Dump 13: The Hustle Culture in Tech Dey Toxic

A Nigerian Pidgin Narrative..

Hey Bestie,

Let’s talk about hustle culture—the silent wahala wey don dey spread like suya smoke inside the tech industry. You sabi am. That “If you no dey work 80-hour weeks, you no serious” mentality. My people, e no make sense. E dey toxic, e no fit last, and honestly, e no dey necessary.

All of us don see those LinkedIn posts wey dey hype sleepless nights and 3 AM brainstorming with one kind Jollof-coffee combo. But make we talk truth: glorifying stress no be productivity. Na express road to burnout, vexation, and zero creativity—wetin tech suppose need pass.

Photo by Ashley Whitlatch on Unsplash

The Roots of Hustle Culture

Hustle culture na that belief say your value dey tied to how much you fit overwork yourself. For tech, this wahala don turn to “move fast and break yourself” instead of “move fast and break things.”

You go hear people for startups dey brag say “No days off,” like say na medal dem go give for who dey tire pass. But make we reason am: wetin be the real cost?

The Gbas Gbos of Hustle Culture

Here’s wetin hustle culture no dey talk about:

• Mental Health: Anxiety, depression, and burnout full everywhere for tech. To pretend say e no dey affect you no mean say you strong; e just mean say you dey ignore am.

• Productivity vs. Busyness: To dey busy no mean say you dey effective. Overwork go just make you dey make more mistakes.

• Innovation Stagnation: People wey don burn out no dey innovate; dem just dey survive. Creativity need rest and space to recharge.

My Personal Tori

I don fall victim to this hustle trap too. That time, I dey think say if I work harder, success go just dey pour like water. Instead, na stress I carry. I begin doubt every decision I make. E no better until I gree say I need balance. Na when I start to dey set boundaries, dey rest, and dey breathe well, I begin see better results.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Redefining Wetin Success Mean

Make we redefine wetin success suppose mean for tech. E no suppose be about who work pass or who sacrifice pass. Na impact, sustainability, and value without losing your health and happiness.

Imagine tech culture wey:

• Leaders go dey model balanced behavior, dey take time off without guilt.

• Work-life go dey balanced for real, no be just empty talk.

• Rest go dey celebrated as much as results.

We dey build the future, abi? No be better way we suppose dey build ourselves too?

My Challenge for You

Here’s my challenge: Make you stop to dey hype grind culture. Celebrate rest. Celebrate balance. If you be leader, create space wey your team go fit grow without burn out. If na you dey contribute, know say your value no dey tied to how much you suffer for the job.

Make we normalize better work without stress wahala.

How you see am? You don face this hustle culture pressure before? How you take manage am? Abeg, make we gist. I go like hear from you.

With Love💜

Precious (Chief Contributor)