The problem comes in when there is no distinction made between the work we do to live and the lives we’re supposed to be building with all this work. What are we working for, if all we do is work? There is no time to enjoy anything we have achieved if we are constantly waiting for the next call from the boss. But we do it anyway. We keep our phones on, we jump on our emails and even arrive at work when we really need a break. At some point, something’s got to give.
Why are we like this?
Toxic productivity. What is quite interesting is that this is not specific to any one group. A quick Google search will return just under 50 million results in less than a second, so you can tell it’s a popular topic. Across racial, social, and economic lines, we find it hard to limit work in favour of play. The reasons for this blurred boundary, however, do fall on different sides of need and want. For some it is an internal pressure to perform, and for others, it is the result of a living wage that barely warrants the name.
The Wants
Traditionally, the phrase “Toxic Productivity” is used to describe the pressure to be perceived as productive at all times, because that is valued in certain societies. It could also be described as a desire not to be perceived as “lazy”, since the pressure is caused by the idea that if you are not 100% productive at all times, then you are wasting time or being bone-idle. These societies also typically have expressions relating laziness to being a sin or social transgression. For example “Idle hands are the Devil’s playground” and one of the Seven Deadly Sins quite literally being “Sloth” or, in more modern terms, laziness.
These pressures are learnt from the societies we grow up in and are perpetrated by ourselves, upon ourselves from high school until we eventually attempt to retire. This pressure is evident in this excerpt from research aimed at helping one cope after retirement: “The loss of identity, routine, and goals can impact your sense of self-worth, leave you feeling rudderless, or even lead to depression.” The inclusion of the phrase “self-worth” in that line is a clue. These are societies where we define our value as human beings by what we do, not who we are. If we do nothing, we are nothing. Which is some pretty dangerous logic.
The Needs
All around the world, there are people who cannot escape their workday because it is nearly impossible for them to earn enough money from a single job. In order to support themselves and their families, they work multiple jobs, one after the other (or even at the same time!) and have almost no time to recover. The Google search on this aspect of toxic productivity is actually quite telling- almost the entire first page of results for “having to work multiple jobs to survive” was dedicated to how to work multiple jobs and be EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE. There was almost no content available on how to find a way to earn fair compensation for the time dedicated to a single job, or how to find employment that pays better. This group needs to work, not wants to work.
Why is this a problem?
These maybe internal and external pressures to be productive, but the end result is the same. There is no off switch. There is no down time. There is no opportunity to recover. Whether it’s Dave in Accounts who just will not stop emailing outside of work hours, or whether it’s the 18-hour workday, there needs to be a limit. As a species, we need to be able to switch off from work in order to process our experiences and recharge. It’s part of how we learn from our days, and one of the reasons we need to sleep at night. Our brains rely on the “break” to put things together and sort through our long and short term memories.
Not only do we need the break to sleep, but if you are constantly working, then you run the risk of missing meals or going for quick and easy options with little nutritional value. This can lead to weight problems, vitamin deficiencies and cholesterol and sodium excesses. If you are a desk worker, remaining sedentary or seated and still for too long can interfere with your circulation, gut health and the screen time can affect your vision. If you are a shift worker, you have even more horrific side-effects to be worried about! “Shift work and long work hours increase the risk for reduced performance on the job, obesity, injuries, and a wide range of chronic diseases.” Of course, if you are doing physical work, being exhausted on the job can have very real consequences such as workplace injuries or death.
It is time to remind ourselves that we work to live, we do not live to work.
If you are struggling with financial stress, get in touch with our debt counsellors for advice.
If you are being unfairly treated by your employer, use our legal advice line to check your contract.
If you need to speak to a counsellor to find a way to manage anxiety around work, you can use your Trauma Assist Benefit (Clients only) to get the help you need.
With Solace, you’re not alone.
Contact us 24/7
