SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Bryce D’souza
We are nearing the end of the eight month of the year 2023! Wow, that was quite a fast one. How have the months flown so quickly? And why do we feel we are still caught up in this never-ending spiral of unrealistic goals and ambitions?
All of this goes to point out how busy and dragged down our lives have become in recent times. With due attention given towards meeting endless targets and deadlines at our workplaces, we have no choice but to admit that we are caught up in this ‘hamster wheel’ of high expectations every time, everyday. It is no surprise that has shaped our relationships and interactions so much so that we have lost the true focus we need on our personal well being and the people around us.
More so, our corporate cultures at workplace have played a key part in galvanizing this spiral of high expectations and demands. As companies worldwide seek to strengthen their safeguards to navigate a looming recession predicted to happen in a few years, a lot of C-suite executives have sought short-term strategies to cut down on operational expenses and costs to maintain profitability and growth in the short-term.
While this helps strengthen a company’s cash-flow and financial position to survive and keep the attraction of investors going limitlessly, it has ended up creating toxic work-places and cut-throat environments that has had a detrimental impact on our lives. With families broken and relationships severed, a lot of damage has been created as a result of this ‘highly-focused targets’ lifestyle and a new form of society called ‘individualism’ has emerged that has disrupted our lives across industries in all frontiers.
The true definition of a ‘manager’ and a ‘associate’ has started to get blurred, as young professionals now assume high-pressure managerial roles at such young ages. Armed with MBA degrees from well-reputed universities, they now see themselves as key experts with the ability to take on new challenges and manage highly-motivated teams at their workplaces. While this is a positive development, showcasing the immense potential that this young generation has to transform the world for good, it downplays the power of experience, failures and learnings to lead a high-powered team across regions as a ‘manager’. The end result is that the young workforce suffers high amounts of stress and insomnia at a very young age which is detrimental to their overall health and well-being. The constant pressure to meet unrealistic expectations and the relentless pursuit of success has also led to this generation facing significant challenges in managing their mental and physical health. This alarming trend has not only affected their current quality of life but has also set the stage for potential long-term health complications.
This so-called ‘hustle culture’ has taken a huge toll on humanity, with numerous documented cases of the young generation ending their lives or suffering heart ailments and diseases which is very eye-opening.
In the midst of this struggle, we see a growing number of young individuals less loyal to their organisations. With time-spans ranging from 1 year, to not less than 2 or 3 years – many young talent seek purposeful or meaningful work that strongly aligns with core values and principles as loyalty now occupies a back-seat in an increasingly self-aware world.
This is a pretty alarming phenomenon that is a cause of concern. It goes to show how our realities have been shaped in the pursuit of selfish goals and interests at the behest of united society that takes away the happiness and the satisfaction we need and the desire to lead a fulfilling life. At the same time, it has also led many youngsters into isolation with many struggling with anxiety, burnout and a sense of emptiness.
The journey towards breaking free from the cycle of high expectations and burnout demands a collective effort. Prioritizing mental health, setting realistic goals, and learning to say ‘no’ are some of the small steps that the youth can take to lead the way for profound transformation. In addition, corporates need to play their part in fostering an environment that prioritizes employee well-being over relentless productivity.
As the world now speaks about the new four day work week, for boosting productivity and work-life balance, it is about time we stand up to break this never-ending spiral, before it is too late!
