How Hustle Culture Ruined My Early 20s

[@Ross-ve9ww]

By hustle culture standards I don’t work hard and I would be considered extremely lazy by probably every influencer and entrepreneur because I work Monday-Friday 9-5, I don’t work on weekends, I never get up any earlier than 8am. I only work out 3 days a week, not 7. On my days off i often sleep in until about 10:30am. I dont read books. I never sit up to 2am working on projects. I don’t do a lot after a day at work most evenings. I don’t have 65 commitments and responsibilities going on. I often go out partying on Saturday nights. I’m not super crazy passionate about the job I do (I like it but I don’t love it) There are other things that give me more fulfilment like the people I spend time with, travelling, running. But the thing is it works for me! Because I’m still doing well as a person. I’m still growing as a person without waring myself out.

[@quynhanh8870]

I'm going into my early 20s feeling a little disoriented. I have been watching loads of video on this subject and it seems like I can relate to yours the most. Thanks for the great content you are putting out there ❤

[@Poppomatic64]

I just turned 26 and I think I’m gonna start, thanks man. You’ve given me motivation

[@FloridaMan-ie6yk]

You are very wise. So many people have thrown away the prime years of their life stressing about "success". Go have fun!!

[@dtrizzle67]

Dumbest advice you can give someone

[@hucklebucklin]

I really enjoyed this Jac! I'm a year older than you but I can really relate to what you are saying. I found that I only really got into my momentum career wise at 25, I got into the specialism I actually studied in college. I wish I could tell my younger self to take a risk and get the hell out of HR sooner. So to anyone younger than me, run from a job that isn't for you, you WILL find something better, but you can't get back the time in an specialism you hate (and Jac talked about this sort of thing in his Masters video as well)!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Glad you enjoyed it! I think your 20s is just constantly learning and working things out

[@Poppomatic64]

Hey man, I’m in HR too, and feeling the same way kinda. Can you elaborate on your situation more? How are you doing now?

[@kevinstoneham1245]

I agree on the fun aspect. Looking back, on my early to mid twenties, I didn’t really have enough fun. I was doing my degree, doing karate, doing sport generally, but it was all so serious. I also embarked on producing music and again it was all about being driven. Funnily enough it wasn’t until I joined the Civil Service at about 27 that I started to let go and have a bit of fun. I was part of a team on a major tender and suddenly I was with a group of people that were going out after work and having a good time. This was a bit of a coming of age for me where I started to free up mentally.

[@Window4503]

“I’m still in my 20s.” Honestly, that’s a relief. Looking back a decade later having only realized the truth then would be more tragic.

[@rwdchannel2901]

I joined the US Army when I was 18 years-old and got out when I was 20 years-old. When I was 20 years-old I went to community college and got an Associate Degree. I transferred to the University of California Santa Barbara(UCSB) when I was 22 years-old. I went to UCSB and partied in Isla Vista for 2 years. I'm thankful I did because I left college in 2005 and life was pretty crappy from 2006-2016 because of the financial crash and working low wage jobs. Those few years in my early 20's I spent at UCSB were some of the most important in my life.

[@JustLukeMorgan]

Absolutely agree. The idea is perpetuated that you need to achieve success and you need to achieve it now, which is so wrong! There's a LONG way to go and I'm enjoying the ride. Great video.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

I struggle with this every day! Working on getting better though - thanks Luke :)

[@yoursunshine12]

I can really relate on the "having fun" one, especially after two years of constantly working while being in and out of lockdowns, i feel like I lost so many good nights that now I have the compulsive urge to make up for that and "schedule" fun nigths out. When they don´t turn out as fun as I thought I get really really disappointed and feel really stressed about having wasted sleep on a night out that wasn´t even really good. I think it all comes down to the fact, that as you said, you can´t plan fun, and it´s especially hard to have fun when you´re trying too hard to have fun and can´t really let go right- it feels like a vicious circle to me. Anyway, thanks for the video I really enjoyed it and it encouraged me to try to be in the moment more as opposed to always thinking about the future and jobs etc. (also totally felt the part about being too serious in your 20s). Thanks for the video! :)

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

I'm glad you found the video encouraging. I'm still trying to take my own advice on this one haha :)

[@Carell117]

Hi Jac, I wish I'd seen this video when I was 20, but we're the same age (I think we both started at Cardiff Uni in 2013) so no dice! I had that exact same idea of "i'll fix my brain later" and inevitably it all came crashing down around me. I lost about 4 years of "progress" until I re-enrolled in uni in 2017. That was tough at first but eventually, I realised that it literally doesn't matter if my friends are a bit further along career wise. I'm doing stuff right this time around (just finished my masters and have a Fast Stream assessment centre on Monday thanks to your video series). I'm confident that my priorities are in the right place now. I like to think of it as getting my midlife crisis out of the way early XD. Anyway, cheers for the content!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

That's awesome mate - congrats. My mindset has shifted too over the last few months. I'm no longer trying to think of age and comparing it with others, instead just focusing on me. I hope the FS assessment goes well - let me know how it goes. Take care, Jac.

