Ever wondered why hustle culture feels so normal in Malaysia? Social media, school, and even our parents shape us to believe that being busy = being valuable.
From young, many of us live on repeat: school, tuition, side hustle, koko. On the outside, it’s “Wah, so rajin.” Inside? Stress, burnout, and no peace.
But the real question is: who actually started this mindset? Maybe without even realizing it, our parents were the ones that passed it down.
Parents and the pressure to teruskan
Think back to when you were younger. How many times have you heard:
“Jangan buang masa play game.”
“Pergi tuition.”
“Join semua activities.”
Parents mean well. They want what’s best for us, but unintentionally, they also teach us that our worth = our achievements.
By the time we hit our teenage years, that pressure feels normal. We’re rushing from one activity to the next and the moment we try to slow down, that immediate guilt kicks in: “Eh, shouldn’t I be doing more?”
The perfect storm: Parents, school dan social media
Parents may have started this mindset, but they’re not the only ones. Schools reward top students, society loves “busy people,” and social media glorifies the grind.
Scroll Instagram or TikTok and suddenly you see peers “winning” – better grades, cooler side hustles, more achievements. Then fomo hits hard. Suddenly, slowing down feels like failure.
And the approval we crave? It’s tied to the grades we get, “Kalau I dapat straight A, baru parents proud.” That kind of pressure keeps hustle culture in Malaysia alive!
The cost of never slowing down
Here’s the ugly side: hustle culture convinces you that nothing is enough.
You could ace your exams, land a scholarship, or even start a successful side hustle – and still feel behind. Try to rest, guilt just creeps back in. Sometimes we don’t even feel joy anymore, even after achieving so many things – cause it all starts to feel like an obligation, not passion.
The cost looks like this:
- Tired but restless
- Kepala heavy before the day even starts
- Creativity fades
- On the outside, people see “success”. On the inside, you’re burnt out like satay left too long on the fire.
Breaking the cycle of hustle culture in Malaysia
Hustle culture in Malaysia feels normal. From kecil, many of us watched our parents kerja non-stop or only praise results. Add school + social media = busy = valuable. No wonder burnout feels so normal!
But here’s the truth: we can break the cycle.
Redefine success → Effort > just results
Support each other → Remind friends it’s okay to rest
Set boundaries → Log off, say no, protect your peace
Speak up → Talk about stress and burnout, break the stigma together
Peace ≠ laziness.
Rest ≠ weakness.
Slowing down ≠ failure
Sometimes, the bravest move… is choosing yourself.
READ >> Student happiness in Malaysia matters more than perfect grades
