

The Rise Of Hustle Culture & How It Impacts Our Well-Being
"I'll sleep when I'm dead."
It's a sobering statement when you see it in black and white.
We're always booked, traveling, burning the midnight oil, and rising with the sun. Yet, hustling ourselves into oblivion doesn't seem to make us any happier. In fact, quite the opposite rings true.
With reports of people all over the world literally dropping dead due to exhaustion, it's safe to say we've been programmed to scoff at the gift of life. We're dogging the one thing we swear we're trying to improve.
Hustle culture is killing us - and we're letting it. For likes.
Photo: CreateHERStock
What's Your Life Worth To You?
Hustle culture is attractive on its surface. It sure charmed me. A few years ago, I was always on a plane or train. I was always posting a photo to prove how busy I'd become. I was always adding my two cents to public conversation about topics I'd been working directly within. I was making great money. I wasn't sleeping. My boss had access to me around the clock. I'd skipped a family member's funeral to work. Surely, everyone could see I was hustle goals - doing whatever it took to show commitment. I'd mastered it.
I burned out after a year and a half.
Clinging to hustle culture for all we're worth is cool until it's not. And I wonder if it's illusory perception of completeness is all we believe we're worth.
Studies show that increased salaries past a certain threshold typically do not increase happiness. So what, exactly, are we hustling toward? If securing the bag and a flawless public perception are our main goals - we are dangerously neglecting to enrich our lives the way we think we are.
Look, I don't want to be broke. I'd venture to guess that no one does. It doesn't feel good and it isn't conducive to good health. So, doing the work to increase wealth is a worthy goal. No qualms or questions about it.
The push, however, of an ever-updating digitally social world to prove how hard we're hustling is where we begin to lose our grip on reality and our humanity. Hustle culture curtails the positive impact it could have by shifting focus toward a mad-grab for popularity and money and away from the balance needed to sustain healthy and whole lives.
We aren't superhuman but we want to look and live like we are.
Photo: CreateHERStock
We admire people who are always moving at the speed of light and it never occurs to us that perhaps they're destined to burn out unless something changes - quickly.
We toss all of our mental energy, physical energy, skills, relationships, and hopes into a social blender, topped off by anxiety and fear to hustle ourselves into the lives we want.
The only problem is, without proper balance, we'll never reach our goals.
Hustle Culture Moves The Goalpost
When we overwork to prove ourselves and fit into culture, we erase our finish lines. Without still moments of reflection, appreciation, and celebration, we're just mindless minions, enslaved to the chase of some pot of gold that will always be just off in the distance.
Pumping the brakes to celebrate our path and process is crucial to wholeness. Yes, let's be successful but let's do it healthily. Let's respect and honor every achievement. Let's live in gratitude.
It takes discipline to eat the meat of culture and throw away its bones. It takes courage to let go of a facade, recalibrate and live life on your own terms.
So How Do We Recalibrate?
1. Respect what you were placed here for.
When you stand still and honor your truest desires, what do you really want? When that becomes clear, it makes the path toward your unique version of success clearer.
If it's true that hamster-wheeling our lives to stack money, with little forethought, planning, purpose, or balance mangles our creative, emotional, and physical health - then the opposite is true - taking the time to be mindful, counting up the cost, moving according to a personal plan/goal builds our lives to be their most impactful.
Photo: CreateHERStock
2. Drop out of the rat race.
Try a week of not running to social media to share every acknowledgement or met goal. Try spending time with yourself and your closest friends and family in the beauty of those moments of achievement. The world will clap for the length of time it takes to click 'like'. You need to define your pride in yourself and accomplishments for the rest of your life.
3. Commit to balance.
What do you need in order to feel (physically, mentally, spiritually, creatively) well and whole? Take inventory of what is causing tension in your life and make a plan to cut those strings. For some that might mean a career pivot. For others, it might mean requesting a change of work schedule. For someone else, it might mean taking up a form of exercise as an outlet. Take the time you need to figure out what you need. Not what looks good or what sounds like you've got it all figured out.
Answer the question: What do I need to live well?
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- How America's 'Culture of Hustling' Is Dark and Empty - The Atlantic ›
Ashley is a storybuilder and storyteller who writes and produces to inform, connect, encourage and evoke. Vibe with her on Twitter/Instagram: @ashleylatruly.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
The Libra woman and Aries man are the divine feminine and divine masculine, coming together as one. The love compatibility between these two is one for the books. These two are opposite signs, however, their differences tend to complement each other well. This is a dynamic relationship where they know how to have a lot of fun together, but also aren’t afraid to deal with the more serious stuff that comes with a relationship.
