BALANCE_WINTER_2024 - 47

PRODUCTIVITY TRAP
T
he gentle ping of
another work email
at 9pm. The gnawing
guilt over taking a
proper lunch break.
The compulsion to
reply " Busy! " when
asked how we are. In modern Britain,
being perpetually occupied has become
our default state - and for many, our
primary source of self-worth. But as rates
of burnout and anxiety soar, experts are
sounding the alarm on our unhealthy
relationship with productivity.
THE MYTH OF 'ALWAYS ON'
Recent research by Robert Walters
reveals a startling picture: 70% of UK
professionals find it difficult to 'switch
off' from work and 76% admit to
checking emails or calls outside of work
hours . A further 35% report feelings of
increased stress or anxiety because of
this habit.
Bruce Daisley, former Twitter
VP and author of Eat Sleep
Work Repeat, sees this trend
as particularly problematic.
" Longer hours may mean
employees are doing more work
but they are actually achieving
less, " he says. " Busyness is not
the same as productivity, and it's
harming our mental health. "
For many, the instinct of linking
The State of Wellbeing at Work Report
2024 found that 65% of UK workers
have felt burnt out due to work, but 42%
still felt uncomfortable talking about
their mental health. Working to break a
link between measurable output - such
as KPIs and work goals -and personal
value can help avoid feelings of burnout,
particularly in today's 'hustle culture'
where even hobbies are under pressure
to become monetised.
REDEFINING SELF-WORTH
Breaking free from this mindset requires
a fundamental shift in how we view our
time and our own value. Bristol-based
psychologist Shelley Treacher explains
that people often use their productivity
as a coping mechanism, which may
work in the short term but cause
problems later in life.
" We live in a culture that praises
Worldwide issue
The global Human
Workplace Index found
83% of respondents had
productivity anxiety
productivity and criticises or
misunderstands downtime. Our culture
calls it procrastination or
laziness, " she says.
" Over-productivity
can be a way to
manage anxiety,
feelings of low
self-worth, and it
may be a survival
instinct. It can also
become a dependency,
frequently going hand in hand with
self-worth to productivity stems from
early influences. Parents, often with
the best intentions, may convey that
success equates to personal value. In
certain communities, especially among
immigrant families, productivity is
seen as essential to achieving success.
While this mindset can drive ambition,
it may also blur the line between
productivity and self-worth, affecting
mental wellbeing. When productivity
dips, individuals may feel they are failing
to meet expectations of themselves.
STUCK IN THE RACE
One solution is -as is so often the case
- talking about the problem with peers
to normalise a shared experience, but
data from Employment Hero shows
that we still have a long way to go. Its
stress-eating or other harmful habits. "
Instead, Shelley recommends
deliberately overestimating the time it
takes to complete a task, to remove the
pressure of rushing to get it done.
OUR BRAINS' REWARD LOOP
Dr Tara Swart, neuroscientist and senior
lecturer at MIT Sloan, explains how to
use productivity to our advantage: " Our
brains thrive on small wins that release
motivating bursts of dopamine. When
we break daunting tasks into microsteps,
each tiny achievement propels us
forward. Whereas tackling huge goals
all at once feels overwhelming. "
The trick is to learn how to slow down
and manage these small dopamine
bursts so that we can enjoy the reward,
rather than frantically chase the next hit.
47
BREAK FREE
FIVE WAYS TO
ESCAPE THE
WORK TRAP
If you're ready to redefine
your worth beyond
productivity, try these
expert-backed approaches:
Practice mindful
transitions
Establish clear boundaries
between work and rest. A
simple shutdown ritual - such
as a short walk or few minutes
of deep breathing - can signal
to your mind that it's time to
unwind and switch modes.
Audit your language
Notice how often you
say " I should " or " I must " . Try
replacing these with " I choose
to " or " I want to " . This shift can
help you feel in control and
reclaim ownership of your time.
Cultivate moments of
'non-productive' joy
Schedule time for activities with
no goal beyond pure enjoyment.
Whether it's watching the
clouds, reading for pleasure or
engaging in a hobby, these
moments remind you that not
everything needs a purpose.
Reframe rest as an act
of radical self-care
In a culture that equates worth
with output, choosing rest can
be a powerful way to challenge
the idea you must be constantly
" switched on " to have value.
Create a 'to be' list
Focus on qualities you
want to embody, such as being
present, kind or curious, to
emphasise being, not doing.
B
Words: Miguel Torres
BALANCE_WINTER_2024

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