5 Ways to Break The Cycle of Toxic Productivity
Many of us have been taught from a young age that working hard is the sole key to success. However, no one ever mentions the part where working hard should never interfere with or negatively impact our mental, spiritual and physical health. The majority of TikTok videos nowadays talk about “hustle culture” and “grinding our way to the top” — but that’s just a cool way of referring to toxic productivity.
Toxic productivity is a harmful mindset that promotes overworking yourself to the point of burnout and breakdowns to prove that you are successful and worthy. Being too productive and dismissing your personal needs can lead to additional stress, lack of fulfillment and frustration.
Your well-being comes first, so here are 5 ways to establish boundaries between your work and personal life:
01
Set reasonable goals
It’s evident that we love ourselves. We believe that we can achieve anything we set our mind to, but sometimes our goals are very unrealistic —to the point where we strain ourselves and get frustrated when things don’t go our way. Create SMART goals to ensure our goals are attainable, easy-to-measure and within our scope.
02
Indulge in self care
If you’re the type of person to make sure everyone else’s cup is full, then it’s time to pour into yourself. Do something you love. Visit your favorite garden, follow the new bike trail, read a book at your favorite shop, take a hot yoga class — pick something that relaxes you.
03
Take a break (or two, or a few)
Rest is essential for promoting better mental, spiritual and physical health. We know you have to get your work done, but it’s okay to break your tasks up and take 10-15 minute breaks in between. If you like to work in a calming environment, play a video with a Pomodoro timer where you work for 25 minutes straight and take a 5 minute break for 4 intervals with relaxing music. Make sure to stretch, move your body and drink water regularly!
04
Set work-personal life boundaries
Avoid burnout by setting clear times on when you should be working and when you should be winding down at home. Make sure to turn off work-related notifications after your shift and don’t be afraid to say no to tasks that don’t align with your current priorities. Don’t worry, Slack will still be around tomorrow morning.
05
Talk to your support system
If you’re still struggling with your boundaries or feel too overwhelmed to come up with a game plan on your own, don’t sit in silence. Reach out to your trusted friends and family and express to them how you’re feeling. You can also reach out to a mental health professional to gain a better understanding on how to navigate between your personal and work life.
Remember, your well-being comes before anything else. Always put yourself first.
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