Dismantling Toxic Grind Culture
The Olympics are something I enjoy watching every 4 years. My mom and I specifically love watching track and field, swimming, and women’s gymnastics. So, it comes as no surprise that we, like many Americans, were looking forward to seeing Simone Biles (the G.O.A.T.) bring her #BlackGirlMagic to every single 2020 Olympic gymnastics event. When we simultaneously got the NY Times alert that Simone pulled out of the Team Finals, my mom immediately called me. Was she ok? What happened? I personally (and selfishly) wanted answers. Once the news broke that Simone pulled out of the competition in efforts to prioritize her mental health. I immediately got it. I cannot imagine the immense pressure of competing at the highest level on the world’s stage, especially while not being in the right headspace.
But we as people (women especially) often attempt to do just that, perform under immense pressure (though not the world’s stage), while not being our best self. Whether it be tending to the needs of our families, working on huge projects on expedited timelines, or striving to “prove”/establish ourselves in our workplace, women often find themselves working under pressure, be it is self-imposed or imposed by others. The pressure is often a byproduct of toxic “Grind Culture.”
So, what is Grind Culture? It is the notion that one must always be “on and available.” It glamorizes accessibility and working hard, but in an unhealthy way. It frowns upon saying “no,'' setting healthy boundaries, and taking time off. Grind culture promotes the idea that there is always more to do, and you are only “as good” as your latest accomplishment or task mastered. Most importantly, it values the work more than the person doing the work. (Note: this is my definition. Grind Culture like many things may be viewed and characterized differently by others. Further, while Grind Culture can certainly include all of these things, my definition is not all inclusive.)
Simply put, Grind Culture will leave you burned out and can make you sick. It is not sustainable nor healthy, which is precisely why it must be dismantled. While previous generations of women (and people in general) may be entrenched in Grind Culture, the younger generations are choosing to work and live differently. Like Simone, we have the ability to prioritize our own well-being above work. We are learning to listen to our bodies both physically and mentally. We recognize that even though we are ambitious and dedicated to our work, we are also humans who have limits, deserve grace, and need rest.
So, how do you dismantle toxic Grind Culture? One small decision at a time. Each day will present new challenges, so you must be intentional about how you show up in the workplace.
Here are a few suggestions:
Establish core values for how you want to integrate your work and life, and abide by those.
Create and follow a routine that regularly incorporates things that bring you joy and allow you to rest.
Advocate for yourself by communicating your bandwidth, setting reasonable timelines for your work product, delegating appropriately, taking breaks, and yes, having fun.
The overarching goal and result are a better quality of living. In our multigenerational, diverse workplaces everyone may not understand or respect the way you choose to work, and that is perfectly fine. A lot of people did not understand how the “twisties” affected Simone’s Olympic performance either. The important thing is that you purposely work in a manner that is best for you, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I am grateful to Simone for the audacious illustration of self-care in big moments. Let it serve as a reminder for us all that you are never too busy or under too much pressure to take care of yourself.