Rushing Isn’t a Flex: Why Hustle Culture Had Me Mistaking Stress for Success
A few months ago, something strange happened.
I wasn’t working out, but my WHOOP bracelet kept logging my morning commute as a high-intensity activity. For context, WHOOP is a wearable that tracks your heart rate, sleep, and daily stress levels. It’s designed to help high performers understand how their body responds to strain.
At first, I laughed it off. But then I got curious. Why was my body responding like I was sprinting when I was just getting ready for work?
Here’s what I realized: I was rushing. Every. Single. Morning.
And not just physically. Mentally too.
My heart rate was spiking, not because of cardio but because of stress.
The pressure to perform, the fear of falling behind, and the constant narrative of “move faster to get ahead” were all adding up.
And hustle culture had trained me to believe this was normal.
But here’s the truth.
Rushing wasn’t making me better. It was making me scattered, distracted, and tense:
I was rushing through emails
Zoning out in meetings
Struggling to prioritize what truly mattered
I wasn’t fully present with others or myself. And none of that led to great results.
So I started experimenting with something different:
Slowing down to speed up.
I talk about this in my book Success Starts Within, the idea that real, sustainable performance comes from presence, not pressure.
When I slowed down, I got more done with less anxiety. I connected better. I made clearer decisions. And most importantly, I stopped spiking my stress for no reason other than the unrealistic pace I had unconsciously subscribed to.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re sprinting through life and still not catching up, you’re not alone. And it’s not your fault.
But you do have a choice. You can shift.
Want to try it? Here are 3 simple ways to start:
1. Audit Your Mornings
Notice how your day begins. Are you moving with intention, or are you already bracing for impact before your coffee is done? Start with one moment of stillness.
2. Schedule White Space
Give yourself 15 to 30 minutes a day with no agenda. No meetings. No output. Just clarity. This is where your best ideas often emerge.
3. Focus on One Thing
When you do less at once, you actually do more. Trade the hustle for focused attention, and watch your quality (and peace of mind) increase.
Final Thought
You don’t need to earn your rest by burning out first. You don’t need to rush to prove you’re worthy. You get to lead, live, and create from a grounded, intentional place.
And trust me, that’s where your real power lives.
Want more?
Download a free chapter of my book Success Starts Within to discover how to reclaim your energy and create success that actually feels good: Click here to download.
If you lead a team and want to reduce burnout and boost retention, I offer keynotes and workshops to help teams thrive, not just survive: Click here to learn more.
Chazz Scott | Resilience & Sustainable Performance Expert | Founder, Supra Mentem Consulting | Author of Success Starts Within
Creator of the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™ – Helping professionals and teams break free from burnout, boost retention, and build success that actually feels good.
