I recently read a quote in an article. The only things I could think were here are the effects of Capitalism; this thing she is feeling, that I’ve been feeling, has a name. “Productivity Guilt”.
Heather Havrilesky said “I used to tell myself that if I really wanted to be a great writer, I would stop screwing around and wake up at 4.30am every day.” “I feel like even if you succeed at that lifestyle and that structure, it’s almost like you’re living in this really unforgiving routine that tells you that productivity is the number one goal of each day.”
“How to banish not-working-enough guilt; Extraordinary Routines”
This woman is not the only one suffering its effects. It seems to be a part of all of us these days.
I know many of my friends and family complain at the end of the day about having a nagging feeling that we haven’t done enough, perhaps you too have felt it or know someone who feels it?
One reason we feel like this is because “we link our behaviour, our performance, our productivity, with our self-worth,” said Julie de Azevedo Hanks, Ph.D. LCSW, of Wasatch Family Therapy, a private practice in Utah. “So, when we’re being less productive, we feel like we’re doing something wrong”, she says.
However, did you know the only reason we think in terms of valuing our productivity with our self-worth is based in Capitalism?
Capitalism tells us unless we are productive, “docile bodies” (Foucault, 1995), then we cannot be worthy in “the capitalist factory” (Lafargue, 1904): “the capitalist factory” (ibid), of course, being the world we inhabit.
But why is Capitalism so toxic? And how does it link to Productivity Guilt?
One reason is Healthism. This is a belief system in which the onus is put on the individual to maintain their health, and means they have to put their health above all else.
By doing this, we constantly feel the pressure to be “on top of our game”, even when we are ill: especially, if you are in a marginalised category, or find yourself working from home. When chronically ill, or disabled, we feel added pressure to prove ourselves in a Capitalist society that is not only ableist but classist too. A society who considers those of a lower socio-economic background as less worthy of social merit.
Marginalised communities, such as the chronically ill and disabled, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, were often told they could not work from home. Yet, accommodations were readily made for all people since it became a global issue — showing how easy it was in the first place. Moreover, people of this category, often have to maintain a strict balance in our routines because of the symptoms we experience and how that can impact our workday. Work-from-home parents also face this, as do stay-at-home parents and self-employed people.
This then translates to Productivity Guilt, in that we feel we have not completed enough in a Capitalistic system, and the feeling of guilt at not completing the list of tasks we set ourselves slowly creeps in.
Is it because we are setting unrealistic expectations of ourselves?
It is true that most of us are hugely optimistic when writing our to-do lists, we have an expectation of ourselves planning our day full to-the-t. But the problem comes when reality hits and the end of the day looms with more than half that list unticked. What can we do instead?
TIPS AND TRICKS:
1.) Recognize the journey instead of focusing on the ending.
You can celebrate your imperfections; you may never be perfect, you are after all human, but you should celebrate that fact! Being perfect would lead to a boring life.
For the little imperfections that annoy you, try embracing them as something that makes you unique and drives you forward in your own way.
For example, if you use social media “too much” many say to get your to-do list done, you should cut out social media for the “business” part of your day. Social media is not a negative thing that distracts us, when used appropriately.
However, if you are a creative, often social media will create the next opportunity for an exhibition, or inspire your next piece of work. Similarly, it could inspire your next piece of writing or recipe or textile pattern. Cutting out social media could actually hinder your creative process. So, ruminate on my next point and “Reframe the narrative”.
2.) Reframe the narrative/ situation
When the little voice in your head starts softly whispering those negative thoughts, getting louder as it goes, you need to stop it in its tracks. Reframe the story. Call it out for what it is. “A story you’re telling yourself”, (Grant).
Heidi Grant the director of research and development for Americas Learning at EY and the author of No One Understands You and What to Do About It, and says “it’s only true because of the way you’re interpreting the situation”. She reaffirms “you’re deciding that it’s all your fault”, imagine how you could turn the situation around with some narrative rearrangement? How good would that feel to have agency and control in this situation? If you are showing compassion to your fellow colleagues, is it a mighty leap to assume that they would show you compassion if you do not finish your to-do list?
