Have you noticed how “stress bragging” is kind of a thing at work now? For example, when people casually drop how swamped they are or how late they stayed up working, almost like it’s a flex. It’s like the busier you are, the more “dedicated” you seem.
“Stress bragging” is also when people talk about how busy or stressed they are almost like it’s an achievement. It’s sharing things like, “I pulled an all-nighter to finish this project,” or “I’m juggling so many tasks right now” in a way that highlights how hardworking or dedicated they are
But it turns out that this can actually mess with team ‘vibes’. Experts say it can make others feel pressured to keep up, even if they don’t want that level of stress—or it can make people feel like they’re not doing enough if they’re not constantly “hustling.” This whole thing can get toxic fast, with burnout or even frustration building up over time.
Have you seen this happen where you work? Or does your team manage to keep things balanced without the stress-competition? Would love to hear your take!
Here are a few signs of stress bragging you might recognize:
Dropping how late they worked or how little sleep they got
Mentioning how they’re “too busy” for anything else
Talking about their never-ending to-do list or how many things they’re juggling
But here’s the thing—this can actually start to make everyone feel like they need to be “hustling” just as hard, even if they don’t want that kind of stress. It’s wild how fast burnout vibes can spread when stress is treated like an accomplishment!
How’s the vibe in your team? Do you notice any stress bragging going on, or is it more balanced?
This totally resonates with me as I’ve been part of this “stress-bragging” culture in my first job.
Back then, staff would feel anxious about leaving the office on time, even though finishing up at a reasonable hour should be the norm, right? It almost felt like you’d be judged for having any kind of balance, as if working late somehow made you more dedicated.
Back then, as if was my first job, I made work a big part of my identity, and being busy gave me this sense of importance. I thought if I was constantly overloaded, it meant I was contributing more. But it actually made things worse—I ended up feeling drained, and no amount of “being busy” really satisfied that need to feel valued. In the end, it only added to the stress and made me lose perspective on what truly mattered.
Because so many people were openly talking about how late they were staying or how overloaded they were, it created this unnecessary pressure. Even if you were done for the day, you’d feel guilty heading out while others were still at their desks. Over time, people started feeling like they weren’t doing “enough” unless they were constantly in overdrive, and it quickly led to burnout for some.
It’s amazing how a little bit of stress-bragging here and there can build up and turn into a toxic vibe, making everyone feel like they need to be in that endless “hustle mode.” I think it’s so important for teams to be aware of this and encourage balance instead. Thanks for bringing this up—it’s definitely a conversation worth having!
