Why More People Are Quitting Hustle Culture for Slow Living
For years, hustle culture took over the world. We were told to rise and grind, chase the dream, and sacrifice rest for success. The 5AM alarms, the side hustles stacked on top of full-time jobs, the respect and glorification of being “booked and busy” — it was the norm. But in 2025, things are shifting dramatically.
People are burned out, tired of the constant push to do more and be more. And now, there’s a quiet but powerful defiance happening — it’s called slow living. And the numbers don’t lie.
To learn more about How to Embrace a Slow Living Lifestyle check out these 6 Simple Steps…
Stick around to see the surprising surge in interest around slow living and balance — and the eye-opening stats behind it.
But first, let’s rewind… how did we get here in the first place?
IN THIS ARTICLE
Rewind: The Rise of Hustle Culture
The hustle culture and obsession with money-making lifestyles really began to surge during the early 2000s, but its roots go back further. Here’s a short breakdown of its evolution:
1970s–1980s: The Foundation
- The concept of “success = money” was fueled by capitalism, corporate growth, and Wall Street culture.
- The “yuppie” (young urban professional) culture emerged — think suits, status, climbing the ladder, and working long hours.
- Movies like Wall Street (1987) popularized the “greed is good” mentality.
1990s–Early 2000s: Tech Boom and Rise of the Side Hustle
- With the rise of the internet and Silicon Valley, working long hours became normalized — even glamorized.
- Entrepreneurship and startup culture exploded.
- The idea of “working 80 hours now so you never have to work again” started to take hold.
2010–2019: Hustle Culture Hits Peak
- Social media amplified hustle culture — with influencers, YouTubers, and entrepreneurs documenting their 4AM routines, “no days off” mantras, and 6-figure grind stories.
- Books like #GIRLBOSS and The 4-Hour Workweek glamorized relentless productivity or passive income goals.
- The gig economy exploded: Uber, freelance platforms, dropshipping, and online businesses made it easy to monetize everything.
2020–2023: Burnout + Pandemic Wake-Up Call
- The COVID-19 pandemic paused the world and forced a collective reevaluation.
- Many people began to question the value of constant work, especially when facing health scares, loss, and isolation.
- Keywords like “burnout,” “mental health,” “slow living,” and “intentional living” started trending.
2024–Now: The Shift Toward Balance
- As of 2024 and 2025, we’re seeing a major cultural shift away from hustle and toward soft life, mental wellness, and balanced success.
- People still want money and freedom — but not at the expense of their wellbeing.
So in short:
Hustle culture has been building for over 40 years, hitting a cultural high in the 2010s, and now it’s finally being challenged and reshaped in favour of healthier, more sustainable ways to live and work.
The Rise of Slow Living in a Hustle-Obsessed World
Search interest in slow living has skyrocketed in the past year. According to Google Trends data, “slow living” searches grew by over 250% globally in 2024, and the trend is holding strong into 2025. Google Trends
And it’s not just a buzzword — it’s turning into a true lifestyle shift.
Slow living prioritizes presence, mindfulness, meaningful work, and a softer approach to success. It’s about savouring the small things: a slow morning, a quiet cup of coffee, a job that respects your time.
According to Market Realist:
- 63% of Americans now prefer work-life balance over higher pay.
- 72% define success through what they call “soft-life culture” — focusing on happiness, health, and fulfillment instead of money or status.
- 54% believe hustle culture has a negative impact on mental and physical wellbeing.
Even in Canada, a recent Benefits Canada survey found that:
- 84% of Canadian job seekers value work-life balance over climbing the corporate ladder.
Gen Z and Millennials Are Leading the Charge
This isn’t just a midlife realization. The younger generations are driving this change.
A News Minimalist report found that:
- 76% of Gen Z workers now prioritize work-life balance over salary — a massive shift from previous generations’ “get rich or die trying” mentality.
Globally, a The Edge Malaysia survey confirmed this trend, showing:
- 70% of employees around the world choose work-life balance over money when looking for a new job.
But What About Financial Goals and Making Money?
Here’s the interesting part: people still want financial freedom — they’re just rethinking how to get there.
According to The Sun:
- 79% of side hustlers aspire to become their own boss.
- But their primary goal isn’t hustling 24/7 — it’s freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment.
So, while the hustle mentality hasn’t disappeared entirely, its meaning has evolved. Success isn’t measured by burnout anymore. It’s measured by balance.
What This Means for You
If you’ve been feeling tired, overwhelmed, or like you’re falling behind because you can’t keep up with hustle culture — you’re not alone. The world is changing, and more people are choosing intentional living over nonstop productivity.
Slow living doesn’t mean giving up on goals. It means designing a life that works for you — not one that burns you out.
Whether you wake up at 5AM or 8AM, whether you run your own business or work a 9-5, you get to define your success.
cover photo: Norbert Braun and Joey Han on Unsplash