Productivity Anxiety: A Mental Crime
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up? What is the last thing on your mind before you go to bed? For those with productivity anxiety, it is the thought of what you want to get done and the pure shame of how much you did not get done.
People may tell you, “You should really take a break. I think you need it.” But that statement, though it has been told more than the typical “how are you,” does not seem to shake off that productivity feeling. Taking off for merely a day feels like a crime. Where does this come from?
High-functioning anxiety in this particular sense relates to the stigma with resting bracketed with the burdening thought of productivity. It isn’t the fact that you are not able to take a break, because you can. It is the mental struggle of taking that break and the persistent and never-ending guilt that trips you as you take that break. The though that may travel through your mind is, “What did you to do deserve this break?” or “You should be working now.”
Our individuality and pride essentially depends on the labour that we yield rather than the ethics or pure ambitions that we attest to ourselves. Productivity anxiety leads one to feel happier the busier we are or the amount of work we pile on ourselves. This internal narrative is self-damaging not only to our mental health but to our physical bodies, wearing us down in a way like no other. Taking a break bears a hostility because of the mental battle of working versus relaxing.
Breaking this type of internalized habit is honestly a true interdisciplinary objective. One must realize that to “be ok” does not mean to have to complete every task that comes to mind in the morning. Laying down at night and getting rest should not feel pressuring because of how much you accomplished that day. Relaxing and taking the day off is part of healing but also rejuvenating ourselves mentally and physically for future tasks.
People all over the world indubitably struggle with this form of high functioning anxiety. Anxiety is not shown in one form, but rather multiple and unnoticed pathologies that can wear us down day by day without us even realizing.
Resources:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-high-functioning-anxiety-4140198
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5451917/
https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/mental-health/productivity-anxiety-stress-burnout/595252
