Signs of Toxic Productivity

What is toxic productivity and how to stop it:

If you feel an immense pressure to achieve or perform but are not satisfied with the results of your efforts, you could be stuck in a cycle of toxic productivity.

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Constant feelings of stress and pressure that put you on the road to burn out are signs that you are not aligned with your goals.

Learn how to recognize these toxic habits and reverse them today.

Signs You Are Struggling with Toxic Productivity

You’re burnt out

Are you overwhelmed and tired? Chances are if you’re constantly stressed and irritable you may be burnt out. This can be a sign of toxic productivity because you are not giving your body and mind enough time to rest and recharge. Learn to practice mindfulness and self-care to address the root issue.

You feel unaccomplished

Going nowhere fast? A sense of accomplishment comes naturally when your levels of productivity align with your core values and goals. Feeling unaccomplished over long periods of time is a sign that you need to review your goals and core values to re-establish your “why” and keep moving forward intentionally.

You are always busy

Have a full plate? We all have commitments and responsibilities in life. But always feeling “too busy” is sometimes a sign of disorganization and misaligned priorities. Tracking how you spend your time (and even mental energy) can help you assess gaps between how you’re spending your time and how you want to be spending it. Likewise, what you prioritize is what you will spend your time on, take time to reflect and see if your actions still align with your goals.

You’re under immense pressure

Always stressed? Constant stress and pressure can stem from holding yourself to a higher standard than you hold anyone else. Remember, recognizing how far you’ve come and being kind to yourself are just as important as being productive.

Reduced efficiency

Effort vs input: If you’re constantly putting in a huge effort only to achieve less than satisfactory results you might be focusing on the details too much and overlooking the core tasks. Try to prioritize the main parts of the task or goal rather than having a goal of a perfect outcome. An example of this concept in action is MVP, which you can read more about here.

Putting yourself last

Neglecting self-care: If you place grooming, self-care, or even your basic needs on the back burner with the intention of gaining some time to get other things done it will only have negative effects over time. Keeping up with a regular routine is a form of self-care that can help you build positive habits and ultimately be more productive in the long run.
No downtime: Similarly, if you never take a moment to rest or wind-down, you can overwork your body and mind, leaving little energy left to finish basic tasks, let alone make any progress towards big goals.
Overwhelming feelings of guilt: If you have trouble resting or feeling “deserving” of downtime, it could be due to feelings of guilt for taking a moment to yourself. This type of guilt can be hard to get over. If you’re struggling in this area try taking small steps to overcome these feelings such as planning five minutes at the same time every day to do deep breathing exercises or guided mediations.

It’s hurting your relationships

Burned bridges? If you are so overtaken by your commitments or goals that you have little time for yourself let alone anyone else, you have probably done some damage to important relationships. If you don’t want to risk losing those relationships or hurting the people that you care about, be intentional about making a plan to reconnect.