myself when enough will be enough for them?

I don't know... for me... if I don't have any debt, don't have to worry about shit... it's time to chill.

Now I want to rant about women... pointless vacations and wanting to buy shit they might use once at best. The demand and drive to push us dudes to grind and grind for that kind of shit... just why? Why are all these material things so damn important? I mean there are needed things like a working car, and then there is that fabricated need for the car to be a Lexus or at least a BMW... why? I bought a Crown Victoria police interceptor and got it fixed up at the shop... my shit will run your shit off the road. It's faster and I have bulletproof doors... and about 50K less than that f***** car that can't even hide a dead body in the trunk. Don't get me started on those expensive ass purses... just why?

I value a 12 pack of beer and some KFC way more than I value some fucking dorky looking dress shirt.

Anonymous · Answer

At one point in my life I woke up, went to one job, in the afternoon, did another job, and one the weekends, was building up my own business, so that meant all I did was work, no days off, all year round, no holidays. I didn't know what day it was if not for reminders on my phone or looking at a calendar.

I just worked so much, I had no life, no real relationships, my friends never saw me anymore, and when they did invite me to things, it was only a couple hours left until more work or I was too exhausted. This went on for 3 solid years until I quite literally broke down. Physically my health was f'd, and mentally I was completely burned out.

The straw that broke the camel's back, was I was at some place where I did not work, and a walkie talkie went off (which I used at one of my jobs), and I instinctively reached for my waistband to answer it. That was so f--ked up! I wish I could have had a camera on me to see that moment and how just disturbing it was, like I was sleep walking work. I quit job one not too long after that, focused on one job, and did my business sparingly, but it took a full year of "de-programming" to get me out of grind mode.

Years later, I still have my business, but I put blocks on my schedule that tell me, this is when I'm taking a break, no phones, no internet (because those are too work focused). I make it a habit of focusing more on friends and doing things that make me happy because on the old death bed, I sure as hell don't want to look back in my mind and only have memories of a work desk.

HawkPerception · Answer

I think pressuring people to hustle 24/7 is wrong. There are definitely more important things in life. Experiencing things with loved ones is what gives us happiness in life. Some of the top regrets people have when they die are always:

"I wish I didn't work so hard."

and...

"I wish I spent more time with family."

That is enough to show what people should prioritize. But people are indoctrinated to believe that you're a nobody if you don't have material possessions.

Don't get me wrong. I think you should work enough where you are self sustained and comfortable. I also think everyone should have the freedom to work as much as they want to improve their standard of life. But only if it's what they WANT to do. Not to appease others or portray yourself to the world as someone that has a good work ethic.

MikeTheBartender · Answer

I'm a lot older than you and I will say it depends, because I definitely worked way too much when I was younger, but now I can do whatever the fuck I want. I also decided to never have kids, if I was a dad. Maybe I'd be pretty bored and thinking I missed out. But I'm going on nine trips in 6 months, I see my friend's a ton, I get to hang out at home and play guitar and chill, work on fun projects, I have a nice place etc. It would have never happened if I didn't give up at least a decade of life earlier on. And I still squeezed in some partying in that decade!

Texaskid1 · Answer

Grind culture goes back to our obsession with work where we are made to feel guilty if we do not spend all of our waking hours on the job. Of course, this is what the people on the top want so that the rest of us will continue to generate wealth for them.

Always keep in mind that your employer does not care about you not matter what they say. You are just a warm body. And even if you work for yourself you will eventually realize that the constant pursuit of money will cause you to overwork and it will kill you.

bobalife · Answer

As a workaholic, I couldn’t agreed more, as much as I value being hardworking and others who may be too. But this past year I’ve been trying to change that pattern and perspective because life is too short to not do what you want and enjoy what you worked so hard to earn. It is abit toxic if it’s the center of everything and primary focus. I still do give many props to those who are hustling hard and do what they can to achieve their career they want for sure though.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

On a bad week I may work 40 hours now. I had enough deployed time doing 16 hour+ days for months at a time. I'm not going back to that. Oh there's something going on at work? I'll take care of it Monday... or I'll do it now, and not be there Monday. That largely makes no difference to me, but I can promise there won't be 81 hours of work on my timecard.

Rei13 · Answer

I think it is incredibly unhealthy. You need to have a work/life balance. If you’re struggling or have a short term goal that is one thing, of course you’re going to put in the hours to make ends meet or reach that goal. However I think everyone should strive to not overdo it. You miss out on so much in life with family and friends when work consumes you.

hahahmm · Answer

Maybe but at the end of the day, civilization as you know it is going to crash in the near future and both those with lots of money and those who are just relaxing with little money will be in the same boat. Those who bothered to build their character/ability to withstand hardships without the help of corporations are going to be better off.

NathanDavis · Answer

I agree...

as someone that does business for a living, yes... I very much rather to find a balance between hard work, and working less (working smarter) actually

and I definitely value the flexibility and the time I can have for my friends and family and chose that, over the extra hours work to get more, extra money that I do not really need so badly

bolverk · Answer

Disagree that "grind culture is toxic", I did it up-to my early 30's to get established in my career, back then it was "paying your dues", working extra hours was a given, 12 hour shifts the norm, and 72 hours back to back dealing with a project was expected, New starts today do not seem to have the working stamina that was common when I started in the 70's.

RingOfFire · Answer

"Grind culture" toxic? All fine and well until you have a family to feed and find out that you need to work full time when you are in your 80s to keep a roof over your head and eat.

I'm all for that attitude as long as you don't expect to leech off of me to pay your bills. The minute you go to the government that I am paying for with my taxes begging for money then you will be forced to learn just how toxic I can be in telling you to get lost.

Massageman · Answer

Get used to patterns in your life. Each day is a "grind" for the employed. You wake up, wash up, eat and work. If you consider repeated events a "grind", then you are simply avoiding the inevitable: life IS a bunch of inter-related patterns; a "grind" if you will. The trick is making it a grind that you can appreciate and enjoy.

lightbulb27 · Answer

it's only worth it like you said to get an edge and in a good place financially, level up. much better if put that into your own business or goals, whatever those are.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

I agree.. The only reason to grind is if you have somebody to take care of.. But other than that, it's just extra hours for a little extra money.. Plus, I'm a gym rat, so I like to have time for the gym..

coachTanthony · Answer

It's only toxic if it's sold as a product. If you're broke you better be grinding until you're not.

blueonblack22 · Answer

Having self discipline and drive is never “toxic”. But obsession can be.  Being a workaholic is the story of my life right now.

exitseven · Answer

Yes, I have been on a hamster wheel my whole life. I am no exceptionally wealthy and I feel like I missed out on a lot while I was working and going to school.

DizzyDesii · Answer

Money was never everything to me and i definitely never volunteered for OT

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

False there is nothing toxic about wanting more out of life. I grind everyday but I still find time to enjoy life. I work hard but I play harder!!! 😉😉😉

LiamJHayden · Answer

Yes. I work hard but without balance what is the point?

Anonymous · Answer

It depends If you an employee grind set is awful but if you're self-employed it's a requirement

Dreamclouds · Answer

Brain culture is the best , smart ways to earn

justabuddy · Answer

I have a rule that similar to yours. Everything in life has a balance.

Sonorous · Answer

Hustle culture will always make me cringe.

laly520 · Answer

grind culture is super unhealthy on the long run

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