Toxic productivity harms our well-being
Whether it be at school, work, or any place where we pursue our interests, we all have the desire to achieve success. We invest most of our time and effort towards those goals. But if we find ourselves doing or thinking about nothing other than continuously striving and consequently become less engaged in all of the other activities in our life, it may signify a missing balance between our hard work and healthful rest, which can have serious consequences on our health.
Becoming too focused on the ‘doing’ aspect of our work or studies not only makes us tired because productivity requires tremendous energy, but also causes us to neglect our mental health. We forget to rest in between or even take a quick step away from our desks because we worry that doing these things imply that we failed to accomplish our goals. In turn, we might develop burnout, which can greatly damage our mental health by giving rise to feelings of guilt, loss of hope, or depression. One may also find themselves spending less time with family and friends, thus harming the important relationships that we have with others.
Toxic productivity describes a harmful mindset in which one believes that they must always be ‘doing’ something, or be productive. Otherwise, they often experience guilt for not constantly striving for achievement. As a result, they may avoid taking necessary breaks that are needed to help relax their minds and overcome stressors.
It’s completely normal to be under a lot of stress, especially if you are in a time crunch. You might feel as though you don’t even have a minute to spare for something other than the work you are completing at hand. Trust me, I’ve been stuck in this position so many times before and still find myself there because change doesn’t just happen overnight. Simply realizing that you may have developed unhealthy study or work habits is a giant step toward improvement.
I can stay glued to my papers and computer for hours because I feel as though I don’t have enough time to complete a list of tasks that I need to complete. I was certain that even a second away from studying would prevent me from earning a good grade. But the reality is that I do have time. Time for a pause, relaxation, and myself. That is, only if I am truly committed to making time for this and value my own health. Our mental health should always be at the top of our list of priorities (and yes, it is FAR more important and worthy of your time than a math assignment or determining history project that’s due tomorrow). Similar to a persistence to constantly accomplish things, we must become determined and truly dedicated toward improving our well-being by recognizing, changing, and maintaining healthy work habits.
The purpose of these breaks is to relax our mind and body and to put any task at hand aside for a moment, so that we can return to it feeling energized. Do not allow toxic productivity to draw an equal sign between letting your body rest and being unproductive. Rest is essential to the survival of human beings as well as reducing stress, restoring energy, and uplifting our mood. It may sound counterintuitive, but not pausing in between an intense period of concentration is actually less productive as compared to allocating brief rest times in between. Our minds need it, and it is our responsibility to give it the break that it needs to recharge, and that it deserves for all of the amazing things it has enabled us to do and struggles it helped us overcome. This way, instead of draining additional energy, we are preserving it in order to tackle our tasks again with vigor. Therefore, it is imperative that we schedule breaks in between actions, as they actually allow us to be more productive.
Below are some ideas that you can use to help you fit a break into your schedule:
Make a detailed plan for your entire day. It should include specific ranges of time that you will dedicate yourself to carrying out (This must include a break, even if it’s quick.)
Use a study timer. You can find these on Youtube by simply searching ‘study timer’ and choose the amount of minutes you are comfortable with alternating between focus and rest.
Fill out a priority chart, which can be found through a Google search. This way, you can prioritize your assignments in order to allot some time for relaxation.
Taking a break does not mean you need to be completely idle during this time (though simply sitting back on a couch between periods of work is a relaxing and effective way to recharge). What you choose to do, whether it be taking a stroll or watching an interesting video is entirely up to you as it serves to benefit your health while still striving for success.