SIGNS OF TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY
Toxic productivity has become a problem among generation Z, the newest generation born between 1997 and 2012. This generation lives in the digital age where competition becomes more challenging and global. Hence, they are being demanded to excel in everything. This problem had a significant impact on society, especially on generation Z.
Toxic productivity is the outsized desire for productivity at all times and the expense of our other priorities, from family life to hobbies. This phenomenon has been going around for a long time, but this term began to lift during the pandemic. Because of the pandemic, everything is being done remotely from home, including work, school, and university. Because home is the place for us to rest, the pandemic experience caused a blurred line of boundaries between being productive and relaxing. As a result, many people have been trapped in this lifestyle where individuals do not have any limits to achieve work-life balance.
Entering a new phase in life can be a scary and exciting experience. For example, transitioning from a high school student to a young adult as a university student is not easy and full of challenges. They must adapt to a new environment and culture. But it could be an exciting experience because these individuals are filled with curiosity to explore and experience new things. The desire to be recognized, superior, and more accomplished among their peers pushes them to overwork and trap in the same repetitive routine known as toxic productivity. Usually, it is because the individuals believe that their productivity measures their self-worth.
When we’re still in high school, we have this ideal thought of what our university life will look like. Without realizing it, it becomes pressure on ourselves to live up to our idealism. As a result, many university students have a packed schedule because they join many activities, such as organizations, part-time, internships, etc. To achieve something and follow through with the norm of hustle culture, they forget to take care of themselves simply to have personal time to recharge and enjoy their lives. So, feelings of guilt when you just lay in bed doing nothing after having a long day at work or school and feel anxious when you remember that others are being productive while you are having some rest are always lingering around. It is not something that we should normalize because this action could lead to burnout that takes a toll physically and mentally, making the individuals feel unmotivated, depressed, exhausted, stressed, etc.
Sometimes, the word ‘too’ is not always a good thing. So, the question is, ‘how much is too much?’ to not be categorized as toxic productivity. So, here are five signs indicating you are trapped in toxic productivity.
- You feel guilty when you are not doing anything productive and feel like you’ve never done enough.
- You have no boundaries between work and personal life, so you always work wherever you go because you can.
- Unable to enjoy and focus on any task because you always think you’ve forgotten something.
- You distance yourself from your friends because you feel that hanging out with your friends is a waste of time, and you would instead engage in other activities.
- You forget the last time you felt joy.
Taking time off from your busy schedule to get to know and educate yourself on the issue can be the first step to breaking the cycle of toxic productivity. So, do you know how much is too much now?
Reference
- (2021, June 30). Millennials, toxic productivity is not cool, here’s how you should tackle it. Free Press Journal. https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/millennials-toxic-productivity-is-not-cool-heres-how-you-should-tackle-it
- (2022, March 9). Toxic productivity: How to spot it. UNLEASH. https://www.unleash.ai/company-culture/toxic-productivity-how-to-spot-it/
- Nieuwhof, C. (2022, July 30). 9 Warning Signs You’re Suffering From Toxic Productivity. CareyNieuwhof.Com. https://careynieuwhof.com/9-warning-signs-youre-suffering-from-toxic-productivity/
- https://editorial.femaledaily.com/blog/2022/06/14/gen-z-dan-obsesi-hustle-culture-produktif-atau-toxic