Hustle Culture is Dying: The Era of Mindful Productivity is Here to Stay
When we will look back on the 2020s and the impact it had on how we live and work, it will likely be labeled as a defining decade, covid being the key event that set off a variety of changes.
COVID put people in extremely stressful situations, as people grappled with the fear of losing loved ones, losing their jobs, and becoming more and more isolated from friends and colleagues.
Since then, some massive changes have taken place in the way we work — widespread adoption of remote and hybrid work, and increased awareness of mental health and employee wellbeing.
The notion that no matter the cost, hard work, always pays off is being questioned, if the cost of producing results comes at your own wellbeing. The younger generations have a new awareness and adjusted their priorities accordingly.
According to the 2024 Deloitte Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey, well-being and a sense of purpose are central to job satisfaction for nearly 86% of Gen Z and 89% of Millennials. Many in these generations have rejected job offers or assignments that conflict with their personal values, including those that do not support mental health or work-life balance.
Roughly 50% of Gen Z and over 40% of Millennials have turned down roles based on these concerns. This signals a clear trend where well-being is more important than financial gain alone for a significant portion of younger workers.
Employees have reacted accordingly, knowing they still need young talent to grow their organizations — offering wellness benefits, flexible working conditions and retreats. While, the trend has been truly visible through COVID, it is a reflection of societies deep-seated yearning for work places with more resources for mental health and wellbeing – these aspects were previously so often swept under a rug, arguing that a hard exterior and a level of toughness is necessary for success. This notion is dying out, however.
Mental health should not be used as a crutch for bad performance, but an increased of awareness of how the work environment can foster it, is only positive and can actually have a positive financial impact for the company that adapt with the times intelligently.
An example is the often overlooked practice of meditation as a performance-enhancing practice. I’ve benefitted from the positive effects of regular meditation myself: Studies have shown that regular meditation practice increases the activation of the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in emotional regulation, helping individuals manage emotions effectively under pressure, leaving to better decision-making.
Because it makes people happier and, equally, more effective, meditation has risen drastically in popularity over the past years — Meditation apps such as Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer have seen rapid growth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Calm reached over 100 million downloads, and in 2021, Headspace had over 70 million users globally.
This is a trend that I find fascinating — in decades past, meditation was left to the devout, an obscure practice that was often dismissed, but it is now becoming mainstream and more relevant in this fast paced world we live in.
I think we will see more superstars in business open up about practicing meditation, inspiring more people to adapt it — a more mindful population is a more effective one, and one that creates less burnout and deprivation for itself. For this reason, it’s a trend I will watch closely and fully support.
Additionally, younger people will ditch companies quicker if it doesn't serve their wellbeing – people are no longer after success at all costs, and less willing to sacrifice their personal lives for a paycheck. This is the reality that companies have to adapt to, and those who want to hire and retain talent, will only win with a new approach and awareness of this trend.
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