Toxic Productivity

For a long time I struggled to properly switch off. Even when I had some down time, and time to rest, I still found myself ‘doing’ rather than ‘being!’ I always found something that I felt ‘needed’ to be done. I just could not switch off. My list of to-dos was never ending! On reflection, I think I always felt a sense that if I wasn’t being productive, then I was somehow falling behind or not successful.

I know I am not alone in this feeling. Many of us have grown up watching our parents and caregivers, who were always busy, always doing. Rest was not something that they did unless it was earned. So it seems we have an obsessive preoccupation with being productive, which leads to guilt or shame over not constantly working or doing something.

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that in today’s culture, being busy and over worked has become a badge of honour, reflecting the perception of its importance and value. Psychology Today highlights that his type of relentless ‘doing’ can harm mental health and relationships, leading to stress, anxiety, burnout and then depression. Furthermore, The New Yorker discusses how societal pressures, including economic and social expectations, contribute to stress and burnout among parents, reflecting a broader cultural issue of associating busyness with success.

Interestingly our ancestors spent their days foraging and hunting (approximately 3 to 6 hours per day). The rest of their day would have been spent socialising and community building, for example: conversing, storytelling, singing songs, playing games, preparing and sharing food, passing down knowledge, wisdom and survival skills. Therefore, our bodies, and in turn our nervous systems, evolved for experiencing long stretches of down time, not the incessant, always doing, always on, never enough pace of modern life.

However, here we are in the 21st century attempting to keep on top of washing, check in with friends, take care of children, meal prep, shop, exercise, keep on top of everything we need to at work, answer emails … the list goes on and somehow find the time to relax as well: without the guilt.

Rest is productive. Our bodies and brains need it much like a flashlight – if we keep shining without turning off the switch to recharge, the light will fade and eventually we’ll be left in the dark. So without rest, our energy dims and we risk burnout, much like a flashlight running out of battery when continually used.

Now I often go to bed at 8:00 with a good book and a cup of herbal tea. Whereas a few years ago I would not see my bed before 11 pm. During a day off, I now have slower mornings with a coffee, a bit of journalling and a magazine then get out in nature for a long walk rather than tackling that never-ending to-do list. All guilt free; I now don’t feel any less worthy.

What shifted for me? I found the courage to respect myself more. I became more aware of the present moment rather than constantly worrying about the future; I reconnected to what truly matters to me rather than chasing external measures of success; rather than constantly pushing myself, I started to treat myself with the same kindness I offered others; I started to view time, not as something of a commodity but as something to be respected and used intentionally thus leading to a greater appreciation for rest and ‘being’ rather than the frantic pace of ‘doing’.

For so long, I let myself be carried by the invisible currents of society, pulled along by the silent but relentless tide of expectation, productivity and busyness. I never ever questioned where I was going. I just kept swimming, afraid that if I stopped, I’d sink. However, choosing to slow down has felt like finally coming up for air and realising that I don’t have to fight the waves anymore or be dragged along by them. Instead, I float. I breathe. I simply ‘be’. I am now more productive, more creative and more energised than I have been for a long time allowing me to feel more fulfilled; the pressure to achieve has been replaced by the freedom to simply ‘be’ creating space for growth, joy and connection.

As John Lubbock so wisely stated in an essay, ‘Rest is not idleness, and to lie on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.’ Thus reminding us of an appreciation of the value of slowing down, resting and reconnecting with our bodies and surroundings.

How are you switching off?