Toxic Productivity
The danger of performance pressure and perfectionism
Productivity is praiseworthy – but the downsides are often ignored.
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Being productive is trendy. However, the downsides of perfectionism and ambitious work are rarely talked about.
Social media tends to give us an image of a perfect reality. This includes not only the perfect looks, the perfect relationship and the perfect family, but also an ambitious and worthwhile lifestyle. More and more content creators show their perfect morning routine – which often starts as early as five in the morning. The working week that lasts longer than 40 hours is also propagated. So-called productivity influencers seem to work 24/7, enjoying the ultimate life and loads of recognition. But what does this seemingly flawless image do to the audience?
Many people always strive for the best from an early age. Our society is trimmed for performance and young adults often see their career dreams shattered because they can’t complete a master’s degree, only ever get top grades, have two part-time jobs at the same time and do sports regularly in order to impress with their looks . It is desirable to be productive. But this enforced productivity can quickly become toxic.
An eternal vicious circle
Because once you have set yourself high goals and possibly even achieved them in the given time, you often strive for even more. A completed bachelor’s degree is often not enough these days. It has to be the master. This should be followed by a permanent position in a top company. And from there people prefer to work their way up. Many forget to listen to their gut feeling and their inner voice. Because those who reach their goals faster and faster often limit other important areas in their lives.
For example, your own mental and physical health. If you sit at your desk for several hours a day and cram for your job or your studies, you will have been confronted with headaches and back pain or other problems at one time or another. But not only the body suffers from the constant tension, the mind is also affected. More and more people suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders and burnouts.
Despite health problems, some employees and students still feel obliged to go about their work as usual. There may be various reasons for this: Sometimes the pressure from superiors, be it the boss or the lecturer, is too high. Often it is also an inner principle to always want to give everything – regardless of losses. Also, for many people who suffer from toxic productivity, it is a mix of both – external pressures and internal principles.
When hobbies go from fun to torture
But productivity can not only be fatal in everyday training or work. Even when it comes to private goals, it can take on toxic traits and thus turn the most beautiful hobbies into torture. For example, when it comes to sports: Fitness influencers often tempt people to go beyond their own limits. That’s not always necessarily a bad thing – but if you can’t assess your body well enough, you’re more likely to exhaust yourself with the fifth workout of the week instead of working on yourself in a healthy way.
Other hobbies can also become toxic. Simple reading of books sometimes becomes a competition on social media. Instructions on how to read a novel a day are circulating on TikTok and Co. But not everyone is made to process information as quickly as possible. If the attempt then fails, one often feels humiliated afterwards. Why can others achieve so much in a short time, just not me?
Professional help is required
If you catch yourself risking your health and joie de vivre for academic, professional or even hobby goals, you should try to slow down. You can only spend the next weekend in bed. The next run doesn’t have to be ten kilometers long, a shorter distance can also be nice and satisfying. And the next extra task from the boss can also be rejected once – without having a bad conscience afterwards.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. Not everyone who is already in a vicious circle can find their way out on their own. It is then advisable to find out about psychological treatment from your family doctor or health insurance company. Exchanging ideas with family, friends and work colleagues is also good. If your best friend dares to skip the sport for the next date in the café, your own guilty conscience may also disappear.