Saying Goodbye to Grind Culture in the Family
Promoting empowerment for our children
“The road to success is always under construction, you’re always going to continue to develop and grow.”
LILY TOMLIN
Are you someone who:
Has continuous deadlines?
Overloads yourself with as many tasks as possible?
Feels that you are always in a rush?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be participating in Grind Culture. Perhaps the non-stop hustle makes you feel accomplished in your professional life, but you feel that you are lacking in other important areas of your life. Many people might believe that working long hours and pushing themselves to the limit will lead to success and recognition.
You are not alone in these feelings, however, it's important to recognize that this mindset can come at the expense of other aspects of life, such as family, relationships, and personal well-being. Finding a balance is key to leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. In this blog post, we are here to break grind culture down for you, and offer a new and helpful perspective.
What is Grind Culture?
The relentless pursuit of success, or a recipe for burnout?
When thinking of grind culture we think of always being on-the-go, and always working towards the next thing. Grind culture is in fact the belief that people must work hard and be productive in order to prove worth. This can be seen as long hours of work, not allowing yourself time to rest and reset, and putting your health and mental health on the back burner.
Grind culture can create an unhealthy balance between our work and our personal lives. Ultimately, having the idea that our careers take priority over other areas of our lives. When we as parents are in the grind culture mindset we are also unintentionally influencing our children who are witnessing these behaviours.
Mind over matter?
Addressing the mental health implications of “the grind”:
ANXIETY
The grind culture encourages an all or nothing mindset, which can lead to stress and anxiety when it comes to meeting professional goals. Due to the constant pressure of performance, it can lead an individual into a negative cycle of worry and fear about their future.
GUILT
Due to an individual prioritizing one aspect more than another, one might feel guilty spending time doing anything else or even relaxing. With that being said, relaxing for someone who is in the grind mindset, may feel lazy and unproductive.
RISK OF ILLNESS
Working too hard, and always being on the go, can lead to physical exhaustion, which can increase one's likelihood of developing psychological distress, and increase risk of other illnesses. Long work weeks, lack of sleep, poor diet choices, and increased stress can negatively impact the immune system, and potentially impact our cardiovascular health.
WORK-LIFE IMBALANCE
Due to the inability to maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal lives, grind culture can impact our ability to check in with ourselves and reflect on what we may need. In particular, this imbalance can leave little room for self-care and stress management techniques that can be essential for maintaining our mental health.
“In a world that is inundated with distractions, busy-ness, and addiction to hustling, there is merit in taking a step back and looking at the big picture.”
It’s Time for a Mindset Makeover!
Let’s escape the grind culture mindset and find fulfillment on our terms. Here’s some ideas to break free:
SET BOUNDARIES
Check in with yourself, and recognize what you can handle
Keep work at work, learn to say no more often, and set limits on additional work or commitments
Practice good social media hygiene and create designated times to for disconnecting
TAKE BREAKS
Schedule breaks throughout the day where you:
physically step away
go for a walk
read a book
practice deep breathing exercises
listen to music; or
do something you enjoy
PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE
Try and incorporate at least one activity once a day that is solely dedicated to taking care of yourself, such as:
journaling or meditation
walking or exercising
trying out a new recipe
spending time in nature
engaging in a creative pursuit like pottery
practicing yoga or stretching
skin care; or
spending time with supportive friends and family
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Try and focus on what went well in a situation or throughout the day
Celebrate the small as well as the big accomplishments
Focus on doing what works best for you
Allow yourself to just “be”
Grind culture robs children of their childhood
How excessive emphasis on productivity and achievement, leaves little time for play, imagination, and carefree moments.
By our children witnessing the importance we place on always being on the go, it can negatively impact how they interpret the world, and what is important to them. In particular, if we are in the grind culture mindset, we may put pressure on our children to attain perfect grades, participate in extracurricular activities, be active, be social and begin thinking about their future. When putting pressure on our children regarding these areas, it minimizes their ability to explore who they are, what their interests are and dreaming about who they want to be. Instilling these values surrounding grind culture can create unhealthy habits and can negatively impact their health and mental health.
Instead of subscribing to grind culture, we can prioritize a healthy work-life balance for children. Encourage them to pursue their passions and interests, but also emphasize the importance of rest, relaxation, and play. Promote self-care and teach them the value of taking breaks and managing their time effectively. Encourage a supportive environment where mistakes and failures are seen as learning opportunities rather than sources of shame. Foster a well-rounded childhood by encouraging a variety of activities, including creative pursuits, physical exercise, and social interactions.
Ultimately, it's about finding a balance that allows children to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially while still enjoying their childhood.
As parents and role models for children and youth, here’s what we can do…
Remember, it starts with us.
Recognize the signs: It is important as parents to make sure we are observant of our children's behaviours, and recognize any unhealthy patterns that they may be exhibiting. Some can include excessive self-criticism, fear of failure, difficulty handling criticism, procrastination, or low self-esteem.
Encourage a growth mindset: Help your children learn that failure and mistakes are a normal part of the process of becoming successful. In fact, encourage them to reflect on those mistakes and lessons that were potentially learnt.
Teach self-compassion: Encourage your children to talk to themselves the way that they would talk to a good friend. Allow them to understand that it is okay to make mistakes, and the importance of being kind to ourselves in the moment of hard times.
Provide perspective: Remind your child of the reality of their choices and the importance of health and balance. Allow them a space to vent, and reflect on different perspectives.
Model healthy behaviours: It is important that we are considering the behaviours we are modeling for our children. In particular, allowing them to see healthy boundaries between our professional and personal lives, and the importance of making time for fun and relaxation.
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