Productivity addiction: when we become obsessed with productivity
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in the long term, being obsessed with productivity can have unintended consequences, such as burnout, family issues, and health problems.
At least in the Western world, our education has often taught us to tie our self-worth to how much we contribute to society. The more we contribute, the better. “I work, therefore I am.” Being productive feels like a way to improve our self-worth.
Take breaks, become comfortable with doing nothing, and most importantly, define what “time well spent” means to you so you can make space for these moments.
time anxiety, an obsession about spending our time in the most meaningful way possible.
“The problem is that just like all addictions, over time a person needs more and more to be satisfied and then it starts to work against you. Withdrawal symptoms include increased anxiety, depression and fear.”
Dr Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, describes being “crazy busy” as a numbing strategy that allows us to avoid facing the truth of our lives. She half-jokingly wrote: “I often say that when they start having 12-step meetings for busy-aholics, they’ll need to rent out football stadiums.”
For many, work is an important part of their identity. But it doesn’t have to be the only defining aspect of your worth.
progressively design your own system by experimenting and iterating.
At its core, productivity addiction is based on the same reward systems as other addictions. By providing constant reinforcement — for example financial rewards in the form of salary increases, or social rewards in the form of work recognition — productivity can become a goal in and of itself, resulting in compulsive behaviours.
You tend to turn hobbies into side projects.
What are the rewards that make you obsess about your productivity?
Try to keep some hobbies that are just that — hobbies.
You may be tempted to turn this hobby into something more productive
being addicted to productivity may result in a hard time falling asleep in the evening because you haven’t managed to be as productive as you had hoped to be. Instead of closing your laptop and forgetting about it until the next day
productivity addicts will tend to always choose work over other important areas of their lives.
You feel guilty when you don’t hit your targets.
How to manage productivity addiction
Reconsider your relationship with time.
Productivity addicts may suffer from time anxiety, an obsession about spending our time in the most meaningful way possible.
Why are we so obsessed with being productive?
Toughts & Comments
Himanshu Sethi
Information Presented: - Productivity Addiction Information aquired: - Side effects of being addicted to productivity - How to identify that I am addicted to productivity - How can I break out when I become addicted to Productivity Color Code: Red: Heading Blue: General Statement Green: Resoning behind the statement
CK
This is just the article I needed read - I definitely have time anxiety and need to not turn everything into a side hustle!
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