We live in a competitive world with the self-hyped need to stay productive all the time. And the influencer culture has only added to the pressure. They constantly emphasise the need to stay hyper-productive through their (often tedious) morning routine with meditation or yoga, self-help novels, and so on. While it can be tempting to work tirelessly, it becomes crucial to understand that overworking yourself ultimately takes a massive toll on your creativity.

If you find yourself working for long hours at a stretch, without any breaks, it's time for an intervention. And this is it. 

In order to escape this vicious cycle of toxic productivity, you must first recognise the signs and acknowledge the fact that you are a victim. Here are some common signs to look out for. 

You confuse rest with laziness

​​​If you constantly feel guilty for resting or taking a day off, there's a good chance you've fallen into the trap of toxic productivity. This mindset forces you to believe that your worth is solely determined by how much you can accomplish, leading to burnout and stress. Recognising this pattern is the first step towards balancing work and (much-needed) leisure. Remember, taking time to rest is not only acceptable but essential for your well-being and long-term productivity.

You're constantly tired

Toxic productivity leaves little room for personal care, which can cause increased exhaustion and consistently low energy levels. When you're constantly pushing yourself to be productive without taking breaks or allowing time for rest, your body and mind suffer. This relentless drive to always be doing something can result in burnout, stress, and a general decline in overall well-being. Prioritising self-care is essential to maintaining a healthy balance and sustaining long-term productivity.

Setting unpractical goals

Toxic productivity can cause you to tie your self-worth to the achievement of your goals. When you set goals that are nearly impossible to accomplish within a given timeframe, you may find yourself habitually overworking. This pattern not only exhausts you but also perpetuates the cycle of unrealistic expectations and self-criticism. Recognising and breaking free from this cycle is crucial for maintaining a healthier, more balanced approach to productivity and self-worth.

Toxic productivity often kills creativity, creating a need to stay busy all the time. This ultimately triggers feelings of failure, self-doubt, and low self-esteem when not met. As Sylvia Plath puts it: “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

Being stuck in a cycle of toxic productivity also means that you rarely ever have time for yourself. Enjoying some leisure time allows you to make room for self-expression and of course, to re-energise. Not being able to enjoy a few minutes of peace by yourself ultimately kills your creative capacity. And what’s scarier is that recurring patterns of toxic productivity can eventually kill the desire to express one's creativity.

But don't worry, here are a few ways to tackle toxic productivity. 

Self-talk

A simple self-talk session can be surprisingly effective in overcoming toxic productivity. Understanding the root causes of these patterns is crucial. They might stem from past traumas, unpleasant experiences, or self-imposed, unrealistic work habits developed in a quest for validation. Identifying these underlying issues is the first step towards healthier, more balanced productivity.

Seeking distractions

In order to avoid feeling guilty when you’re on a break from work, find a way to keep yourself hooked into something else. Anything from hanging out with friends to going on a solo coffee date, or watching a movie, planning a vacation, etc will do the trick. Remember, anything that helps keep you away from your laptop for a few good hours ia a good distraction. 

Set realistic goals

As basic as it might seem, this remains the most crucial tip. Setting realistic goals allows you to work optimal hours and prevents over-exhaustion. Remember, taking baby steps each day toward a goal is far better than trying to achieve everything at once. Just as an author doesn’t aim to finish writing a whole book in one day but rather focuses on a few pages daily, you should also develop the habit of working every day while dividing tasks to avoid overburdening yourself.

Learning about positive productivity

A contrasting practice to toxic productivity, positive productivity emphasises the importance of taking time for self-care amidst a hectic routine. Understanding what positive productivity really looks like allows you to recognise what you’ve been doing wrong so far and how to re-align your routine to cater to your leisure time, self-care, and well-being just as much as your work priorities.

Read self-help books

Self-help books can often offer amazing and practical advice that can help you escape the loop of forced productivity. Remember the point about seeking distractions? There's no better way to distract yourself than by grabbing a nice self-help book. Some of our recommendations include Work Won't Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone by Sarah Jaffe and Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman.

Making room for self-expression

The best advice we can give you is this: Nothing counters toxic productivity patterns better than creating. The happiness and joy you experience when you begin doing what you love—whether it's art or any form of self-expression—is unparalleled. Pursue your passions more frequently, and you'll naturally want to engage in them even more. This is how you encourage yourself to rethink your routine and make space for what you truly love. It's simple yet incredibly effective, we assure you!

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