Soshals Founder Kritarth Mittal’s Hospitalisation Highlights The Perils Of Hustle Culture

The 25-year-old founder of Soshals app recently had a health issue that resulted in his hospitalisation. Kritarth Mittal admitted that he was often operating at less than five hours a day of sleep, working nights and doing all sorts of unhealthy things, which led to his hospitalisation. The Mumbai-based entrepreneur reported that he woke up with “a real bad headache and experienced recurrent vomiting.” He shared the ugly side of “hustle culture” and told his followers on social media to take better care of their health.

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, hustle culture—the idea that mental wellness and unhealthy behaviours are inevitable byproducts of hard work—came under increased scrutiny. When it comes to incorporating that newly acquired knowledge into their organisational cultures, some corporate executives are still leading by example.

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is frequently hailed as the epitome of hustle culture. Musk disclosed to The New York Times in an open interview the toll that working too much has had on his mental and physical health. He acknowledged that he worked 120-hour work weeks and that he relied on Ambien for sleep, which he called a “not wise” habit.

Bea Dixon, the founder of HoneyPot, claimed that her online feminine hygiene store has an “anti-hustle” mentality. The firm employs over seventy people, and large shops like Walmart and Target sell its items. According to Work Life, she said that her early professional experiences have influenced her present leadership style. She also feels that the key to preventing hustling culture attitudes and eradicating burnout is to lead with empathy and cultivate more collaborative workplaces.

The co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, has also made a strong case against hustle culture. He made a few remarks regarding the connection between hustling culture and burnout, and urged entrepreneurs to put their health first. Ohanian remarked in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the so-called “hustle porn” that circulates online feeds an unhealthy posturing culture in the tech sector.

What is hustle culture?

The narrative around hustle culture perpetuates the notion that there is always something more to aim for, greater wealth to amass, a more prestigious position to obtain and an even higher bar to reach.

However, if you’ve spent any amount of time on social media, you’ve probably observed the emergence of “the soft life”. It is a carefree, simple way of living that prioritises calmness and ease over hustle culture and stress.

The Nigerian influencer community is where the term “soft life” first appeared, and it has since grown around the world, mostly because of social media. This movement prioritises comfort, leisure and putting one’s own wellness ahead of societal norms and constant work.