Burnout by Design: How Productivity & Hustle Culture Keep Us Oppressed
Burnout is not a personal failing; it’s a systemic design. We live in a world where busyness is glorified, exhaustion is rewarded, and slowing down feels like failure. But who benefits from this culture? Not us. The glorification of productivity sustains systemic inequities, ensuring that the majority remains overworked, undervalued, and disconnected.
To dismantle this toxic mindset, we must first understand its roots, challenge its narratives, and take steps toward liberation through rest and collective care.
The Invention of Busyness
The idea that time equals money is not innate—it’s a product of industrialization and colonialism. Before these systems took hold, many societies lived in harmony with natural rhythms, valuing time spent in connection, rest, and creativity.
But capitalism reframed time as a resource to be extracted. The more hours you work, the more valuable you are. This belief was imposed globally through colonial systems, erasing communal ways of life and replacing them with hierarchies that prioritized profit over people.
This transformation wasn’t just economic; it was cultural. Productivity became a moral virtue, while rest became a sin. The legacy of this mindset is evident in our lives today, where overwork is normalized, and rest feels like a radical act.
The Cost of the Hustle
The glorification of busyness sustains systemic inequities by ensuring that marginalized groups remain perpetually exhausted. People from historically oppressed communities are disproportionately affected by this mindset:
Economic Exploitation: Low-wage workers, often from BIPOC communities, are forced to work multiple jobs just to survive, leaving little time for rest or personal growth.
Gender Inequities: Women, especially women of color, are expected to excel professionally while managing the emotional and physical labor of their households.
Disability and Health: Rest becomes inaccessible for those living with chronic illness or disability, as the system values productivity over well-being.
By keeping us busy and burned out, productivity culture robs us of the time and energy needed to question, resist, and rebuild.
Breaking Free: Steps Toward Liberation
Unlearn the Myth of Busyness
Start by questioning the narratives you’ve internalized about productivity. Who benefits from your overwork? What would happen if you chose rest instead? Recognize that your worth is inherent—it’s not tied to how much you accomplish.Rest as Resistance
Just as capitalism relies on overwork, rest disrupts its power. Choose rest as a form of defiance. Whether it’s taking a long nap or simply pausing to breathe, remind yourself that your value does not depend on your output.Reconnect with Community
Productivity culture isolates us, making us believe we must do it all alone. Reclaim communal care by leaning on others and offering support in return. Together, we can reimagine systems of interdependence.Create Boundaries Against Burnout
Practice saying no to tasks, projects, or responsibilities that stretch you too thin. Advocate for systemic changes, like shorter workweeks and equitable pay, that prioritize human needs over profit.Honor Ancestral Wisdom
Look to the ways your ancestors lived in connection with the land and each other. Many pre-colonial societies valued rest, celebration, and community care. Let their wisdom guide your steps toward liberation.
A Vision Beyond the Grind
Imagine a world where rest isn’t earned but inherent. Where success isn’t measured by exhaustion, but by joy, connection, and well-being. This vision is possible, but it requires a collective shift.
Burnout is not the price of success—it’s the cost of compliance with systems designed to exploit us. By rejecting productivity as the measure of our worth, we reclaim our humanity and begin to build a world where rest is revolutionary.
Resources for Further Reflection
The Nap Ministry by Tricia Hersey
Work Won’t Love You Back by Sarah Jaffe
Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown
Let rest be your power reclaimed.
