How to Know if You're Productive Obsessed and Find a Balance
Miscellaneous / / May 23, 2022
Constant employment does not guarantee success, but it leads to burnout and problems in life.
Productivity is one of the most popular topics in the world. Every day people come up with new tools to achieve their goals and release books that promise to lead readers to success. What used to be a simple indicator of the efficiency of the production of goods and services has become a real boom. And some have become truly obsessed.
How Productivity Turns into an Obsession
It all starts with basic reward systems. High productivity constantly gives us pleasant bonuses, for example, in the form of a salary increase or social recognition. Gradually, performance becomes an end in itself, and we become obsessed with it.
This phenomenon is much more common than it seems. Experts from Norway and Hungary have conducted studies on this topic and have received very similar results. Norse determinedC. S. Andreassen, M. D. Griffiths, et al. The prevalence of workaholism: A survey study in a nationally representative sample of norwegian employees / PLoS ONE
that 7.3-8.3% of the country's inhabitants are obsessed with work. And in Hungary figured outM. D. Griffiths, Z. Demetrovics, et al. Ten myths about work addiction / Journal of Behavioral Addictionsthat 8.2% of people who work at least 40 hours a week are at risk for work obsession. In the US, this figure holding onM. Griffiths. Term warfare: ‘Workaholism’ and work addiction are not the same at around 10%, but some researchers estimate the real share at 15-25%.The main danger of such an obsession is that in society it is considered acceptable. Productive "addicts" can be incredibly successful, earn a lot of money and be loved by others. But everything has consequences. Obsession with Productivity May End burnout, family problems and health problems.
What are the signs of an obsession with productivity?
Many of us are taught from childhood that our worth is directly related to the contribution we make to society. The bigger it is, the better. "I work, therefore I am." So, productivity is one of the most effective ways to raise self-esteem. There are several red flags that indicate that performance is turning into an obsession.
You don't want to waste time
Productive "addicts" may suffer from "time anxiety". It is an obsession with making each day as meaningful as possible.
This desire stems from several questions that a person constantly scrolls in his head. Am I doing something truly valuable in my life? When my time comes, won't I regret that I wasted too many days, months, or even years on nonsense?
Constant desire to occupy one's time, inability to to relax and doing absolutely nothing can be clear signs of an obsession with productivity.
You turn hobbies into projects
Let's say you really enjoy gardening. You love to study and care for different types of plants and flowers. When obsessed with being productive, you may want to turn that hobby into something more productive. For example, open a small business selling garden tools or create a thematic blog.
Do you feel guilty when you don't reach your goals?
It doesn’t matter if it’s emails that you didn’t get through, or a to-do list that you couldn’t cross off everything from. For those obsessed with productivity, every miss turns into a problem that keeps them awake. Instead of turning off the computer and returning to tasks tomorrow, such people cannot distance themselves and experience a burning sense of guilt for not achieving even the smallest and most ridiculous goals. goals.
Your priority is work
Are you trying to finish your family dinner as soon as possible so you can get back to work? Canceling plans with friends to finish a project? Or maybe you sacrifice sleep to complete all the tasks?
Of course, such situations happen to everyone from time to time. But for productive "addicts" this is the norm. They always prefer work to other areas of their lives.
You constantly feel busy
Dr. Brene Brown of the University of Houston describes this "busy madness" as a "painkiller" strategy to avoid the uncomfortable truth about us and our lives. Sometimes such a strategy even creates the illusion of productivity.
Fortunately, productivity obsession is not a disease, and a few simple tricks can help you avoid falling into this trap.
How to deal with productivity obsession
There is no magic pill that will instantly get rid of the obsession. However, some mindful productivity techniques can help you move along the healing path a little faster.
Take time for introspection
To get rid of the obsession with productivity, you need to understand where it comes from and how it works. What reward system makes you pay too much attention to your performance? Perhaps money, public recognition, or something else? What behavior patterns at work harm other areas of your life?
Record the answers to these questions in your journal. This is a great way to reflect on your relationship with productivity.
Set Your Priorities Clearly
For many of us, work is an important part of our identity. However, this should not be a key aspect of your self-esteem. What else do you care about? In what areas would you like to develop outside of work? To what extent are your current priorities aligned with your core values?
Next time, instead of automatically creating an endless list of tasks, ask yourself what one meaningful goal you could work on today.
Appreciate your hobbies
Remember that not all hobbies need to be turned into projects. Let at least some of them remain just a pleasant pastime. Let your favorite hobby remain a space for experiments - do not let productivity with all its limitations go there.
Redefine your relationship over time
"Time anxiety" makes us push ourselves non-stop. As a result, we constantly panic and are on the edge. It seems to us that we are squeezing the maximum out of the hours and minutes given to us, but in fact we are just in a hurry, not having time to enjoy them.
Try to take breaks more often and learn to laze around without a sense of inner discomfort. Define what “time well spent” means to you, and try to regularly carve out minutes for such moments.
Create your own productivity system
Instead of relying on popular methods that may not necessarily work for you, create your own system for achieving goals. Analyze your priorities and hobbies, observe your daily routine and decide what techniques will allow you to achieve success without sacrificing your mental health.
And finally, watch your triggers. It's very easy for a productive addict to fall back into old habits, especially when a new job, hobby, or inspirational goal comes along. Practicing mindful productivity and taking care of your mental health will make your working days much more pleasant and easier.
Read also🧐
- What is productivity dysmorphia and how to deal with it
- 5 situations when procrastination is good for you
- How many hours a day can you work so as not to harm your health and not burn out
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