Hustle Culture Fueling Guilt Around Rest – Psychologist

Organisational Psychologist, Osei Yaw Sarfo has attributed the growing sense of guilt people feel when resting to a combination of societal pressure, psychological traits and economic realities.

Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed FM, Mr. Sarfo explained that while the experience is personal, it is largely shaped by a culture that glorifies constant activity and equates busyness with success.

“I think it’s societal and psychological, but obviously there are individualistic reasons,” he stated.

According to him, society often celebrates movement and visible activity without necessarily assessing actual productivity or meaningful outcomes.

“There’s this hustle culture that glorifies movement. If you see someone going here and there, roaming about, you say, ‘You’re doing well.’ But we can’t equate movement to productivity,” he said.

Mr. Sarfo noted that a person can appear extremely busy yet achieve very little of substance. In contrast, he stressed that optimal performance is closely linked to adequate rest and recovery.

“We actually perform our best when we are well relaxed,” he emphasised.

Mr. Sarfo revealed that many high achievers struggle with being idle. For such individuals, pausing to rest can trigger feelings of anxiety or guilt, particularly when they are mentally preoccupied with unfinished tasks.

“For most high achievers, they can’t stand being idle or relaxed. The moment they pause, they start thinking about A, B, C and D that need to be done,” he explained.

He added that difficulty in delegating responsibilities can further compound the problem, as individuals feel personally responsible for handling every task.

Mr. Sarfo said economic pressures also play a significant role, stressing that financial obligations and family responsibilities often create a constant sense of urgency.

“You’ll be there and someone will call that there’s an emergency in the village and you need to send money. There are many things that keep running through your mind. Such pressures make rest feel like a luxury rather than a necessity,” he said.

However, he cautioned against viewing rest as indulgent or unproductive.

Mr. Sarfo explained that the day is ideally divided into three equal parts: eight hours for work, eight hours for other activities including leisure, and eight hours for sleep.

“If you want to perform at your optimal level, you need to sleep at least eight hours,” he advised.

Mr. Sarfo further stated that redefining societal attitudes toward rest and recognising its role in sustaining productivity will be crucial in addressing the guilt many people experience when they take time to pause.