Hustle Culture Is Making Us Gain Weight (And It’s Costing Us More Than We Think)

This morning I spent hours outside shoveling snow after one of the biggest snowfalls we’ve had all year here in Buck Lake. There’s something about physical work in the cold, surrounded by quiet, that leaves space to think.

Over the past few months — especially since stepping away from social media — I’ve had more time to reflect. On my clients. On my own health journey. On patterns I’ve seen again and again.

And one thing feels very clear:

We are exhausted.

And it’s showing up in our bodies.

The Go-Go-Go Lifestyle

Our alarm blasts us out of bed.

Feet hit the floor.

Coffee becomes jet fuel.

We rush through the morning — often skipping breakfast or grabbing something quick and processed — and head straight into a day powered by cortisol.

Work.

Kids.

Sports.

Gym.

Errands.

Social obligations.

Life is full. And when we finally sit down at night, what do we do?

We reach for a screen.

Scrolling short-form videos feels like relief. It feels like a break. But research shows that even 10 minutes of short-form content can reduce cognitive performance afterward. Our brains don’t actually register it as restorative.

It feels good because it’s easy dopamine.

But it’s not rest. And that’s the problem.

A Stressed-Out Body Can’t Thrive

This isn’t about guilt or shame. It’s about awareness.

When we move through our days in a constant stress response — from eyes open to eyes closed — our nervous system never truly resets.

And when the nervous system is dysregulated:

• Hunger cues become distorted

• Cravings increase

• Fat storage becomes easier

• Digestion slows

• Sleep suffers

• Emotional resilience decreases

  
  

Then we wonder why weight loss feels impossible.

Why we’re always tired.

Why we feel inflamed, puffy, anxious, or disconnected from our bodies.

I see it in clients all the time.

When I suggest slowing down — mindful meals, quiet walks, breathing space — it can feel like punishment. Sitting quietly through a meal without a screen feels uncomfortable.

That discomfort is information.

It tells us how far removed we’ve become from stillness.

We Are Not Wired for This

We glorify busy.

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

“I thrive under pressure.”

“I just can’t sit still.”

But humans are cyclical. Like nature, we are meant to flow through seasons of productivity and seasons of restoration.

Nature has winter.

It has hibernation.

It has dormancy.

We are meant to experience boredom. Quiet. Physical tiredness from meaningful work — not just mental exhaustion from stress.

We are meant to:

• Feel dirt under our nails

• Be physically tired at the end of the day

• Connect face-to-face

• See real facial expressions

• Hug heart-to-heart

• Share meals without distraction

  
  

Not just send memes.

Not just watch “day in the life” videos.

True connection regulates us. Screens stimulate us.

There’s a difference.

Hustle Culture Is Pulling Us Away from Our Body Wisdom

In my book Body Wisdom: How to Stop the Cycle of Dieting, Fall in Love with Your Body, and Find Your Healthy Set Point, I talk about tuning into your body’s inner guidance system.

But hustle culture makes that nearly impossible.

When we are constantly overstimulated, we can’t hear our inner cues. We lose touch with hunger, fullness, fatigue, stress signals, intuition. We outsource our worth to productivity. We measure value by how busy we are. And the cost is our health.

What If We Stopped Glorifying Busy?

You don’t have to quit your life tomorrow. We’re in too deep for that.

But we can start shifting the narrative.

When someone asks what you did this weekend, what if you said:

“I rested.”

And meant it.

What if we stopped validating ourselves based on how much we got done?

What if we started celebrating the people who:

• Say no

• Leave dishes in the sink to sit down and breathe

• Don’t check their phone during a visit

• Protect their peace without apology

  
  

Instead of idolizing the perfectly dressed, perfectly scheduled, always-on-the-go version of “success.”

If that lifestyle brings someone joy, wonderful.

But if it doesn’t bring you joy — forcing yourself into it won’t fix your body or your life.

Regulate First. Weight Loss Follows.

When we regulate the nervous system:

• Cravings stabilize

• Digestion improves

• Sleep deepens

• Hormones balance

• Fat loss becomes easier

• Mental health improves

  
  

For me personally, slowing down has made the single biggest impact on my health, happiness, and overall body composition.

Not another diet.

Not another extreme protocol.

Not more hustle.

Less.

If you want deeper guidance on reconnecting to your body’s natural wisdom, you can find my book Body Wisdom on Amazon or as an e-book through FriesenPress. https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000415503488/Lisa-Glazebrook-Body-Wisdom

And if you’re ready to make a change but don’t want to do it alone, I offer both in-person and online coaching through Simply Thrive. 

More than anything, my heart behind this work is simple:

I want others to heal the way I have.

If this message resonated with you, please consider sharing it. Not just to support my small business — but because someone in your life might need permission to slow down.

And if you made it this far — truly, thank you.

It’s a blessing to feel inspired to write again.

It’s an even deeper blessing that you took time out of your busy day to read it.

With gratitude,

Lisa