Metropolitianmindset

If you’ve lived in New York City long enough, you know the rhythm of the city isn’t just fast—it’s relentless. As a native New Yorker who’s called the Lower East Side and Chelsea home my whole life, the pace of NYC isn’t something I just tolerate. I crave it.

There’s something electric about the way this city moves. The constant buzz, the grind, the urgency in everyone’s steps—it’s like a pulse that runs through your veins once you’ve been here long enough. I grew up with that. It shaped how I think, how I work, how I live.

But even for someone like me, who loves the hustle, I’ll admit—it’s not always sustainable. There are times when I feel myself getting burnt out. When my to-do list feels like a never-ending scroll and the FOMO from all the things I could be doing starts to weigh me down. That’s when I know I need a break. Sometimes it’s a weekend getaway, sometimes it’s just a slow Saturday morning in my own city. And you know what? After a day or two away, I miss it. I miss that energy.

And maybe that’s the point. Maybe for some of us, the hustle isn’t toxic—it’s vital. It’s our fuel. Not because we have something to prove, but because we genuinely feel alive when we’re in motion. The list of things to do here? It’s never-ending, sure. But maybe we need to stop seeing that as a burden and start seeing it for what it really is: abundance. Abundance of opportunity. Of inspiration. Of connection. Of ambition.

We get access to that because we live here. Because we choose to stay in a place where no one’s waiting around for anyone to catch up. Not everyone can thrive in that kind of environment—and that’s okay. But for those of us who can? It’s magic.

That said, I’m learning the value of balance. I’ve started reclaiming my weekends. Letting myself sleep in. Making my morning tea or matcha slowly, without a rush. Taking a walk through a quiet neighborhood. Running errands at my own pace. These slower moments don’t take away from the hustle. They support it.

So, is hustle culture toxic? It can be. But in NYC, maybe it’s just a misunderstood way of life. Maybe it’s not about overworking ourselves into the ground—but about tapping into a level of motivation and momentum that only this city seems to provide. We just have to find our own rhythm within it.

And for me? That rhythm is fast. But not unmanageable.