The glorification of overwork culture in Asia

We may have at least one friend—or have come across someone on social media—who seems to genuinely enjoy overworking. Not just the standard 9 to 5, but staying late, replying to emails after hours, and juggling multiple side hustles. Some work 14-hour days, six or even seven days a week, with barely any time for rest. Yet, they speak about it with pride, almost as if non-stop working is a badge of honour.

And then you start to wonder: Am I doing enough?

Overwork is not a new issue, but what now poses a growing threat to our mental health and work-life balance is the glorification of overwork culture. These days, “overwork” is not only acceptable, it’s inspirational.

What is happening?

In recent years, going above and beyond has become standard, particularly in Asian countries, where hustle culture and the drive to stand out in a highly competitive labour market are widely accepted and even encouraged among young people.

Many attribute the tendency to overwork in Asia to its deeply ingrained culture of hard work, shaped by strong values of collectivism and respect for hierarchy. Employees often avoid leaving work before their bosses or managers, and hesitate to say no to extra tasks, even when they're assigned after regular working hours. For many of us, there’s this pressure of always meeting deadlines, exceeding expectations and consistently delivering high-quality results as quickly as possible.

Nowadays, we hear more and more stories about "high achievers"—people who devote all their time to work and earn higher salaries, promotions, and incredible savings. This promotes a lifestyle that revolves around work and achievements— presenting it as something we should also aspire to.

Why overwork culture is being praised

The marker of success

In Asia, hard work is not just encouraged but it’s a way of life. From childhood, there is immense pressure to excel in exams and get into top schools, which continues into adulthood as we strive to stand out in the job market through a relentless work culture. 

Fueled by societal expectations, we constantly push ourselves to do more, normalising stress in order to be seen as dedicated, hard-working employees. These traits are often associated with competencies, professionalism and success. 

Many seem to enjoy overwork because it’s… exciting.

Yes, thanks to social media, we can easily scroll through countless stories on TikTok, Threads, Instagram… of people already on their path to success because they work incredibly hard. This leads us to develop the idea that we should overwork—not because we’re economically driven to, but because it’s how “go-getters” achieve what they want.

Speaking of being “economically driven,” I want to acknowledge that there are still many people who need to put in the hours to get more income to survive, whether it’s paying off debt, making ends meet, or supporting a large family that depends on them.

However, others, without life-or-death pressure, still commit to the overwork culture at the expense of their physical and mental health.

Because who needs sleep when you’re going to make millions of dollars?

China’s “996” work culture requires employees to work from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. Today, the glorification of overwork has shifted the idea of weekends from a time to rest into an opportunity to get ahead and outperform others. As a result, there’s a growing perception that the best performers are always working—even on the seventh day—while everyone else is simply… resting.

However, this can be unhealthy if you push yourself beyond your limits without considering your own well-being.

How can we actually survive in this overwork culture?

Understand that work-life balance is different for everyone

Some people actually enjoy working long hours, but you don’t have to. Our bodies have their own limits. Just because some thrive on late nights or early mornings doesn’t mean it should be the standard. 

Stop treating overwork as normal. It’s crucial to set boundaries, respect our limits, and understand that it’s perfectly fine to log off when the workday ends.

Acknowledge what gives you meaning in life

Don’t give in to FOMO just because your friends or colleagues are working more than usual. They may be pursuing something different from your own goals.

Think back to your goals, values, and vision for your dream life. Does that include non-stop working hours from Monday through the weekend? If not, there’s no reason to follow that path. 

Instead, doing what you love may provide greater value to your life. 

Don’t forget the importance of rest

It’s more important than ever to find the right balance between work and rest. Maintaining this balance leads to a healthier, more satisfying life and supports long-term productivity. 

Rest isn’t an indulgence; it’s a vital need that recharges both the body and mind, enabling us to function at our best.

Society’s obsession with overwork largely stems from the false belief that putting in more hours means getting more done. On the contrary, working excessively leads to reduced productivity, as mental fatigue and stress begin to impair our thinking and creativity .

Maybe it’s time to seriously consider the idea of "work smarter, not harder," especially if you’re an overachiever and you enjoy working.

Some last words…

Because the society we’re living in is so deeply rooted in glorifying hard work, breaking free from our obsession with overworking will take a significant cultural shift.

Ultimately, it's up to you to stop treating being busy and always having work to do as something to admire or aspire to. 

At the end of the day, work is just a part of our life, it’s not everything. We don’t live to work.