Hustle culture is so overrated

A big part of growing up is making choices and sometimes it means letting go of other possibilities. If you’re adventurous, easily bored, or just really indecisive, you’re likely to prefer doing a little bit of everything rather than specialising in one area. You want to keep the door open and experience it all.

Peer pressure? You’ve probably heard about it over and over, whether from others or in your own head. It feels like everyone has a solid foundation, and the pressure hits when you step onto campus. It’s not just about getting good grades anymore. It’s about landing internships at top companies and proving your worth.

How to ACTUALLY OVERCOME academic pressure & peer pressure

How to ACTUALLY OVERCOME academic pressure & peer pressure by Vừng.

But here's the thing - constantly comparing yourself with others can lead to burnout fast. It’s easy to get caught up in the race to “keep up”, but true success comes from craving out your own path and focusing on what really matters to you.

Still sounds too generic? Let me tell you a story that maybe you can relate to.

Imagine you're a first-year student at RMIT with no impressive background and no personal startup. Soon, you come across social media posts looking for “HD teammates” (HD means high distinction) or hear your classmates talking about their internships at renowned companies. You put yourself to match their achievements, but despite all your efforts, the results just don’t live up to your expectations. The pressure gradually builds, and you start to feel burned out. You feel like the foundation you’re building is starting to crack.

But there’s always help and support around you.

Different journeys, different outcomes

Simply put, you need to choose the right point of comparison. While comparing yourself to others can help you gauge where you stand, don’t forget that everyone starts from different places. This makes most comparisons misleading. The only person you should compare yourself to is you. Try looking at your work over a longer period to see how far you have come and assess your progress.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a NO go

Finally, don’t worry about missing out on what others are doing—focus on your own journey. If your friends are landing internships in their first year while you’re unsure about jumping into work, remember that you have years ahead to build your career. Consider if working now truly benefits you or if it's better to focus on learning.

A part of growing up is making choices, and sometimes it means letting go (Photo courtesy: Canva)

A part of growing up is making choices and sometimes it means letting go of other possibilities. If you’re adventurous, easily bored, or just indecisive (looking at you, Libras), you will likely prefer doing a little bit of everything rather than specialising in one area. It’s ok to keep the door open and enjoy diverse experiences.

I once juggled multiple internships, extra-curricular activities, and studying courses at RMIT. Yes, I lost my mind, but I find the enlightening in the middle of chaos. Choosing a path doesn't mean missing out; indecision is what really holds you back.

This article is written by Thanh Trung Dong and Trang Luu, Bachelor of Business students at RMIT Vietnam, and does not reflect the views of RMIT University.

14 October 2024

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Hustle culture is so overrated