Practice self-care in this situation — I am not just talking about a luxury face mask, ordering take-out and putting on a feel-good movie; I am talking scheduling in a day’s holiday and having what we millennial's call a “mental health day”. Clear your schedule and do whatever it is you feel like — everything and anything except work![1]
3.) Remind yourself that “wasting time” is also productive.
Sometimes our best ideas come to us when we are relaxing, or doing things other than working, the hobbies and activities we choose to do outside work are just as enriching and important to our character development as our job. They even have an impact and influence in how well we do our job because they make us happier individuals, who are less stressed.
Moreover, another viewpoint to take into consideration is how recruiters will see you. Do you remember your last interview? How many of you were asked what you liked doing in your spare time? It is a very common question, and without interesting answers, the recruiters will not get to see a fully dimensional character.
4.) Reinforce Positive Emotions
If you are self-employed or unemployed, trying to jump back in, or a stay-at-home/ work-at-home parent, the burden may feel even harder, never-ending almost — always looking for the next opportunity, a never-ending list of chores. But can you try to show compassion for yourself and accept that today you worked incredibly hard? Tomorrow is a new day, with new horizons. Try telling yourself “I did extremely well today” or if you cannot do that, be neutral, “I got through today”.
Acknowledging your hard work will go a long way in reinforcing positive emotions, and pushing away that negative productivity guilt.
5.) Temper your expectations
Sometimes, however, the problem is our expectations, and tempering them to what is realistic. Did something hold you up during the day? Take for example, how we are working during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: many work with children at home; caring for their needs is complex and time consuming, it is only logical to think you will miss some time that could have been spent working on your to-do list.
In addition, as mentioned before, many of us are neurodiverse or have chronic illnesses/ disabilities. These too, account for our to-do list mishaps as varying energy levels, varying pain levels, sensory sensitivities, all have an effect on how many hours a day we can work, and during what times of the day[2].
Consider to yourself what is one thing I am proud of today? What did I give to this day? When I say “give”, it doesn’t have to be corporate-job wise. It can be things such as; the washing-up, it can be reading your new book (yes, ANY book not just research journals), it can be taking a shower, it can even be getting up out of bed! You’ll feel much better about yourself if you measure your productivity by those standards instead.
But how did Productivity Guilt begin in the first place? What began it?
When we get to the root of it, it is a basic fear of the lack of love. It was conditioned into us as children. How, you may ask? Well, when a baby makes a sound at you, what response do you have? Most of us answer with positive approval; smiles, claps and cooing. In other words, you’re rewarding the baby for an achievement, without even realising it you’re conditioning the child to respond to rewards, telling them they’ll only receive approval and love when they do something “good”. This continues throughout childhood, schools and well into the university years.
Children, teenagers and young adults are given awards and honours for achievements in being the first in their class and for their attendance. They may be rewarded at home with pocket money for doing chores, or praise for having received these awards. This is the bare bones of a Capitalist society, before they have even entered the workplace.
This upbringing of high school attendance is continued and reinforced at work with an expectation of high attendance, with most jobs holding disciplinary hearings if a person is sick “too often”. “Too often” is, of course, a relative term, and does not account for the chronically ill and disabled.
Parents reading this, I understand you are probably recoiling and instantly feeling denial, like this is all some unfounded theory. But you have to understand that this goes deeper than a surface layer of productivity guilt. It’s been embedded into our very society and, therefore, our minds, generation after generation, that our sole purpose is to be “productive subjects” (Foucault, 1984). However, the generations coming through now have a chance to do more than just work and feel guilty — if we hand them the knowledge. Is that not amazing? Do we not want that for them?
That is why it is so essential we move away from the model of blaming ourselves now because we “have not accomplished enough”, and move into the belief that we are already “whole”, accomplished beings when we are born. In the abstract, there is never going to be an end to a day’s work, so we may as well embrace life and enjoy it while we can.
I will not tell you how to let go and embrace life, it is different for every person. But life cannot, and should not, centre around work, and in extension, Capitalism.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] I acknowledge that this is a privilege and many cannot schedule a day’s work off due to marginalised identities, lower socio-economic backgrounds, identity geographies and other factors.
[2] This is not to be used against us, disabled, neurodiverse, and those with chronic illnesses are all exceptionally hard-working but everyone has fluctuations in their days. Working from home has given most of us an advantage.
