Hustle culture is back for good, if you take some overachievers’ word for it. The temporary pandemic slowdown, with its emphasis on well-being and flexible scheduling, seems like a fleeting mirage. These days, many startup workers are expected to pull “9-9-6” shifts (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 6 days a week), and managers brag about subsisting on four hours of sleep.
With sleep-under-your-desk culture now ascendant, more of us feel compelled to keep pace with people who move at one speed: full throttle.