Living to work: Is hustle culture healthy?

Do you live to work, or work to live? The World Happiness Report says that factors such as social support, economic security and work-life balance all contribute to life satisfaction and overall fulfillment. But checking all those boxes is easier said than done. Can we work hard toward our professional goals without sacrificing other parts of our lives?

Jennifer Moss, a speaker and strategist on work-life balance whose latest book tackles employee burnout, says it’s paramount for our happiness and health that we don’t overwork ourselves. She says that instead, we should focus on striking a balance in our lives. While she agrees that deriving fulfillment from work can be rewarding, she argues that hustle culture can be a slippery slope to burnout. Chris Guillebeau, author, entrepreneur and host of the podcast Side Hustle School, says that work-life balance is a conspiracy made up by corporations to monopolize our time and energy. Instead, he argues that to achieve happiness in the long term, people should work hard to pursue projects they really care about, even if it’s sometimes at the expense of other parts of our lives. Listen to these two experts debate the merits of hustle culture and explore the best ways to find happiness in and outside the workplace.

Doha Debates Podcast is a production of Doha Debates and FP Studios. This episode is hosted by Karen Given.