Productivity is a trait of some of the wealthiest, most-successful people in the world. Every day, you’re pushed to be more productive, perfectly optimize your time, and to achieve as much as possible. Unfortunately, the other side to working hard is “toxic productivity”. This is the unhealthy and unreasonable pursuit that leads to burnout, stress, and even physical and mental health issues.
The High Cost of Toxic Productivity
While getting more done can be a positive and rewarding, toxic productivity can have negative consequences. Even really pushing yourself can lead to your own burnout, chronic stress, and physical and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The pressure to be productive can create a culture of competitiveness and comparison, where individuals are constantly measuring themselves against others and feeling inadequate if they do not measure up. This may cause feelings of isolation and disconnection, as well as a lack of empathy and compassion for others.
Toxic productivity can also have negative consequences for society too. When individuals are encouraged to prioritize productivity above all else, they may neglect their relationships, their hobbies, and their passions.
Non-stop Pressure to Achieve
The unhealthy toxic pressure to be insanely productive comes from our work, certain social circles, social media, and maybe even ourselves. So, we find ourselves working long hours, sacrificing personal lives, and ignoring our own needs and well-being.
1. Constant Overwork
The pressure to be productive is mostly coming from the workplace. Many companies expect employees to be available 24/7 and expect responses to emails and messages at all times. Some companies expect constant long hours with a “well, who else will do it?” attitude. This expectation can lead to a culture of overwork and burnout with employees feeling that they must constantly produce to prove their worth.
2. Unrealistic Expectations
Social media will take you down paths of doing more, achieving more, working harder, getting more exercise, eating better, etc. If you go down the productivity path just a little, you’re going to get bombarded with messages that telling you that you need to work harder and be more productive, but this might do more harm than good.
3. Unreasonable Perfectionism
This can be driven by the fear of failure or judgment from others. You don’t need to be perfect in order to avoid criticism or disappointment. Alternatively you may have a belief that if you can be perfect, you’re guaranteed a positive outcome.
4. Lack of Balance
The truth is that a lack of balance in your life will lead to burnout. Remember that you aren’t entirely defined by your achievements. Finding a good balance means taking time for yourself and prioritizing self-care along with regular responsibilities.
The Path to a Healthy Productivity
If you’re feeling a need to be “toxicly productive”, you need to prioritize your well-being and get back to and old hobby OR start a new one. You need a healthy balance between productivity and rest, setting boundaries, and taking breaks when needed.
By making these two changes, you can create a healthier long-term approach to work and life that prioritizes your well-being:
- Practice self-care
Activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones. Recognize the signs of burnout and to take steps to prevent it, such as setting boundaries on work hours and taking regular breaks. - Shift your focus from output to input
Instead of measuring success by the amount of work produced, focus on the great effort you’ve put in and the progress you’ve made. This shift in mindset helps recognize the value of the tasks you take on even if it does not immediately produce the results you wanted.
Conclusion
Toxic productivity can have serious negative consequences on your personal well-being. Recognizing the pressure to perform and the high cost of toxic productivity, you may need to redefine your relationship with productivity and prioritize your well-being. With that, you can create a healthier and more sustainable approach to work and life. Your best life values rest, balance, and fulfillment as much as productivity. By practicing self-care, setting reasonable boundaries, and shifting focus from output to input, you will cultivate a healthy and sustainable approach to productivity.
