Memo 002: The Grind Is a Lie

Unpstd – A weekly memo for men tired of the feed brought to you by OTW

SUBJECT: Hustle Culture Is Just Burnout With a Hoodie

There’s a reason you’re tired.
Not physically. Existentially.
It’s not your workload—it’s the narrative around your workload.

You’ve been fed a steady diet of “rise and grind,” “no days off,” and “sleep is for the weak” by dudes who apparently never sleep, eat, or spend time with their families—and yet somehow always have fresh haircuts, Lambos, and time to podcast about “levels.”

Let’s be clear:
Working hard isn’t the problem.
Worshipping work is.

(P.S. I love my sleep)

The Cult of Productivity

Social media has turned work into a performance.
If you’re not documenting it, it doesn’t even count.

You’re not just expected to succeed.
You’re supposed to look good doing it, post about it, hashtag it, and then circle back with a quote from Marcus Aurelius.

You’ve seen the content:

• “Woke up at 4:30am. Ice bath. Calls. Gym. Revenue.”

• “Here’s my 9-step productivity system to hit 7 figures in 3 months.”

• “If you’re watching Netflix, you’re already losing.”

It’s not advice.
It’s cosplay for men who treat burnout like a badge. Don’t be this guy.

Why This Culture Fails You

The hustle myth falls apart fast:

• It glorifies imbalance. Sleep, relationships, peace of mind—seen as luxuries, not essentials.

• It ignores privilege. Not everyone starts at zero. But hustle bros pretend it’s all grit and no luck.

• It burns through men. You grind until you break. Then what? Nobody’s clapping for the guy who implodes off-camera.

The result?
A generation of men constantly working but rarely building anything that feels real.

So What Should You Do?

Ambition is good. Goals are great. But here’s the memo: You don’t need to optimize every minute of your life.

Try this instead:

1. Protect your time like your money. Because time is money—except you can’t make more of it.

2. Pick one thing a day that actually matters. One task. Not ten. Finish it. That’s real productivity.

3. Log off before you melt down. Hustle culture tells you to “push through.” Life tells you to rest.

4. Work in silence. Not for the aesthetic. For your own damn peace.

The Actual Power Move

You don’t need to be a millionaire by 30.
You don’t need a six-pack and a SaaS company.
You need clarity. Boundaries. Discipline. Quiet wins.

You know what’s rare in 2025?
A man who works hard and goes home.
Who builds slow and lasts long.
Who doesn’t scream about it online.

Because here’s the truth:
The people really doing it?
They’re too busy to tell you how much they’re doing.

So take the hoodie off.
Get some sleep.
And get back to work when it actually matters.