Does Working 80 Hours a Week Make Sense?
The grind culture tells us that success is directly proportional to the hours we clock in. Hustle harder, work longer, and sleeping is for the weak, they say. But have we ever stopped to ask ourselves, Does working 80 hours a week actually make sense?
Let’s break it down, working 80 hours might make us feel productive, like we’re doing more than everyone else. But is it really about doing more? Or is it about doing better*?* Are we truly creating value, or are we just burning ourselves through hours to feel like we’re moving forward?
Here’s a fun analogy, imagine running a race where there’s no finish line. We keep running harder, faster, and longer because that’s what everyone else is doing. But when we look around, we realize that nobody knows why they're running, they’re simply afraid to stop.
Working 80 hours a week feels a bit like that. It’s not about the quality of the work or the purpose behind it. It’s about convincing ourself we’re ahead, even if we’re unsure of what we’re actually moving toward.
And let’s talk about the cost. What are those extra 40 hours taking away from us?
Sleep? Without it, we get slower, and way less productive than we think.
Time? With family, friends, or even with ourselves? We may be making more money, but are we able to focus on what truly matters?
Health? Because no amount of overtime will compensate for it.
But here’s the real kicker, sometimes, working less forces us to be smarter. It pushes us to prioritize, to focus on what matters most, and to say no to what doesn’t. It’s like when we have 15 minutes to clean our room, we’ll get it done faster than if we had the whole day. Why? Because constraints breed efficiency.
And let’s not forget about creativity, when do your best ideas come? Not during back to back calls or at our desk at 11 PM. They show up while we’re on a walk, watching a sunset, or simply doing nothing.
So, does working 80 hours a week make sense? Only if we believe life is just a numbers game. But if we’re chasing more than that, then maybe it’s time to ask-
Am I working for a purpose or just working for the sake of it?
Is this hustle bringing me closer to my goals, or just farther from myself?
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