Can you define toxic productivity?

Toxic productivity happens when three things converge: (1) using productivity to cope with uncomfortable emotions, like shame or guilt, (2) productivity at the cost of wellbeing (3) a strong connection between how you value yourself and how much you achieve/produce. Together, these three mental states create a set of habits that lead to toxic productivity. 

What values drive healthy productivity? 

Balance / boundaries, intention, and authenticity

Why is addressing the emotional foundation one of the most important parts of healing and fulfillment?

 Emotions are often the root cause of our behaviors, including unhealthy habits and coping mechanisms. By addressing the emotional foundation, we can uncover the underlying causes of issues like anxiety, stress, or burnout, leading to more effective and lasting change. Emotions can drive repetitive, unhelpful patterns such as perfectionism, overworking, or avoidance. By addressing these emotions, we can break these cycles and cultivate healthier habits and mindsets. When we understand and work through our emotional responses, we gain a greater sense of control and empowerment. This emotional clarity gives us the agency to make choices that align with our values and goals.

What are some of the most common myths that perpetuate toxic productivity?

1. Rest is failure or a waste of time 
2. Productivity at all costs is valid 
3. Being busy is the same thing as being productive
4. Saying no makes you a bad/lazy person etc

What are the dangers of operating in autopilot mode?

1. Disengagement: When operating on autopilot, we're often disconnected from our emotions. This can prevent us from understanding and processing our feelings, leading to unresolved emotional issues, stress, and burnout.
2. Poor decision making: When we aren't fully engaged or mindful, we might make decisions based on habit or convenience rather than careful consideration. This can lead to choices that don’t serve our best interests or long-term goals.
3. Limited creativity and problem solving: Operating on autopilot limits our ability to think outside the box, reduce our capacity for problem-solving, and inhibit innovation.
4. Avoidance: Autopilot can be a way to avoid dealing with difficult emotions or situations. This avoidance can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like overworking, substance use, or emotional numbing.

How can we challenge the instinct to trust the negative beliefs we hold for ourselves (i.e childhood experiences, cultural myths, emotional responses from past occurrences, fear of rejection,  avoiding painful emotions, etc.)? 

It's essential to recognize when these beliefs arise and how they show up in our daily lives. Practices like journaling, meditation, or mindfulness can help us identify these recurring thoughts, their triggers, and the emotional responses they provoke. By tracing these beliefs back to their origins we can start to see them not as inherent truths, but as learned patterns that can be unlearned.

Challenging negative self-beliefs is a gradual and ongoing process that requires patience and consistency. By questioning these beliefs, reframing them, and building new, healthier thought patterns, we can move towards a more compassionate, empowered self-perception.

You mention how toxic productivity can show up under many disguises. Can you share some personal stories where you have experienced it firsthand?

1. Personal development mask: reading too many self help books, courses etc 
2. Self-care: waking up earlier than I needed to

Oftentimes, being busy and being productive are confused as one. Why is it important to reframe this misconception?

Being busy often involves filling our schedules with tasks, whether they are meaningful or not. Productivity focuses on the quality and impact of what we accomplish. 

Productivity is tied to having a clear sense of purpose and direction. It involves focusing on tasks that move us closer to our goals. When we equate busyness with productivity, we risk losing sight of our purpose, becoming caught up in activities that don't contribute to our long-term vision.

When we conflate busyness with productivity, we might feel pressured to keep moving without taking breaks, resulting in physical and mental exhaustion. Understanding that productivity isn't about how much we do but how effectively we do it helps us to set healthier boundaries and incorporate rest into our routines.

Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More is available now.