Few of us want to overwork. Even when our jobs feel meaningful, we’d prefer to work to live, not live to work. We benefit from also devoting time to other interests and hobbies, family and friends, leisure, and learning not related to our professions.
Understand that overwork is not necessary for success
If you buy into that thinking, even just a tiny bit, you won’t be able to resist triggers, like others telling you about their overworking
- To avoid the temptation to keep up with vocal overworkers like that author you need to radically reject the idea that such behavior is required or even beneficial
Learn from role models
Find role models who achieved the kind of success you want without overworking or constantly noting how “swamped” and “exhausted” they are
- A more effective strategy when trying to find role models is to simply look inside and outside your professional niche
Ignore requests to overwork
When behaviors are reinforced, they increase. When you ignore them, you might see an “extinction burst” – a short-term rise in the problematic behaviors.
- Make your boundaries clear, and, if the behaviors don’t stop, consider roles on different teams or in different organizations with more realistic expectations.
Be clear on your values
Identify your values: equality, justice, efficiency, generosity, bravery, autonomy, challenge, cooperation, adventure are good
- Trust that this values-driven approach will lead to some of the outcomes that are important to you
- With experience and experimentation, you’ll learn to do “enough” in your work/career
Focus on deeper goals and your craft
Hustle culture does not lead to great accomplishments
- Instead, pursue deeper personal goals like knowing and understanding important phenomena, solving complex problems, or making a positive impact in society
- Another way to step away from hustle culture is to reframe your job as a craft that you’re trying to hone
