Serene Efficiency

Is your to-do list exerting a relentless grip on your life? Have your productive hours expanded to the point where you find yourself cramming in tasks whenever possible? Is there no clear distinction between your work and personal life? The phenomenon of toxic productivity is rampant.

Toxic Productivity

Toxic productivity refers to an overwhelming drive to always be active and accomplishing tasks, ultimately compromising personal well-being. This pervasive culture has become a standard expectation in our professional and personal lives.

However, just because this behavior is prevalent doesn’t mean it is healthy or acceptable.

The State of Productivity

In my university courses focusing on learning, coping mechanisms, and happiness, nearly every student acknowledges their overwhelming workloads. This sentiment echoes in the strategy groups I lead for learners, parents, and educators, where feelings of excess demand and stressful pressures are universal.

Traditionally, the emphasis has been on the loss incurred from reduced productivity. Recently, the dialogue has begun to shift towards addressing the consequences of excessive productivity. Many individuals, including parents, professionals, and students, share feelings of stress about their overwhelming responsibilities, resulting in negative impacts on sleep, relationships, mental well-being, and physical health.

Shifting Perspectives

Fortunately, calls for change—advocating for rest, leisure, and enjoyment—are gaining momentum. Influencers like Tricia Hersey, through her works Rest is Resistance (Little, Brown Spark, 2022) and The Nap Ministry, are emphasizing the vital importance of taking intentional breaks and shifting from constant doing to simply being.

In my own TEDx presentation titled “How to get from to-do to done,” I explore ways to develop a more authentic and compassionate relationship with our lists of tasks and the urgency that often accompanies them.

Embracing a Healthier Productivity

When we equate productivity solely with the number of tasks completed within a given timeframe, we overlook other critical elements such as strategic planning, reflection, and the need for pauses.

Dana Daniels, who founded Blue Sky Learning, a coaching and consulting firm for the neurodivergent community, describes non-toxic productivity as “a celebration of the process itself rather than just the final outcome.” This focus on effort, energy, and experiences throughout a project’s journey, rather than just its completion, marks a significant shift toward a healthier mindset.

Marc Proudfoot, an ADHD coach and owner of Proudfoot Education Coaching Advocacy (PECAT), emphasizes that when tackling tasks, he prioritizes meaningful engagement and fulfillment, seeking conversations, connections, and ideation—all of which stand in stark contrast to toxic productivity.

Resisting Toxicity in Productivity

Our to-do lists are not merely reflections of others’ expectations. Even self-imposed tasks, according to Proudfoot, can lead to toxicity. “I may create a list of objectives I believe are important. Though these tasks might indeed be valuable, there’s no obligation to complete them all at that moment, risking neglect of my need for exercise, sleep, or meditation,” he points out.

Confronting the Consequences

For those unfamiliar with the concept of “toxic productivity,” it may seem far-fetched to consider an alternative. However, burnout—a significant byproduct of excessive busyness and pressure—is a real experience and is becoming more common.

The struggle to identify and address stress can be challenging. Burnout, as Daniels notes, is not just prevalent; “It has become a hallmark of a prideful hustle culture that leads us to sacrifice our well-being in pursuit of showcasing our skills, exceeding climbing expectations, and neglecting the fundamental human need for rest and rejuvenation.”