The Libra woman is looking for her equal in love, someone who is willing to put in the same effort she is, and the Aries man sees Libra as someone he is willing to do that with.
The Love Compatibility Of A Libra Woman And An Aries Man
What attracts a Libra woman and an Aries man to each other?
There is a magnet of attraction pulling these two together, and things tend to move pretty fast in this relationship. The Libra woman is always open to love and her charming nature rarely has any challenges here. The Aries man fights for his independence and doesn’t sacrifice that unless he is completely enamored with someone.
Once the Aries man catches the eye of the Libra woman, he is typically the one to make the first move and this instantly wins the approval of Libra.
These two feel like they have known each other forever when they meet, and this spark between them doesn’t die down easily.
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What is the relationship like between a Libra woman and an Aries man?
The relationship between the Libra woman and the Aries man is one of balance and excitement. The Aries man tends to take on the more dominant role in this relationship and the Libra woman tends to be the more receptive one. Aries is ruled by masculine Mars, and Libra is ruled by feminine Venus. They understand they are coming from two completely different worlds, yet they also instinctively feel this underlying connection to each other and like they could be something each other needs in their lives.
The Libra woman can rely on the Aries man, and the Aries man never has to ask for the love that Libra already knows he needs.
This is a couple that is often reading each other’s minds and wanting to do a lot of the same things. However, not everything is rainbow in this relationship as well, and there are some major differences they have to overcome to make things work. One argument can lead to an explosion between these two, and addressing things when they come up rather than sweeping them under the rug, will be needed to make this relationship long-term.
What is the sex like between a Libra woman and an Aries man?
The sex between a Libra woman and an Aries man is adventurous. These are two cardinal signs with plenty of energy and stamina to keep things exciting in the bedroom. There tends to be a good give and take in this relationship, and their yin and yang energy benefits them when it comes to their sex life.
There is electricity felt between the two of them in this area of their life, and their power of attraction to each other is strong. These are two people who will want to do a lot of things together, including exploring sexually together.
The Aries man will have to be careful with being overly aggressive, however, as the soft Libra woman may not like this energy- it will completely depend on the two individuals at hand. The Libra woman wants to ease into things, the Aries man wants to get going right away. Learning about each other's bodies, and energy, and reading each other’s cues will help with this.
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What makes a relationship between a Libra woman and an Aries man work?
These two genuinely like each other, and that basis is a key factor for success in any relationship. The Aries man is straight to the point, direct, and inspired. The Libra woman admires these characteristics in others, as she is often herself finding her balance in this type of energy as well. Neither sign is overly emotional in a way that turns them off, and they both require a lot of the same things in a committed relationship. They want honesty, fun, good communication, passion, and to be moving towards a common goal together.
The Libra woman and Aries man don’t have a problem being real with each other and this is something they really value within the relationship. They are both very charming, and there is plenty of flirtation and attraction to keep this relationship going. Aries being the protector they are, Libra finds a sense of safety and ease in this energy, and like they have found their match. Overall, this is a well-balanced relationship and one where they don’t have a problem when it comes to compatibility or chemistry in the relationship.
What may cause a Libra woman and an Aries man to break up?
Libra is the lover, Aries is the fighter, and this energy may be tiring for the both of them after time. The Libra woman can be passive to a fault, and the Aries man who is not evolved, may take advantage of that. She will need to be careful with putting Aries’ needs above her own, creating resentment later down the road. The Aries man loves a challenge, and the Libra woman would be up for that game for a little bit, but if she is not being met in the middle, she will begin to look for other places. These two can have a difficult time keeping the peace in the relationship, and there could be a lot of arguments and disagreements here if they both aren’t willing to put their egos or self-pleasing attitudes to the side.
The Libra woman and Aries man are both more sensitive than they appear or come off as. They are also not necessarily the type to dive deep into their emotions and express them to others, even in their relationships. However, this energy can keep the relationship to a surface level than what is needed to progress and grow the relationship, and a sense of openness is required for this couple to work. Libra needs romance, she wants to be wowed. Aries needs to remember this and to always consider her love language.
Summary
Overall, this is a successful pairing. They will have their fair share of challenges in the relationship, but nothing they can’t overcome if they are willing to. The trouble will come in when it comes to the longevity of the relationship, keeping Aries excited and Libra in love. However, all in all, there is more power, attraction, and love to keep this relationship together rather than apart. No relationship is perfect, but this one is a little more blessed than most.
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