Blog Short #202: When Productivity Becomes an Addiction

Photo by Carl Heyerdahl on Unsplash

I love being productive and spend a lot of time researching methods to increase my productivity. It’s rewarding when you can do something faster, easier, and better. No doubt about it!

But it’s got a dark side. I’m noticing that trend more. There’s a growing obsession with accomplishment and a neverending desire for more.

Today, I’ll give you a quick summary of this mindset and how to separate productivity from it so that you can use it to your advantage without it using you.

The Desire for More

How many times have you heard of billionaires whose primary focus is to make more money?

It’s not like they need it, but it’s become an obsession.

That’s an example most of us need never worry about, but the dynamic is something of concern.

You set a goal, work hard at it, and achieve it. But instead of savoring it, you feel discontent and move quickly to a new goal. Something bigger. Something grander.

There’s nothing wrong with working toward accomplishments. It’s a necessary drive that increases our overall survival and sense of worth. But there’s a runaway quality to it when it becomes obsessive.

Chris Bailey calls this trend “the accomplishment mindset.” Here’s his very apt description:

The accomplishment mindset is a conditioned set of attitudes and beliefs that drives us to constantly strive to accomplish more. We always want to fill our time with something and feel guilty when spending it in a “nonoptimal” way. This mindset leads us to continually think about the opportunity cost of our time and how to use our limited time to achieve more.

Opportunity cost is a business term that refers to the cost of engaging in one activity at the expense of something that would net greater gain.

Should you read through your emails or finish that sales ad?

Applying it more globally, you might decide that taking a 15-minute break to relax is a wasted opportunity to check three more things off your list.

That nagging voice in your head tells you you’re lazy when you don’t have the pedal to the floor.

There’s an addictive quality to the accomplishment mindset that won’t let you relax. You feel unworthy when you aren’t “being productive.”

Downtime makes you anxious and edgy.

The Trifecta

The trifecta looks like this:

Desire for More > Accomplishment Mindset > Productivity

Or the reverse could be true. You focus more and more on productivity and get swept up in accomplishing things, followed by an increasing need for more.

What eventually happens is that productivity becomes your identity.

And when you’re not being productive, you feel discontent and unhappy with yourself.

But isn’t productivity an asset?

Yes, it is, if used correctly.

Productivity is the science of how to get things done to achieve and accomplish goals.

It’s supposed to help you get your work done efficiently so you have time for yourself and activities that are important to you.

If you have a productive workday and can end it at a reasonable time, you can spend quality time with your family, partner, or friends. You can kick back, watch a show you like, or read a good book.

Productivity is a tool to use so you can enjoy all aspects of your life.

Strategies That Keep Productivity in Check

1. Be Aware of Obsessiveness

Most people don’t consider whether they’re obsessive or their actions are driven by compulsion. That’s something that belongs to a mental health diagnosis that’s out there somewhere and applies to other people.

Don’t kid yourself. All of us have tendencies to become obsessed with things. Some more than others, but it can also apply to you and me. And it does.

When you do something repetitively and feel uncomfortable when you aren’t or can’t do it, it’s time to pay attention.

There’s that fine line between choice and compulsion; when you’re aware of crossing it, you can back up a bit and put the reins on it.

Creating a productive or good habit is a choice. You decide to do something regularly because it’s in your best interest, like exercise.

You may grow to need it, but you keep a check on overdoing it, and you’re successful at it.

However, if you find yourself exercising three times a day every day and feel depressed if you miss one, you no longer have a habit that’s good for you.

You have an obsession combined with compulsive behavior.

Productivity itself can become an obsession with a compulsive need for accomplishment. You have to do it; when you don’t, you feel empty.

That’s a problem.

Just be aware of habits versus compulsions and keep a check on them.

2. Practice periods of silence.

I totally understand if you made a face at that, but give it a try anyway.

The specific practice is to spend time sitting, lying down, or walking silently. You can make it pleasant. For example, you can sit outside if you have a yard, park bench, or someplace interesting. But, be quiet.

Put all your tech away and let your mind wander. No music. Don’t engage in any other activity.

If it’s hard for you to do, start with ten minutes and work toward thirty.

The goal is to be able to do it, enjoy it, and get comfortable with it.

If you can, do it daily.

3. Spend time with other people.

Spend time with your family, partner, kids, friends, or whomever you like without a goal.

It can be fun, like playing board games or cards. Maybe go out for coffee. Walk around the block. Or just hang out and chat.

But no screens!

Now, it is fun to watch movies or TV together, and that’s fine too, but spend some time outside of that. Make screen time additional.

And please put your phones away when you’re talking to each other – speaking of addictions!

4. Savor your accomplishments.

When you’ve achieved a goal or gotten a lot done, take some time to savor and enjoy it.

Bask in the good feeling of having gotten to the finish line. Don’t jump right into the next thing, and the next, and the next.

The whole purpose of productivity is to enjoy the process using the best methodology and means to meet your goal, but then to let it be for a while and enjoy the benefits.

Productivity is a tool for your use, not who you are.

Keep your identity and your work separate. Identity is more about values and beliefs and how you express them.

5. Divide time.

Time can all run together, especially since we have so much to do. Sometimes, I’m incredulous about the expectations our culture demands of us and what we demand of ourselves.

You have to consistently counteract those demands by deliberately setting aside time for yourself and your relationships and resting.

However, you must be comfortable with those activities to do that. Many of us aren’t.

No worries. You can change that. It’s a matter of carving out that time and using it specifically for being instead of doing.

Make it repetitive until it is comfortable.

The silence exercises will help you with that.

6. Mediation, Exercise, and Good Diet

I always include these three things, and you may tired of hearing about them, but they are regular habits that counteract the culture of more, accomplishment mindset, and productivity on speed.

Exercise draws you out of your head and into your body, which is a very effective way of releasing stress and refocusing your priorities.

Regular meditation creates an ongoing awareness of yourself and a foundation of calm that helps you act with intention rather than compulsion.

Bad diets make you anxious and depressed. People don’t seem to believe or understand that, but science has shown it to be true. Watch what you eat.

Last Thing

All these suggestions aim to help you develop better habits and rewire your brain to gain more control over your life.

Let’s wrap it up with this quote:

Make productivity your aide and friend, but remember that you’re the boss. Use it, but don’t be it.

That’s all for today.

Have a great week!

All my best,

Barbara