Not long ago, people were familiar with the concept of working hours. This period of time limits individuals in their daily activities, such as working, producing, and organizing within a profit-seeking institution.
When the digital era arrived, the hustle culture and flexibility brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic made many people forget that work has its time. Thus, working hours began to be forgotten, and people's work habits shifted.
There is an unwritten agreement between workers and employers today that if you work, you must always be ready, responsive, and available for work at any time, even outside of official working hours, such as at night, on weekends, or during breaks.
Young people, especially millennials and Gen Z, who have grown up in a world that is connected 24/7, are accustomed to receiving notifications from their superiors or clients urging them to be active at any time. The need for self-actualization and the desire to appear productive often make them willing to sacrifice their personal time.
Terms such as"always on"have become symbols of an admirable spirit. However, this always-on work culture can create a demanding work environment, potentially increasing short-term productivity and innovation.
However, this habit often leads to burnout, high stress, a decline in employee mental well-being, and a blurring of the boundaries between personal life and work, as employees feel they must always be available and feel guilty when taking a break, even though it is sometimes considered a form of ambitious hustle culture.
The always-on habit leads to burnout, high stress, decreased employee mental well-being, and blurred boundaries between personal life and work.
This persistent phenomenon can occur because there is a tendency within an organization, usually unrecognized by its members, that if a subordinate responds to their superior's orders the fastest, they will be considered the most diligent. On the other hand, superiors also have a tendency to frequently send messages outside of working hours.
Meanwhile, there are no clear rules within the organization regarding when work communication is allowed and when it is prohibited. This tendency shows that this employee does not always demonstrate dedication and capacity, but rather due to the various reasons mentioned above.
Cases like this not only affect the employee personally, but can also spread to other family members.
Philosophically speaking, technology has created a modern "Panopticon"—a surveillance structure in which individuals feel they must always appear "active" or "working" in order to be considered valuable. This transforms work from an activity of self-fulfillment into a constant burden of self-surveillance.
In addition, there is also a cultural shift that views every second of human time as a commodity that can be squeezed for economic value. The loss of moments of "silence" (contemplation) eliminates the human ability to reflect, which philosophers consider to be the core of humanity.
On the other hand, working too hard is often used as a means to gain social attention and self-validation. Philosophically, this is a failure to find meaning in life outside of productivity, where a person only feels "alive" (exists) if they are busy.
Eastern teachings on self-balance, Yin-Yang emphasize harmony between activity (yang) and tranquility (yin). The always-on culture emphasizes yang excessively, disrupting life's balance. The solution is to restore the natural rhythm by working intensely, but also allowing space for silence and reflection.
The solution is to restore the natural rhythm by working intensely, but also allowing space for silence and reflection.
There is time to practice full awareness of your physical and mental state. Get into the habit of pausing before responding to messages, taking a deep breath, and assessing whether it is really necessary to respond immediately to your boss's orders.
Shift your mindset from "I must always be available" to "I am entitled to personal time." Change your belief from "if I don't respond quickly, I am considered disloyal" to "loyalty also means maintaining your health so you can work optimally." Help yourself reduce feelings of guilt when you don't respond immediately.
The always-on work culture reflects a technological phenomenon that is both liberating and restrictive. From a philosophical perspective, it challenges the limits of control, erodes the meaning of action, and disrupts life balance. The solution lies in self-awareness, setting boundaries, cognitive restructuring, recovery rituals, and social support.
Through thorough and contextual self-reflection, we can build a more humane work culture—one where productivity does not come at the expense of meaningfulness and social balance.
