In today's world of hustle culture, it’s easy to feel like your worth is tied to your productivity. Many of us struggle with defining clear boundaries around work while navigating potentially manipulative workplace practices and still striving to reach our own goals. This is not only prevalent in the workforce but in most aspects of our lives, and it affects adults of all ages. 

In the face of an overburdening workload, it’s possible for anyone to feel suffocated or inadequate. However, knowing how much is too much when it comes to being productive can be a unique problem, and those who don't understand may struggle to define their boundaries in a way that is beneficial to their mental health.

With school coming back into session and a new myriad of responsibilities around the corner, young people may be looking for ways to break free of expectations that don’t work for them. It’s more important than ever to develop healthy habits around productivity, and if you or someone you love is struggling to find a place to start, we have a bit of advice that may be helpful. 

First, it's worth addressing why it’s so common for people to struggle with overcommitting to productivity. The rise of social media may have something to do with the trend as it exposes young people to images of entrepreneurs and influencers who glamorize the idea of working long hours, or late into the night. They're successful because of the amount of time and work they put in - this normalizes the idea that success can only be achieved by those who are willing to dedicate themselves to pursuing it heavily. 

Dedication to the pursuit of productivity can then become an obsession and can have massive emotional stakes for those who are heavily invested. If you are unhealthily attached to the idea of productivity, you may find yourself blowing off friends and family for work, not making time to care for yourself (skipping meals, working late), or feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment when you fail to meet the expectations set for you.

If you’re someone who’s in school balancing grades, social life, and in some cases a job, it’s pretty easy to overwork yourself. When you feel you have no free time, or that you are failing unless you can face every responsibility thrown your way, you too could be in a toxic tangle with productivity culture. It’s harder in an atmosphere where you have less control, such as in an academic setting, but all the same, asserting your needs for downtime at home and making space for relaxation and enjoyment when it's possible are key to maintaining your balance. 

Breaking the cycle is important,  as those who commit to a lifestyle centered around productivity or hustle culture are prone to feeling burnt out, underappreciated, and overall unsatisfied.  It’s also been documented that those who struggle with productivity regulation have higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to their less work-centric counterparts. 

If you are looking at the signs and not feeling good about where you stand with your relationship with productivity, don’t worry. It’s not an uncommon issue, and there are many actionable and simple steps to begin to disengage from an overly productive mindset

An excellent first step is to get acquainted with your thresholds and define your desires. Do you want to make sure you have free time available for your friends and hobbies? Do you want to ensure you are eating and sleeping enough? Do you want to get better at saying no to taking on extra responsibilities? Getting clear on your desires and making sure that you are asserting and holding the boundaries around them can prevent being overloaded.

 It may take some time to feel more comfortable saying no and asserting boundaries, but in the long run, learning when and how to stand up for yourself is an important skill. If you need practice, start small. Make a promise to yourself to spend an hour before bed relaxing, or commit to putting your phone on do not disturb over the weekend so you have unobstructed free time and won't be tempted to answer work calls outside of office hours. Try to let go of the notion that taking time for yourself is selfish- the reality is that rest is essential to give your best. 

The examples I‘ve given have mostly been surface level, however, it is not always so simple. Sometimes, the obsession with productivity can be linked deeply to our self-worth. In the case of someone with low self-worth, being overly productive can be a tool that assuages their fears of being useless or unworthy. This is a dangerous thing to internalize, as these people are most at risk to engage in behaviors that compromise their wellness for the sake of appeasing others. It’s important to remember your worth and prioritize yourself ALWAYS. No amount of performance or productivity can cure a feeling of dissatisfaction with yourself, and can further block your road to actual healing and development of traits and habits that will make you happier with who you are.

If you find yourself in a situation where it’s impossible to avoid the need to be productive, there are some simple ways to boost productivity without sacrificing your mental health. Getting motivated to do the things you need to do is something we all struggle with from time to time, so finding a tempting reward or some guaranteed fun to balance out the tedium will help you get through your day; it also reaffirms the need for downtime and enjoyment alongside hard work.  Another tip that might help reaffirm the split between work and the rest of your life is making a schedule and having a designated workspace.

Working from home has become increasingly common, and the lines between home and work have become more blurred. Having a clean, well organized designated workspace can give the feeling of being in the office, and also gives you the freedom to keep the rest of your space feeling like a place for relaxation. Scheduling or to-do lists are also great tools to improve the health of your productivity. Checking off tasks is a great mood booster, and is known to give a feeling of accomplishment, whereas scheduling helps you get more done and keeps you organized so you don't waste time figuring out your next step. Scheduling also helps redefine those work/life balances that are integral to a healthy lifestyle. 

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be productive and contribute in meaningful ways both for yourself and your community. However, there’s a limit to how much anyone can take on without it coming at the cost of your mental health. Finding ways to implement tools that have a positive effect on both your productivity and mental health is essential to truly flourish. As with most things, the key to having a healthy relationship with your work is to find balance and ground your expectations for yourself. With effort and a little soul searching, it's possible to find a level of productivity that feels comfortable and fulfilling.