Why Hustle Culture Is Making Us Broke and Burnt Out

Everyone online says we need eight income streams. Meanwhile, I can barely keep up with my washing…

Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of financial freedom as much as anyone. But somewhere along the line, freedom became synonymous with overwork. If we’re not juggling a nine-to-five, a “passion project,” two side hustles and a course in crypto on the side, we’re apparently not doing life right. Add in a 4am ice bath and the compulsory “rise and grind” mindset, and suddenly exhaustion has been rebranded as aspiration.

I know because I fell for it. I pushed, I overcommitted and I chased a job that would guarantee me ‘financial security’.

But all it guaranteed was in fact, burnout. The proper kind.

The Promise of Hustle Culture

Hustle culture sells a seductive story: work harder now and we’ll be free later. It suggests that success is just on the other side of exhaustion. In the early stages, it can even feel good. A side hustle brings novelty, a sense of agency, and sometimes a little extra money to ease the bills. For a while, it feels like we’re beating the system.

But what starts as exciting quickly turns into overwhelming. That fun project becomes another deadline. That extra cash comes at the expense of our rest. And soon, the freedom we were chasing feels further away than ever.

The Science Backs It Up

This isn’t just my experience; research has plenty to say about it too. Studies in the Journal of Vocational Behavior found that people who take on multiple jobs often report higher levels of stress, poorer wellbeing, and lower overall satisfaction with life. Another study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine linked multiple jobs/side hustles to increased mental health risks, including depression and anxiety.

Translated from academic jargon: side hustles might give us a boost at first, but they’re not a free pass to happiness. They tend to pile on stress instead.

The Financial Irony

The culture that claims to make us rich often makes us worse with money. Think about it. Hustles require upfront costs - courses, software, apps, equipment. We justify spending because “it’s an investment.”

Sometimes it pays off, but often it doesn’t. Add the hidden costs of exhaustion - sick days, stress shopping, treating ourselves just to cope - and suddenly the hustle isn’t just draining your energy, it’s draining our bank balance too.

So while hustle influencers flash their “freedom lifestyle,” many of us are left broke, tired and wondering if the problem is us. It’s not. The problem is the system.

Why We Fall For It

Humans love extremes. It’s why people are drawn to stories like David Goggins running until his feet bled or entrepreneurs building empires on four hours of sleep. We mistake these extremes for proof of what it takes to succeed.

Social media makes it worse. We scroll, we compare and we convince ourselves we’re behind. When we inevitably can’t keep up, we don’t blame hustle culture. We blame ourselves. Cue shame, guilt and the promise to “try harder next time.” It’s a cycle designed to keep us exhausted and buying whatever “productivity hack” is being sold.

So What’s the Alternative?

I’m not saying money doesn’t matter. It does - we’ve all felt that stomach drop when an unexpected bill arrives. But maybe the answer isn’t to keep stacking hustle upon hustle until we collapse in a puddle of receipts and iced coffee.

The alternative is actually boringly simple: spend with intention and protect our energy.

Not “live on vibes.”

Not “manifest rent.”

Just stop throwing time and money at things that drain us and keep the stuff that genuinely adds value.

For me, that’s looked like cutting out pointless subscriptions, still ordering the takeaway because it keeps me sane and ditching the idea that a budget has to be a 10-tab spreadsheet. Turns out “good enough” budgeting works a lot better than “perfect” budgeting you’re too exhausted to keep up with.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hustle culture isn’t making us free. It’s making us tired. The research says it. Our bank balances say it. And if we’re honest, our nervous systems have been yelling it for years.

The truth is, we don’t need eight income streams to build a good life. We don’t need to monetise every hobby. We don’t need to wake up at 4am and grind ourselves into dust. What we need is clarity, rest and a money system that supports our lives instead of taking it over.

Because the real financial “hack” isn’t about working harder. It’s about working less chaotically. It’s about making choices that feel aligned, not exhausting. And it’s about remembering that money is supposed to support our wellbeing, not destroy it.

Final Thought

I’ve burnt out more than once, and honestly? Zero stars on Trustpilot. Would not recommend. What it taught me, though, is this: chasing hustle culture (and jobs that don’t fit who you are) is the quickest way to feel exhausted and empty.

There’s a better way - slower, saner and a lot more human. Next time hustle culture whispers that you need another side gig, remember: you might not need more work. You might just need less stress, fewer demands and permission to enjoy the life you’ve already got.

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