The Art of Living: Escaping Productivity Guilt

Have you ever felt that inner voice telling you to take a break, enjoy yourself, or just pause for a moment? And are you used to dismissing this voice with thoughts like: "No, I don't have time for that now," or, "I've got too much work to do"? This is called productivity guilt. It's the idea that you won't measure up if you're not constantly productive.

In a world where constantly working is glorified and happiness seems tied to achievements, it's easy to be haunted by a sense of inadequacy. On top of that, the pressure of the always-connected digital age only exacerbates this feeling. Slowing down makes us feel like we're not doing our part, but we don't realize that this negatively impacts our creativity and overall productivity.

We subject ourselves to undue stress when we bow to sky-high expectations, whether imposed by others or ourselves. Chronic stress results in lower productivity and a bunch of not-so-fun stuff like difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, body discomfort, anxiety, and even depression.

Times are changing. People are realizing that moving, changing environments, and taking care of their well-being are just as vital as getting work done. Life isn't about non-stop hustle. It's about finding the sweet spot where you balance work and other aspects of your life.

Breaking free from productivity guilt isn't easy. It requires two things:

1. Consciously recognizing when the feeling shows up

2. Embracing a more well-rounded view of success.

We have to recognize that our worth isn't connected to our work achievements. The right approach is to integrate work into the big picture of our lives instead of trying to have a life in between working.

By doing this, we'll unlock what it means to truly live!