Why Taking A Break From Hustle Culture Should Be Normalised?

Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur recently travelled to Spain and Portugal for their vacation, and their pictures became hugely popular as they are rumoured to be dating. Kriti Sanon also shared updates from her Las Vegas trip, and Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal went to the Maldives to celebrate Kaif's birthday. It seems like celebrities are constantly on vacation with their loved ones.

However, Samantha Ruth Prabhu's recent trip to Bali, Indonesia, stood out for a different reason. She used social media to share that she is taking a break from acting to focus on her health and undergo treatment for her autoimmune condition. This move resonated with many people, who praised the importance of prioritising health and taking breaks between work for a healthier work life.

Certainly! While what Prabhu did is undoubtedly commendable, let's take a step back and examine the situation more closely. Do you remember that Panday and Kapur recently wrapped their filming and promotions for Dreamgirl and The Night Manager, respectively? And if you see other celebs like Sanon, Kaif, and Kaushal, they all just wrapped one or more projects before leaving for vacation. Sanon was busy with multiple projects like the Adipurush promotion, her own production house, Blue Butterfly Films launch, and before that, Shehzada’s promotion. 

It's not that celebrities don't take breaks from their work; they do their work and then take breaks, establishing boundaries between work and personal life. However, most people only see them leaving for the airport and posting vacation-related photos and videos; they are ignorant of or unaware of the purpose of their breaks.

In today's fast-paced work culture, it's essential for everyone, not just actors, to take a break. Working continuously and striving for success can be demanding and exhausting. While hustle culture celebrates hard work and ambition, it can also lead to burnout and overwhelming stress.

Taking a break is not a luxury but a necessity for maintaining overall well-being and productivity.

Long working hours and constant busyness can take a toll on our mental and physical health. When we push ourselves too hard without giving ourselves time to recharge, it can lead to decreased job satisfaction and even affect our performance. In this culture that glorifies "hustling," it's crucial to recognise the importance of balance. Giving ourselves permission to take breaks allows us to rest, rejuvenate, and come back to work with renewed energy and focus. Taking care of our well-being is essential for sustainable success in today's work environment.

Balancing Work and Well-Being

Actor Alaya F in conversation with SheThePeople spoke on her mantra to deal with the hustle culture. She shared that she has this thing where when she works, she only works, she works madly, and she gives 100 per cent of the focus and energy she should give. But when she's not working and is on her holiday or any break, she doesn't even take a single phone call about work because it's her time. That way, she gets balance in her life.

She said she is a big believer in hustling; she "hustles to figure it out, grab the opportunity, and get it done", and now even more than ever. She added, "In my industry, as actors, we work non-stop, and then suddenly we sit at home, and then we work non-stop again, so this works in a loop. That's why my profession allows me to have that balance in my life in a lot of ways."

Or be a commoner like Soundrya Kalse, a young content writer who’s always been interested in a 9-to-5 job for a secure future and is doing one at present. She said she loves her work, and she gives her 100 per cent productivity during her work hours, but she accepted that even if she loves her job, she deserves a personal life too. She acknowledged, "The fact that sometimes I lack my personal life because the boundary between my personal and professional lives has faded over the course of time." She added, "I believe the main reason behind this is that due to the pressure to work excessively long hours and meet deadlines, I swiftly dedicated my personal time and well-being in the pursuit of success, and now the line has just faded."

Considering her burnout, she recently took a break and went to Himachal Pradesh. In conversation with SheThePeople, she shared that it helps one to get refreshed and helps to get your energy back. She added that you feel more lively and observe that there’s a lot to do other than that 9-to-5 job, and by prioritising breaks, we can protect our mental health and maintain a sustainable level of productivity in the long run.

Moreover, breaks foster a better work-life balance. By creating boundaries between work and personal life, employees can reduce stress and maintain a healthier mindset. Taking time for oneself during breaks allows individuals to decompress and engage in activities they enjoy, which can positively impact their mental and emotional well-being.

If you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, don't just scroll through others' vacation pictures on social media. Take a real break and prioritise your well-being.

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