By Kelty Jones / Columnist
Let’s start with what a grindset is. Combining the word “grind,” meaning forced, constant productivity on unpleasant but necessary tasks, and the word “mindset”, this phenomenon has gotten more and more popular as a slang word among those in high school and college. While seemingly topical, it is more than just a simple trend, and it has often been deemed anything from toxic to beneficial.
In a society that places high value on so-called achievement, girls have adapted and risen to the challenge, finally listening to the advice often touted at Harpeth Hall that it really is, in fact, all in the mindset. After all, homework is not a burden impending on free time if there is no such time in the first place.
But it hasn’t always been like this. More than half a century ago, in the times of the 1940s and 50s, there was little pressure on girls to lock into a certain “grindset” to achieve academic and career success, for better or for worse. The value of maintaining appearances was prioritized instead, and this pressure, while ever-evolving, hasn’t ever quite been eradicated.
Committing to a beauty routine was an artful practice that took hours out of the day, was mostly behind-the-scenes, and required a rigorous knowledge of the “right” way to look as put-together as possible. 
Clothing styles, gender norms, and fitness trends have all come and gone since then, but the collective drive to work towards a clear goal at all costs has remained.
We are now, undeniably, in a world in which it can feel like every minute spent with friends is a minute you could’ve studied, every half hour reading before bed translates to utter exhaustion the next day, and each morning you picked out your outfit could’ve been used for a “real” task.
Throw in important events such as formals, holidays, or family events you can’t miss without feeling the wrath of a relative, and here enters the appeal of the “grindset.”
Waking up to a sky darker than your extra-strong coffee, racing from one commitment to the next, being the girl that seemingly does it all, and yet, and still ending up with a substantial to-do list by the end of the day at 12 in the morning are hallmarks of this lifestyle. They are also all responses to the stress of experiencing high expectations on a day-to-day basis.
Whatever dopamine comes from checking off goals, being active in the communities you belong to, and striving to achieve the elusive work-life balance is exhilarating, yet exhausting. After all, it’s hard to confront problems that require time sitting alone in thought to solve when each car ride features brainstorming out loud for a class or calling a friend before working on your navigation skills to get to an hours-long athletic practice.
You tell yourself that people will respect your drive and accomplishments with understanding, but when is it the right thing to do, and when does it get to be too much? Well, it all depends on what your motivation is.
Multitasking has a strong magnetism for some, as it can increase self-confidence, cause one to feel in control, and cultivate a sense of pride. Those that live for the moments they get out of the car to the clear, dark sky before putting on a face mask for the 20 minutes it takes to scribble down notes for English class know these benefits all too well. They know that cleaning their room is the perfect activity for their planned 5-minute breaks, and that it’s a good feeling to fall asleep after having put in an honest day’s work. These people, as you may have guessed, will swear by multitasking, and that’s because they are doing it for themselves rather than doing it for the academic validation that is associated with a more traditional, work-only “grindset.”
Simply put, being able to exercise multiple aspects of your personality, lifestyle, and self-worth are the best way to prevent burnout and to maximize this phenomenon. You may still be tired, but it’s from doing the things that you love. You may still have to leave events early and sacrifice leisure time on Saturdays, but it’s because you are working for what you want and not for what you feel pressured to attain.
As long as you can look in the mirror at the end of the day and know you are striving for something that is bigger than yourself, something that never fails to excite you, then it is more than okay to stand on the shoulder of girls from generations before you and forge ahead with the art of multitasking and embody your own kind of “grindset.”