The Problem With Always Needing to Be Productive

In my practice, I’ve noticed that people experiencing burnout are often feeling frustrated and stressed about not feeling productive enough.

Burnout has forced them to slow down, which comes into direct conflict with the tense energy inside them that feels the need to always be productive — to always be achieving, doing, progressing, in order to feel okay.

And often, this is the same energy that contributed to the burnout in the first place.

If this sounds familiar, I invite you to take a look at your definition of the word “productive.”

What does productive actually mean to you?

If you were to make a list of things you consider productive, and a list of things you consider unproductive, you might start to see something more clearly.

For example:
Does self-care make it onto your productive list?
Does rest?
Does emotional regulation?
Does slowing down enough to actually feel your feelings?

And does being regulated help you function better, think more clearly, connect more deeply, and move through life with more intention?

You might already be starting to notice that the version of “productive” you’ve been working with is perhaps a little dysfunctional.

Today, I stopped and stared at a snail for two minutes.

Was that productive, or unproductive?

You tell me.

But also tell me why.

-L