I think it’s time we talked about the harmful implications of productivity and self-worth. In today’s society, there is such a heavy emphasis on getting things done and getting them done NOW. While productivity in itself is an admirable trait, it becomes an issue when that is what your whole self-worth rests on. Especially with final exams just around the corner, let me remind you of the danger of giving your all, all the time.
I’m sure you’ve seen the “that girl” or “clean girl aesthetic” videos on social media. They wake up super early and go to the gym immediately. Their hair and makeup are done perfectly with the trendiest of products. They effortlessly get through their whole to-do list for the day, and they have endless energy, requiring no breaks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not critiquing these girls. I love that this works for them. However, this sort of lifestyle is unsustainable for the majority of people.
I find myself falling into the doom of productivity. Some days I wake up and I feel great. I’m super well rested and I jump out of bed, ready to go. I get right to the point and am super productive. I cross items off my to-do list left and right. On those days I feel great about myself. Other days, I wake up feeling tired and slowed down, and I barely get anything done. On those days I feel awful about myself. For so long I have placed my self-worth on my productivity and quite frankly I’m tired of it.
Some of this pressure is internal, but the majority of it is societal. I am told that I need to be the best. And to be the best I need to be productive all of the time. To do that, I am constantly busy. If I am constantly busy, then I am distracted. Yes, I achieve great things, but I don’t have any good reason to be motivated, other than to be the best. I lose touch with myself, and I don’t even end up feeling proud of my work. This is all just a ploy to avoid the reality of feeling bad. It’s a vicious cycle.
I am inviting you to help me break this cycle. A few things I’m going to try and do are spend less time doing work and focus on doing things that bring me joy. Recently I’ve been into doing crafts. I’m also going to slow down. I want to enjoy the tasks I complete instead of rushing through them to get to the next thing. Finally, I am going to practice measuring my worth based on my dedication, rather than my outcomes. It’s going to take a while to dismantle my previous system of self-worth, but it’s for the best. I hope that more people realize the dangers of hustle culture and society, and they transition into being more focused on self-appreciation than productivity.