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The workaholic -

In many ways, the term toxic productivity is very similar to a term that most people have heard of before: workaholics.

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Doing much more than what's expected -

Essentially the term describes when someone feels they have to go the extra mile at work, that they need to be productive at all times, even if it is not expected of them.

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It's a problem when it negatively affects other areas of your life -

It can become a problem in many ways, simply because the person puts their progress in work or otherwise over many aspects of their life, too much of the time.

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Never finished -

Toxic productivity describes how someone continues to work, even when the task is complete. They feel a guiltiness that they haven’t done enough.

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Enough is never enough -

This is because, for the person suffering from toxic productivity, too much is never enough.

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Judging based on what you haven't done -

 Simone Milasas, a business coach and author of ‘Joy of Business,’ says that people suffering from toxic productivity will judge themselves every day on what they haven’t achieved, rather than what they have.

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Sometimes it is needed, but not consistently -

There are times when it is necessary to prioritize work and miss a social event or be late, but it shouldn’t be consistent.

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The effects of lockdown -

Kathryn Esquer, a psychologist and founder of the Teletherapist Network, said that when we went into lockdown, many of us felt unsure of ourselves, uncertain in our jobs, and decided to work more because of it.

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How we spend our spare time matters -

Esquer said that “we could have used our free time to rest, recharge, and restore ourselves, but many of us filled those hours with more work as a way to feel worthy, fulfilled, and in control.”

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Social media -

Social media, in many ways, hasn’t helped people. Many tweets and posts suggested that people should come out of quarantine with a side business started, or a new skill learned, but these things are not for everyone.

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Unrealistic expectations -

Of course, nobody should be expected to start a business or learn guitar just because they were locked inside.

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The human condition -

In a sense, there is a more significant explanation for this. It is part of the human spirit to work in times of uncertainty.

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Guilt -

Milasas says that, “If you’re constantly trying to force things into existence or feeling guilty, that’s toxic productivity.”

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Fatigue and exhaustion -

Another sign of toxic productivity is fatigue and exhaustion, especially if you’re feeling it first thing in the morning.

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It shows in communication -

Laurie Ruettimann, a human resources consultant and author, says that people suffering from toxic productivity will show sure signs in their communication.

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Beating around the bushes -

They may call for a meeting when an email would be sufficient or use a lot of jargon that makes a conversation twice as long as it needs to be. This is rooted in their guilt and fear of not performing as well as they could.

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The niggling voice -

One way of overcoming this is to stop asking yourself, “what should I be doing right now?”

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Incremental steps -

Instead, you can ask yourself, according to Milasas, “what could I do or create with ease right now that won’t stress me out?”

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People are less interested in your work than you may think -

Another step to overcoming this is to realize that your boss is a lot less interested in you going the extra mile than you might realize. They have their own lives too–their own families, friends, and hobbies–and they may not even realize how much extra work you're doing, according to Ruettimann.

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Self-care during lockdown -

Lynn Taylor, a highly acclaimed career author, says that people should make the extra effort to practice self-care during lockdown times.

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Professional detachment -

Ruettimann has coined the term “professional detachment.” This describes staying committed to your job and doing quality work while also understanding that it’s not your identity.

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It can have a positive effect on our work too -

In this way, it presents those who practice it with a sense of freedom; they show up to work out of choice, not just because it’s “who they are” and what they have to do.

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Enthusiasm and kindness because you choose -

It also has benefits for people in terms of work itself. Ruettimann says that “when you’re professionally detached, you treat everyone like clients: your boss, peers, and colleagues.”

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Some sympathy is in order -

There have been tremendous efforts by those who have come before us to secure a working situation to have a good work-life balance. However, it has been hard for people during a lockdown, which deserves some sympathy.

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Self-awareness -

Milasas says that we should question what we’re doing when deciding to work those extra hours at night. That we should question the choice that we have made, and why we made it.

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Health and well-being -

It’s necessary now and again to work hard, and we can work hard while also considering our health and well-being. 

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Certain work cultures reward toxic productivity -

There are different work cultures in different countries. It would be looked down upon to do any more than is expected of you in some countries, for example. Yet in others, like in the US, you are often rewarded for it.

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To be in control, we need to be aware -

Ultimately, we should be aware of where and why we are spending our energy and whether it's out of choice or out of guilt, anxiety, and toxic productivity.

Sources: (HuffPost) (Create & Cultivate)(Grazia) (The Ascent)

See also: Smart and sneaky ways to incorporate exercise into your workday

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