In this insightful piece, guest contributor Amira Ibrahim Alfa examines how hustle culture affects Nigerian women and how they can safeguard their health and achieve balance.
It is barely 5 a.m. in Lagos, and the city is already awake. Generators hum, danfos honk, and commuters rush out to beat the traffic. In Nigeria, hustle is not just culture; it is survival. Many women finish a long day at the office, log on to an online business at night, manage weekend catering or fashion gigs, and still carry the weight of childcare and household duties. On social media, it looks glamorous: #NoDaysOff, #GrindTillWeShine, #GirlBoss, #EntrepreneurLife. But behind the hashtags, hustle culture is slowly eroding women’s health, peace of mind, and sense of self.
The psychological pull and hidden costs of hustle culture
The reason hustle culture feels so irresistible is partly psychological. From childhood, women are taught that a “serious woman” must be hardworking, ambitious, and resilient. In an economy where opportunities are scarce, this pressure intensifies, often creating the belief that rest is laziness. Social media only reinforces the cycle, with endless stories of women “doing it all” by starting businesses, climbing careers, raising children, and looking flawless. Hustle begins to feel not just necessary but noble.
Yet the costs are real. Psychologists who study burnout describe it as a mix of exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of reduced accomplishment. These outcomes are fuelled by cultures that glorify overwork. Constant stress also floods the body with cortisol, the main stress hormone. In small bursts, cortisol sharpens focus, but when levels remain high for too long, it creates what scientists call “allostatic load,” the slow wear and tear on the body. This is why so many women in the grind find themselves forgetful, irritable, or unable to think clearly.
Stress also disrupts sleep. Sleep researchers reveal that when we cut back on rest, we lose the ability to concentrate, regulate emotions, and make good decisions. Appetite hormones go haywire, leading to cravings for sugar and fried foods. Over time, this pattern fuels weight gain, fatigue, and low mood. The cardiovascular risks are even more alarming. Prolonged stress keeps blood pressure elevated. In a country where awareness of hypertension is already low, women become more vulnerable to stroke, heart disease, and kidney problems. Chronic stress also weakens the immune system, leaving the body more susceptible to illness. Hustle, then, becomes less a path to success and more a silent attack on well-being.
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For Nigerian women, the burden is doubled. Beyond their careers and hustles, they manage homes, care for children, and often support extended family. Studies on work–family conflict show that women who are constantly balancing competing roles experience higher levels of anxiety and lower well-being. Society praises the woman who never stops moving, but what is often labelled “strength” is sometimes just exhaustion dressed up as resilience.
The path to finding the right work-life balance
The truth is that rest is not a luxury; it is medicine. Neuroscientists confirm that breaks improve memory, creativity, and decision-making. Recovery researchers also reveal that small moments of relaxation and joy — whether an evening walk, chatting with friends, or simply unplugging — are essential to long-term health and productivity. Some of history’s greatest ideas did not emerge from endless grind but from moments of stillness. Hustle may secure income, but it cannot substitute for balance.
What does balance look like? It starts with small, practical steps. Delegation is key: you do not have to do everything alone. Share chores with family, let colleagues take on tasks, or, if possible, hire help. Learn to prioritise what truly matters and accept that not every item on your list deserves equal attention. Sometimes “good enough” is healthier than perfect. Make sleep a non-negotiable, because a rested mind performs better than an exhausted one. And most importantly, build in self-care without guilt.
Furthermore, depending on your income, treat yourself to simple joys such as a walk in the evening, your favourite meal after a stressful week, a pedicure, or a facial. Self-care does not have to be extravagant. It is about honouring yourself and giving your body and mind permission to breathe. This shift also requires redefining productivity. Instead of asking, “Did I do enough today?” try asking, “Did I do what really mattered today?” The difference is powerful. Productivity without purpose is simply burnout in disguise.
Hustle has its place. It helps us build, dream, and provide. But the goal is not to chase perfection while slowly digging our own graves. It is not about proving who can endure the most exhaustion. It is about working smart, protecting health, and remembering that we are more than our grind. Success means little if it costs peace, memory, body, or joy. At the end of the day, the real achievement is not just surviving hustle culture, but thriving beyond it, alive, well, and whole.
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