[@JFreez]

Great video. I loved the part about dealing with your mental health now. I thought if I chased success and got all of the things that came along with that my mental health would be strong as ever. Not the case. You are always experiencing life in this moment. So If you don’t enjoy it now you probably won’t later.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Love it! Fun to look back on this video now - feeling great :)

[@virginiavalland5622]

My god I'm currently 21 and everything that you've said describes me perfectly, it's scary. It also confirms what I was already feeling lately, but without admitting it to myself. I guess I should probably work on this before I burn myself out, but it's soooo hard

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

If it's any help, I've now accepted the fact that I'm just always going to be working hard - which I'm fine with. Just remember you have a lot of time to do the things you want to do.

[@MaraLatorre]

I really love your channel. As a 33 year old, so much of what youve said rings true.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Wow, thank you

[@alishaaban3951]

I'm still 22 but yeah i can relate to every detail in this video Thanks Jac ❤

[@adamboots1]

I’m 36 and had too much fun in my 20’s after some moderate to moderate to low success in the music industry. Even some mistakes have given me transferable skills though and after struggling through some other “normal” jobs I’m now a Careers Adviser. The skills you’ve learnt give you a more security. You’ve had had less wild nights out than me but your still very young. Just don’t go too far when making up for lost time, (I’ve seen a couple people get excessive making up for lost time) Whoever you are, it’s all about balance, have fun while you’re young, but not too much or you’ll have to spend about double the time repairing the damage…

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

thanks for the advice! Yeah, since I made this video I'm still struggling with the fun aspect haha. Really useful advice for anyone reading the comments, thanks again :)

[@adamboots1]

@@JacWilliamsVideo thanks Jac, now go outside and have some fun!!! Unless you’ve got a tune to finish ;)

[@anahavana931]

Thank you for making this video Jac! I was checking out your channel bcs Im trying to decide between a civil service job and private sector one for my first job and feeling extra anxious and lost in my early 20s. It's funny how people don't talk about these things but the mental health advice is one I'm going to take seriously because it's already going down the drain with the pandemic etc 😭😭

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful. Yes try not to sweat your first job too much. You can always switch :)

[@anahavana931]

@@JacWilliamsVideo Aw thanks for your response! Just wanted to add that I've been super stressing about tech vs public service but I've seen you do a bit of both so that's been super encouraging. Thanks a lot for sharing so much advice in your videos!! All the best 😊

[@JamieTaylorish]

Thank you for sharing this, Jac! It is really refreshing and a big relief to listen to your experiences as someone in my age bracket. I definitely see a lot of my own thoughts/feelings/questions in what you’ve shared today! Prioritising my mental health and finding the fun in life has been something I’ve lost at times but after the experience we’ve all had recently, these have to be a priority for me personally! Alongside “enjoying the journey” as you noted too - one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in my 20s is focusing on the end goal rather than steps to getting there which I hope to change in the second half of this decade!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

It’s cool that you can also relate Jamie. Definitely agree that the pandemic has made fun and mental health a priority for me too. Take care

[@HealthyWealthy808]

27 and can relate to this. Life is a strange one. There no rule book so I guess we just do what we believe is best at the time. Hope you’re well :)

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Exactly! I'm good thank you - hopefully the same with you :)

[@gintautezidonyte769]

Thank you for a great video Jac, would be awesome if you would share more how you overcame social anxiety.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

I’m going to make a video about that soon :)

[@paolocruz7917]

i'm turning 28 but and it's been tough for me mentally and financially for the past years. i feel that my life is now over since all of my peers seems to have my life together while i am still trying to pick myself together. I always feel the guilt and shame of just living my life and not doing more and have a motivation to be successful and i envy those who know what they want.

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

28 is so young man. Life is just starting. I highly recommend you start working out/exercising every day if you don't already - game changer.

[@senju31]

Watching this at 26 and I cant believe Im 26

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

We got time mate

[@JohnSmith-rw2yn]

Just turned 33. Hand on heart. Pished 20-24 up the wall. Then 24-27 I was impatient, angry, bitter in a way. Soon as I turned 30 and relaxed, boom, back to back promo's and at 33 I've just missed out on a promo but I'm like, ah well always next time!

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

Sounds like you're smashing it now :)

[@SuccessMindset2180]

1. 0:05 Toxic hustle culture should be destroyed; rushing and irrationality are the opposite of success and balance 2. 2:03 Internet is not the root cause of hustle culture; gratitude and responding wisely help in 20s and in life in general 3. 4:02 We should earlier in life to balance work and happiness; rest and work in balance help when having fun and working

[@nishath6310]

Going into my final year of my law degree. Turns out I don’t want to go into it 😅. Civil service role sounds good to me, but very daunting…

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

You got this!

[@gloriahersan6163]

Cuántos dentistas así? 💔💔💔💔💔

[@JoshLeal1995]

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Harry Kane?

[@JacWilliamsVideo]

No, that's a new one to be fair. I usually get an actor called Edward Norton (never heard of him)