When hustle culture—fueled by constantly working overtime and ignoring symptoms of burnout—takes a wrong turn, we are in the land of toxic productivity.
It's a place where overworking is the norm and downtime is seen as wasted time. It's where your work ethic becomes an obsession, infringing upon your personal life. It’s rooted in the belief that perpetual busyness equals success.
This is an issue that many of us fall prey to, especially in a world that constantly reinforces "hustle culture” and what it implies about our worth. It takes a healthy amount of self-awareness to know when the amount of work you take on crosses over into a place of toxicity.
This guide will help you define what toxic productivity is, learn how to combat it, and discover how Sunsama ensures you don’t burn out due to toxic work habits.
What is toxic productivity?
Toxic productivity is an obsession with maximizing every minute of our lives for productive work, to the point where relaxation or downtime becomes a source of guilt. It's when your to-do list keeps expanding, and the satisfaction of crossing off tasks is short-lived as new ones rapidly fill the void.
Spotting the red flags of toxic productivity involves introspection. Are you neglecting hobbies and leisure activities in favor of work? Do you feel a constant pressure to be productive, even in your downtime? Do you experience guilt when you're not working?
If the answer to these questions is yes, you might be dealing with toxic productivity. To remedy it, you’ll need to understand the symptoms behind it all.
What causes toxic productivity?
Have you ever scrolled through TikTok or other social media platforms and felt a pang of guilt for not being “productive”? That's hustle culture—the idea that there’s always more to work for and that most of your time should be dedicated to that. It's one of the major culprits fueling toxic productivity.
Perfectionism is another big player. It's always hungry for “more” and “better.” But it doesn't satiate our self-esteem—instead, it often leaves us feeling inadequate.
The rise in remote work has blurred the lines between our professional and personal lives. You may chase unrealistic goals and expectations, which can lead to workplace burnout.
These factors combined create the perfect scenario for toxic productivity. They raise red flags for our mental health, leading to burnout, decreased self-worth, and even physical health issues.
Recognizing these signs of toxic productivity is the first step toward breaking the cycle. By setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks realistically, and taking time for wellness—be it a podcast, a workout, or just spending time with our loved ones—you combat toxic productivity.
The psychology behind toxic productivity
Toxic productivity looks different for everyone. There are plenty of studies around the connections between overworking and burnout—which is chronic work-related stress thanks to mismanagement. Those negative impacts highlight how easily overdoing “productivity” can turn toxic.
Unsurprisingly, burnout is currently an international crisis. According to research from the American Psychological Association, about 79% of workers reported experiencing burnout in 2021—thanks, in large part, to the onset of the pandemic.
However, the most recent numbers still look dire. Microsoft reports as many as 50% of workers and 53% of managers globally reported burnout at work in 2022.
The World Health Organization recently redefined burnout as a psychological syndrome of poorly managed workload and stress. This is where feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion ensue, becoming toxic.
How to set work boundaries
Setting boundaries is a crucial step in breaking the cycle of toxic productivity. Start by defining your work hours, and ensure you log off once your workday ends.
Let’s look at some of the best ways to set and maintain boundaries.
- Set clear work hours: Decide on your start and end times—and stick to them. Your brain needs to understand that work has a “closing time,” just like any physical office would.
- Create and maintain a dedicated workspace: If you're working from home, designate a specific area for work. This physical boundary will help you mentally disconnect when you're off the clock.
- Turn off notifications: When the workday ends, silence email and work app notifications. Remember, truly urgent emails are less common than you think.
- Use tech tools wisely: Use apps like Sunsama to manage your tasks effectively. They can help you prioritize, set realistic goals, and prevent overworking.
- Establish communication guidelines: Be clear about your availability with colleagues. Everyone should understand that “after hours” means you're not on call, unless it's a real emergency.
- Learn to say no: If your plate is full, don't hesitate to push back or delegate. Taking on too much will only lead to stress and burnout.
- Prioritize tasks correctly: Not everything is urgent. Use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix to decide what's important and what can wait.
- Take regular breaks: Don't underestimate the power of a coffee break or a short walk. These little pauses can do wonders for your productivity and mental health.
- Practice mindfulness: Spend a few minutes each day on self-care activities like meditation or yoga. They can help you stay grounded and manage work-related stress more effectively.
Setting boundaries isn't about working less—it's about working smarter. Prioritize your well-being over busyness, and you'll see a significant improvement in your overall productivity as well as your mental well-being.
Fight toxic productivity with Sunsama
In an era where there's an app for everything, using tech to combat toxic productivity is a wise move. For instance, daily planner apps like Sunsama make task management easier and more efficient. Sunsama allows you to prioritize, organize, and focus on tasks that matter, thereby preventing you from overworking.
Here’s a look at some of the standout features of Sunsama that make it a worthy ally in our battle against toxic productivity:
- Shutdown ritual: It’s rare to come across a planning app that alerts you when you’re overworking. Once you set Sunsama’s shutdown ritual at the time you’d like to end your workday, the shutdown alert pops up at that time, every day. It encourages you to celebrate your progress that day with a short journaling prompt.
- Task prioritization: Sunsama lets you prioritize your tasks effectively. So, instead of being buried under an avalanche of to-dos, you can focus on what really matters. No more unrealistic goals; just a well-organized, manageable to-do list.
- Calendar integration: Sunsama seamlessly integrates with your calendar. This means you get a bird's eye view of your day, week, or month—helping you manage your time better and avoid overworking.
- Work-life balance: The app respects your personal time. It understands that your day isn't just about work, but also about spending time with loved ones, self-care, and downtime. It helps you maintain that crucial work-life balance.
- Daily standup: Sunsama's Daily Standup feature allows you to plan your day thoughtfully. It encourages you to set realistic expectations for the day, thereby reducing the chances of burnout.
- Notifications and reminders: Sunsama sends you notifications and reminders, but not in an intrusive, stress-inducing way. It nudges you about pending tasks that you decide to get notified for. For example, if you get a Slack notification, you can turn it into a task to answer later, putting you in the driver’s seat.
Daily planning tools like Sunsama aren’t about helping you work more—they’re about helping you work smarter. Sunsama breaks the cycle of toxic productivity by setting boundaries, prioritizing your well-being, and promoting a more balanced approach to work.
Curious about a planning tool that prioritizes quality over quantity when it comes to working productively? Check out how Sunsama was built around that idea:
Sometimes doing less is more efficient
Being productive isn't harmful, but toxic productivity is. The key to avoiding burnout and protecting your mental health lies in breaking the cycle of toxic productivity.
It's about setting boundaries, prioritizing your well-being over unrealistic expectations, and valuing your self-worth beyond work. Remember, taking care of your physical health, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying your free time aren't luxuries—they're necessities.
Turn off those notifications, shut down your work apps, and breathe. The world beyond work awaits—full of rest, loved ones, and well-deserved relaxation. You've earned it.
Once you’re ready to get back to work, try Sunsama.
