By Karmendra Prakash Shrestha: Abhishek’s alarm jolted him awake at 5:30 AM. His body ached for more rest he didn’t want to be late for college. He dragged himself from bed, downed a coffee, skipped breakfast, and rushed out. In class, fatigue clouded his focus. Then during the lunch break, a friend’s reminder sent him scrambling to finish a forgotten assignment. He submitted barely on time.
After college, he grabbed a doughnut, his first meal, and hurried to his internship. Although it was not paid, he had convinced himself it was worth the experience.
By the evening, he was drained from hunger and exhaustion and dozed off on the bus home.
At home, starving, he ate whatever he could find. Every cell in his body wanted to rest but sleep had to wait. He had just started his Instagram side hustle, and it needed much attention. Hours passed, and by the time he shut his laptop, it was past 11 PM.
Tomorrow, he’d wake up and do it all over again.
Abhishek and his story is just an example and is not real.
Aarav’s story is the reality for many students today. This is what’s known as hustle culture, the obsession with constant productivity and the belief that the only way to succeed is to outwork everyone else. It pushes the idea that if you’re not studying, working on extracurriculars, or chasing achievements every second, you’re falling behind. Hustle culture convinces students that burnout is just a necessary step to success, and that sleep, rest, and downtime are luxuries, not necessities.
Social media plays a huge role in reinforcing this toxic mindset. Motivational posts flood our feeds with phrases like “Rise and grind,” “No excuses,” and “Sleep when you’re dead.” Students internalize these messages, believing that success comes only from relentless sacrifice, even at the cost of their mental and physical well-being.
The obsession with overworking is often fuelled by deeper social and psychological pressures. Ambition alone isn’t always the cause of academic burnout. For some, schoolwork becomes an escape from personal struggles. Many students push themselves to exhaustion as a coping mechanism, using academic achievements to mask anxiety or self-doubt. Socioeconomic factors also play a major role, students from lower-income backgrounds often feel they have no choice but to constantly hustle, balancing school, part-time jobs, and other responsibilities just to stay afloat.
Toxic productivity culture is another driving force. Many students feel guilty for taking breaks because they’ve been conditioned to believe that resting means they’re not working hard enough. This pressure leads to anxiety, exhaustion, and eventually, burnout. Furthermore, a lack of mental health education means that many students don’t recognize the warning signs until they’re completely drained.
How Hustle Culture Leads to Student Burnout
At first, hustle culture might seem motivating, but over time, it turns into self-destruction. The human mind and body simply can’t sustain an extreme, nonstop workload. According to the American Psychological Association (2025), burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of inefficacy. It manifests in different ways for different students, some experience chronic fatigue no matter how much sleep they get, others struggle to focus, and even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Many lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, while anxiety and irritability become more frequent. Burnout can also cause physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and a weakened immune system.
Breaking Free: Redefining Success & Finding Balance
Students need to realize that success isn’t a race, it’s a journey that requires balance. Hustle culture thrives on the false belief that success looks the same for everyone, but in reality, every student has a unique path, with different challenges and goals. Constantly comparing oneself to an arbitrary standard can be harmful. Instead, success should be measured in personal growth, fulfillment, and well-being, rather than external validation.
A rigid, one-size-fits-all definition of success fails to account for personal struggles, mental health, and the importance of rest. True achievement comes from sustainable progress, where ambition is balanced with self-care. Sacrificing sleep to study longer doesn’t necessarily mean better results, lack of rest actually reduces efficiency. Setting boundaries is crucial, not every moment needs to be productive. Taking breaks, spending time with friends, and getting enough rest are just as important as academic success.
Practicing mindfulness, whether through meditation, deep breathing, or simply stepping away from schoolwork, can help reduce stress. Most importantly, students need to listen to their bodies. If you’re feeling drained, don’t ignore it. Take a step back before burnout takes over.
Hustle culture glorifies overworking, but the long-term consequences can be damaging to students’ mental and physical well-being. While ambition and dedication are important, they shouldn’t come at the cost of health and happiness. Recognizing the dangers of burnout, redefining success in a way that prioritizes well-being, and setting healthy boundaries are essential for sustainable growth. True success comes from balance, where productivity coexists with self-care. By listening to our bodies and making time for rest, one can achieve their goals without sacrificing their well-being.
If you or someone you know struggles with overworking, know that you’re not alone. If you want a counselling session, you can contact Happy Minds at 9801031443.
Karmendra is a student of psychology and is currently doing internship at Happy Minds – a mental health and wellbeing platform (www.happyminds.health)
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