What Is Grind Culture
Grind culture refers to a social media trend popularised by Gen Z individuals to commit to hyper-disciplined self-improvement on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The term refers to behaviours such as waking up early, following strict fitness and nutritional regimes, and taking supplements to improve one's well-being. But what are the effects on our minds of constant exposure to content like this?
Humans evaluate themselves based on others - this is referred to as the social comparison theory.
How Does Grind Culture Negatively Affect Consumers
Constant exposure to social media that indulges in “Grind Culture” can lead to upward comparison, fueling someone's dissatisfaction with themselves. This exposure includes seeing someone more lean, more disciplined, or even constant exposure to people's workout routines or diets, which can cause you to feel dissatisfaction with your body, anxiety, or low self-esteem. These feelings can arise due to the guilt of not being as productive as people on social media, as well as, can be due to the constant overthinking of how one spends their days or how they look. These comparisons are automatic and subconscious, although it is important to remember that in a world so fast, not being on a strict high-protein, low-calorie diet and not working out 5 times a week alongside 10k steps is normal. You are not falling behind, and feelings of guilt are unnecessary.
Engaging in health content constantly can create an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating, with associated restrictive behaviours or something called orthorexic tendencies. These tendencies, although they may look healthy on paper, can be among the most detrimental behaviours for a person, causing malnutrition, a poor quality of life, and the loss of relationships. The constant exposure to “Grind Culture” media can cause unhealthy fixations on clean eating and healthy habits that are driven by feelings of anxiety rather than genuine well-being.
Moreover, exposure to this media can lead to a cognitive distortion called all-or-nothing thinking; in that case, you may think you must either be 100% focused on well-being or have failed, which isn't the case. Implementing healthy habits into your routine while maintaining healthy relationships with people, food, and yourself is the healthiest way to live. The irony in social media's “Grind Culture” is that the content is promoting health but instead produces guilt, while causing restrictive behaviours and chronic stress about falling short, which is far from a healthy lifestyle.
How The Algorithm Plays A Role
Another way “Grind Culture” is affecting consumers' mental health is through social media algorithms. The algorithm works to feed consumers the same content they engage with. Watching a video all the way through, liking it, or even sending it to a friend causes the algorithm to continue pushing similar videos. Constant absorption of videos containing the theme of “Grind Culture” can intensify the thoughts or feelings of disappointment with one's body or anxiety over one's routine or one's body image. The algorithm shows you more of what you are watching, not what's good for you; it's also meant to entertain you, not educate.
A Healthy Life Should Still Be Living
A major issue with “Grind Culture” that isn't given much attention is its influence on people's tendency to avoid living in the moment. When every action you do is optimised for health and wellness, your presence in life's moments can be eliminated. This includes guilt about overeating on Christmas Day, the guilt of missing a workout due to a family vacation, or the restrictive habits that arise when having a meal with your friends. The constant focus on health and wellness causes an overwhelming mental clutter, which further influences the anxiety or stress that one faces. This is referred to as “Life Admin Brain”.
A healthy way to prioritise health and wellness is to focus on your achievements in autonomy, effectiveness, and relatedness, rather than measuring them with metrics. This includes the feeling of accomplishment when you get a workout done, or the confidence in your own body, not the number on the scale or the number of calories you've had in a day.
Your health is important, but it should not be stripping away your social connection and enjoyment. Try to be cautious of when energy towards fitness goals shifts from motivation to anxiety, as the healthiest life still has room for cake, spontaneity, and doing nothing.
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