Productivity Hacks and the Allure of Hustle Culture
I’ve always been a sucker for a good productivity hack. You know, those YouTube videos where some guy with a shaved head and a minimalist apartment tells you how waking up at 4 a.m. and taking ice baths can transform your life. That’s Hustle Culture in a nutshell—grind harder, sleep less, and achieve more. There’s a part of me that finds it intoxicating, like I could caffeine-shot my way into a new and improved life if I just tried hard enough.
It’s no wonder I’m drawn to it—Hustle Culture has a way of making you feel like every second should be a stepping stone to success. Hustle Culture has its own language, too. It’s the world of “rise and grind,” “sleep when you’re dead,” and “no days off.” It’s where “the grind never stops” and “every minute counts.” It’s an environment where pushing harder is always the answer, and rest feels like a guilty pleasure.
My Own Experience with Hustle Culture
I’ve been there. At one point, I was working full time, getting my master’s degree, and doing side work. My days felt like an endless to-do list, and my nights were too short to recharge. I was always tired, and worse, I became grumpy with my family. You know it’s bad when your five-year-old starts suggesting, ‘Maybe Dad needs a timeout.’ I was hustling hard, but at what cost?
That’s when I started to see the cracks forming—small signs that my relentless push for more was coming at a real cost. My kids were growing up, my friendships were gathering dust, and my own mental clarity was clouded by the never-ending need to do more. The irony hit me hard: the more I worked to build a better life, the less present I felt in the one I already had. It was as if I was climbing a ladder as fast as I could, only to realize it was leaning against the wrong wall.
What is Slow Life Culture?
But then there’s the other side—the Slow Life Culture. This is the philosophy that suggests maybe, just maybe, the guy in the ice bath needs to chill out (pun intended). Slow Life is all about savoring the moment, putting quality time with loved ones over constant achievement, and trading your to-do list for a to-be list. It sounds dreamy, like living inside a perpetual Saturday morning.
Think about the joy of an unhurried morning, where you sip your coffee slowly, watch your kids play, or take a walk without a podcast telling you how to optimize your day. It’s not about abandoning ambition but about choosing when to set it aside in favor of simply being present. Often, those quiet, unproductive moments hold the real treasures of life. But as with anything, too much of a good thing can become a trap.
If not practiced with intention, Slow Life Culture can sometimes drift into complacency or stagnation. There’s a fine line between being present and losing ambition, and it can be challenging to strike a healthy balance between slowing down and staying engaged with life’s opportunities.
Introducing Smedium Culture: The Middle Ground
So, what’s the answer? Maybe we need a new culture altogether—something in between. I’m thinking we call it “Smedium Culture.” A little bit hustle, a little bit slow burn, and a nod to the golden age of Jersey Shore. Smedium Culture is about working hard but knowing when to tap out. It’s being driven but also parking the car when you see a great view.
For me, Smedium Culture means putting focused, intentional effort into the right areas at the right times. Just like in marriage (read my last article), life has seasons. There are seasons when I need to focus on work, advancing my career and business, and other times when my family—especially while my kids are young—needs to come first. True wisdom is knowing the difference and having the courage to shift gears when needed. That’s the beauty of Smedium Culture—it’s about embracing both ambition and rest, knowing when to push forward and when to pull back.
In Smedium Culture, you can have a side hustle and a nap. You can grind when the project matters and coast when it doesn’t. You don’t have to choose between being the guy in the ice bath and the guy taking a bubble bath—you can be both, just not at the same time.
A Deeper Look at Hustle, Slow Life, and Smedium Cultures
Hustle Culture can create incredible momentum—there’s nothing quite like the rush of knocking out goals and seeing doors open through sheer grit. It’s a lifestyle where hard work often translates to growth, where every achievement feels like a step toward something greater. But it comes at a cost. Burnout is real, and too often, the grind can leave behind the things that matter most, like family, friends, and even your own sanity. When your candle burns at both ends, you might find your light extinguished just when you need it most.
On the flip side, Slow Life Culture offers a refreshing pause, allowing you to truly savor life’s moments. It’s about choosing presence over productivity, trading hustle for harmony. Instead of just checking boxes, you’re tasting your coffee, hearing your kids’ laughter, and finding joy in the simplicity of being. However, without intention, slowing down can lead to stagnation. It’s easy to let ambition slip away and settle into comfort, missing out on life’s opportunities. You might find that while you’ve built a peaceful life, it’s one where the doors of growth and achievement have quietly closed.
Smedium Culture aims to strike a balance. It’s about recognizing when to hustle and when to slow down. It’s the sweet spot where ambition meets presence—where you can build your dreams without bulldozing the life you already have. It’s not just a compromise but a choice to live with intention, pushing forward when it matters and pulling back when it doesn’t. In Smedium Culture, you can find success without sacrificing sanity, blending progress with peace.
Choosing Your Path Forward
Where do you find yourself on the spectrum between hustle and slow life? What would your version of Smedium Culture look like? Take a moment to reflect—there’s wisdom in understanding where you are and where you want to be.
So here’s to finding the middle ground, the smedium way forward. Because maybe the real hustle is finding peace, and the real slow burn is discovering what truly matters—without falling asleep on the couch.
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