“Burning the midnight oil” in 2025: are you still romanticising hustle?

We all know someone who brags about working late like it’s a badge of honour. Maybe we’ve been that person. But let’s pause for a second—why are we still glorifying burnout?

The history behind the phrase

The idiom “burning the midnight oil” dates back to the days before electricity. It meant staying up late to read or write by oil lamp. Romantic, sure. But in 2025, we’ve got daylight bulbs and Google Docs.

So why are we still buying into this narrative?

Hustle ≠ success

• Working more doesn’t mean working better

• Rest fuels creativity and clarity

• Boundaries are a sign of self-respect, not laziness

Signs your brand’s copy is buying into hustle culture

• Overuse of phrases like “24/7”, “always-on”, or “no days off”

• Framing burnout as dedication

• Promoting urgency for everything

What to say instead

Celebrate balance. Talk about impact, not hours. Champion rest as a business value.

Let’s retire the late-night hustle badge

Working late might feel productive. But what if your best ideas come from being well-rested, present, and not doom-scrolling Slack at 1 AM?

Want help rewording your values and brand messaging for a post-hustle world? Let’s talk! ✨