Today's society is trapped in a kind of dictatorship of toxic productivity: you have to always be doing things. The more, even at the same time and simultaneously, the better. Well, the belief is that this is the only way to achieve a goal, even sacrificing free or rest hours, since the mind is always thinking about its list of pending tasks. And, despite this, the feeling is that not enough is being done. That is, toxic productivity represents the need instilled by society that one must be productive all the time, which generates frustration and anguish.
When we talk about the secret to success, most of the time it is linked to performance, to how people can be more productive. Which causes an obsession and a feeling of emptiness that, according to psychologist Valeria Sabater, can end up being the basis of anxiety disorders and depression. Furthermore, the specialist assures that it is something that “has come to stay,” and that it is experiencing exponential growth in society.
The pressure that people are under in terms of toxic productivity demands is more than palpable. The academic system puts pressure on its students in terms of competitiveness, not to mention the world of work. Magazines and social networks are full of tips and productivity routines from successful entrepreneurs, celebrities and other personalities who are references for many, who seek to achieve their status. All this generates feelings of guilt.
“We live in a culture in which our self-esteem is based only on what we do,” explains psychologist Valeria Sabater. So the general conception is that one is worth how much one tries. You just have to see how well viewed, from social perception, are those people who make an effort to combine work with studies and many other responsibilities. The situation of these busy individuals, who spend the day “non-stop,” is romanticized. Without taking into account how that is affecting your mental health and general well-being.
Previously mentioned is the social concept that the harder a person tries, the more productive they will be and, therefore, the closer they will be to achieving their goal. This, in theory, should generate satisfaction, but it does not. In fact, the specialist states that, often, the more effort people make, the greater the feeling of “not doing enough.”
So why is this happening? The answer he shares is that perfectionism and self-demand are behind toxic productivity. “The feeling of not doing enough is nothing more than a cognitive distortion,” which, he adds, will lead to low self-esteem, “negatively valenced” emotions, and often even depression.
