We are a society that is obsessed with doing things. It is as if we are programmed to know how to do multitasking and if we do not we are probably not as capable as the others, who claim that they can.
We must somehow, magically, always be busy otherwise we wear the label of “laziness”.
And while there is nothing wrong with “doing things” – after all, we all have jobs to do – the degree to which productivity dominates our lives affects our daily lives. Mainly psychologically.
Basic things like sleeping and taking care of ourselves have become another task to “note” in our to-do lists and to get “permission” to do absolutely nothing is often treated with guilt because we feel “lazy”.
According to new research from Microsoft Surface, two thirds (63%) of people now reach a point of “stress overload” because they have so much to do.
This sense of “productivity stress” is even worse among women: three in five women (59%) feel they can not do enough on a daily basis, compared to less than two in five men (37%).
But what causes this increase in pressure that so many of us feel? And what can we do to free ourselves from this cycle of stress and anxiety?
While the pandemic has led to an increase in the workload of many people anyway, psychologist Rajvinder Samra believes that there is much more behind this increase in productivity stress and it is not just due to the situations we have experienced.
“The very high standards of everyday life for the things that need to be done also form the basis for the development of productivity stress.”
“We can use these high standards to maintain our own sense of self-worth in times of isolation, which encourages us to keep striving to be successful and productive,” she said.
“Perhaps being more isolated and without the social comparisons and normal social norms that previously helped us achieve balance before the pandemic, allowed these expectations to spiral out of our control.”
Regarding the different experiences between men and women, Dr. Samra believes that it may have to do with the disproportionate levels of domestic and parental burden that many women have felt throughout the pandemic.
How to manage productivity stress
Find the source of stress
Identifying the ways in which your need to be productive could make you feel worse is a great place to start.
“Checking and replying to emails during non-working hours is just tedious and can prevent you from resting and relaxing,” says Rajvinder Samra.
“Start thinking about how you can bring this situation back to a normal or sustainable level for you.”
Use technology to your advantage
While some productivity and organization applications can put pressure on you to do more in your daily life, there are ways to use technology that can help you relieve stress.
Technology can be used to reshape new routines, set new boundaries and truly support productivity.
Manage your energy, not just your time
Focusing on your energy levels on a daily basis is a great indicator of how much you can actually do each day. You certainly do not always have the same energy levels and your body can show you what your limits are and you have to listen to it, to avoid burnout.
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