PRODUCTIVITY

Toxic Productivity: What You Need To Know

Jan 31, 2023

We all know that building an online business takes a lot of work and it's important for entrepreneurs to maximize their productivity to get the fastest results. But if you're not careful, your desire to be more productive can become toxic and impact your mental health in a negative way.

In this blog post, we'll explore the difference between healthy productivity and toxic productivity, how it can impact your mental and physical health, and what you can do to avoid it. So let's get started!

What is Productivity

Productivity is the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services. Effective productivity is the ability to get things done as efficiently as possible without sacrificing quality or burning out.

But when it becomes toxic the risk to mental health becomes an issue.

What is Toxic Productivity

Toxic Productivity is the desire to be productive at all costs. It can manifest itself as the need for having to be busy and be doing something all the time. When you finally take a break your mind doesn’t shut off from it easily and you may experience things like guilt, worry and even fear. This kind of productivity can affect your sense of worth and is toxic to your well-being.

How to Avoid Toxic Productivity

Recognizing toxic productivity is key to preventing it, but as any toxic behavior it can be sneaky. So here are some tips for avoiding it altogether.

Recognize busy work compared with real transformational work
Know how the work you're doing fits into your big picture
Outsource if you can
For repetitive work, focus on how you can make each task more efficient, reusable and simplified
Create milestones for work that takes longer than 2 hours so you can take a break
Do a transition activity to transition from task to task or from work to home
Create clear boundaries between work and home life.

What to do if you are having an "Episode"

If you find yourself sitting at your desk and not really getting anything done, but still sitting there because you need to finish... you may be having a toxic productivity episode. Step away from your desk. Go for a walk, chat with a friend or simply take some time to rest and recharge. Your brain will be sharper when you get back to it and you will get it done faster than if you just sit there trying to force yourself.

Toxic productivity is a real problem that can have negative consequences on your mental and physical health. If you feel like you might be suffering from toxic productivity, don't wait. Do something about it now.

Listen to your body and mind when they start telling you that something isn’t working. By following these tips, you can avoid the dangers of toxic productivity and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Investing in yourself is the best way to stay productive and protect your wellbeing. And remember that there’s more to life than work, so give yourself permission to enjoy it!

With some hard work and dedication plus a healthy dose of self-care, you can have your business up and running in no time. Being aware of toxic productivity and understanding the importance of balance will be hugely beneficial for both your work life, and personal life! so don’t forget to take care of yourself as you build your business. Your mental and physical health depends on it!

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