Opinion: The hustle never ends

Side hustles, once framed as optional, are increasingly becoming economic necessities, but the psychological toll of perpetual work is beginning to show

By Viiveck Verma

In the past decade, the term side hustle has transformed from a fringe concept to a cultural phenomenon. Once the domain of struggling artists and part-time freelancers, side hustles are now proudly proclaimed on LinkedIn profiles, monetised on TikTok, and discussed in bestsellers promising financial freedom. The idea that you should never rely on one stream of income has been repeated so often that it feels like common sense. But beneath the sheen of empowerment and entrepreneurial grit lies a more troubling question: Are we simply normalising overwork under the guise of ambition?

Let’s start with the numbers. Accordin