Hustle Culture: The Hidden Costs of Not Resting as a PM
We’ve just wrapped up the 2025 Women of Project Management Conference, and this year’s theme; Dream Louder, hit different. It wasn’t just about chasing big ambitions; it reminded us of the hidden costs of participating in hustle culture.
It was also about honoring the stillness, the peace, and the rest that fuel those dreams. The opening session set the tone with a gorgeous fireside chat between founder Asya Watkins and somatic practitioner Michelle Kemp.
Beyond Knowing: The Journey from Mental Analysis to Somatic Integration — Home + Vessel
They led us through an intentional pause; acknowledging our presence, our bodies, our breath, and all the beauty we so often speed past. One moment that really stuck with me was when Michelle told us to feel the embrace of the earth beneath our feet.
It hit me like, wow, we have so much to be grateful for, and it’s perfectly okay to stop, take the time we need to rest, and just be.
Asya Watkins and Michelle Kemp, 2025 Women of Project Management Conference
Intentional Rest and Laziness Are Two Very Different Things
Here’s the thing: you can make rest part of your plan without losing your edge. Because let’s be real, some of us women just love to “girl boss” and don’t feel complete without aggressively chasing our dreams. But being a high-performing professional doesn’t mean you never slow down; it means you do what it takes to show up at your best. That looks like:
Staying up to date on industry trends so you’re always sharp
Planning ahead to give yourself breathing room
Connecting with colleagues to build relationships and grow
Prioritizing personal and mental well-being to avoid burnout - RETREAT — Women Of Project Management
Building a schedule that honors both work and rest
When you embrace mindfulness and make rest part of your strategy, you give yourself the capacity to excel without running on empty.
And just to be clear… laziness is checking out; rest is recharging. One drains you; the other powers you up to keep going.
What Is Hustle Culture?
Hustle culture is that whole “sleep when you’re dead” mentality hyped up by social media and entrepreneurial gurus like Gary Vee. It romanticizes the grind; longer hours, skipped meals, working weekends as if pushing yourself to exhaustion is the only way to level up or stay relevant.
Between perfectly curated feeds and viral boss-babe quotes, it’s easy to feel like you have to do more just to keep up. I’ll explain below why that mindset is a trap.
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The Hidden Costs of Hustle Culture
Resentment & Recognition Gaps – You’re working overtime, carrying the weight, and making sacrifices that nobody seems to notice, only to realize the spotlight is somewhere else. That breeds bitterness and resentment.
Burnout – Chronic exhaustion, cynicism, foggy thinking. It’s more than feeling tired, it’s emotional depletion combined with craving distance and struggling to focus.
Strained Relationships – Missed date nights, forgotten game nights, the little moments that become scars over time. Hustle scars your personal ROI.
Well‑Being Decline – Overworking isn’t just stressful, it’s deadly. In 2016, people logging 55+ hours a week contributed to roughly 745,000 deaths globally from stroke and heart disease. It’s a serious public health issue masked by hustle culture and the idea that pushing harder is always better.
How This Hits Project Managers the Hardest
Project managers already juggle tight deadlines, unpredictable risks, and constant stakeholder expectations; so the pressure to live up to hustle culture often feels baked into the job.
But when pushing past your limits becomes the norm, all those skills that make you great like sharp decision making, clear communication, and creative problem solving take a hit. Burnout doesn’t just sap your energy; it compromises the very capabilities you need most.
The reality is that high performance and well being are not at odds; they depend on each other. Prioritizing rest and protecting your peace is not optional; it is the most practical way to stay at the top of your game.
Give yourself permission to pause, reset, and recharge. Trust me, your future self and your team will thank you. And if you are looking for the perfect reset, check out the next wellness retreat held at Chateau Elan; it’s a beautiful way to hit pause and come back even stronger. Learn more —> Rested Retreat
By, Airess Rembert, PMP, Member of Women Of Project Management & Blogger at The Nerd Bae
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