The 9 to 5 work life, or rather known as “hustle culture” has been prominent in our society for a while now. This workstyle was created around the 1800’s and went mainstream in the 1920s by Henry Ford. This way of living is starting to be questioned by younger generations due to people discovering there are other ways to live. The act of unlearning the ways of our society or its expectations can be difficult when this life is all you’ve known. However, leaving the “rat race” can be a liberating experience that gives you a sense of control over your reality. 

So why exactly are younger generations questioning this 9 to 5 lifestyle? According to a post made by the Boston Globe, Gen Z’s impression of working a traditional job is having a “mundane routine” that repeats the exact same every day. They view this as a very unfulfilling and dull lifestyle that doesn’t display the best assets that can be brought into a work environment. Gen Z’s statements also include that this traditional work life means sacrificing hobbies, compromising their physical and mental health, and submitting to lifelong monotony. This way of living just isn’t sustainable for many reasons; including how it deteriorates our mental health. In conclusion, this lifestyle is not for everyone and becoming aware of the “rat race” or the 9 to 5 we are expected to dedicate our lives to is the first step into living a life you truly want to live.