Resisting Workaholism and the Romanticization of Over-Productivity
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth reading,” Benjamin Franklin. “Positive action combined with positive thinking results in success,” Shiv Khera. “Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come,” Dwayne Johnson. You have heard these quotes before, or if not, quotes like them. The kind that are written in a bold text over a stock photo of a beautiful sunset, a lion, a thinking man in a Rolex. The kind that we hear at graduation speeches, or from winners of prestigious awards; words of inspiration that make us thirst for an unknown we believe ourselves to be entitled to.
On their own, they stand as golden pieces of advice from those we deem as having “made it”. Acting as reassurances against our own doubts, they tell us that it doesn’t matter who we are, where we are from, or what has happened to us, because as long as we commit ourselves to a passion, we can, and will, find success. And in the 21st century, what greater thing is there to reach for? Though first, we must work consistently hard at it. We must be better than our competitors, our colleagues, and ourselves. Study longer. Work faster. Aim higher. But most importantly, we must not stop.
This obsession with exponential growth as a society has developed to the point of earning its own place as an epidemic, most commonly referred to as workaholism. Its official definition is the compulsive desire to work, characterized by behaviors such as working excessive hours or engaging in obsessive thinking about work, and has been linked to psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
It’s also important to consider workaholism under the wider umbrella of over-productivity itself, which can branch into all areas of life. In this sense, the “work” in “workaholism” can look different for everyone. Much of it can be rooted in the pressures of staying busy and being productive 24/7, and the deeper collective belief that to lead a demanding life is to be doing well. You don’t have to be physically in an office to suffer from the same effects of stress, financial burdens, and lack of personal time.
And with the current culture of operating constantly at peak productivity, this has become our new norm. We are bombarded with productivity-focused books and apps. We are lectured on productive travel, dating, parenting. We are sold planners, fitness watches, pre-packaged meal delivery systems, all cashing in on the illusion that to be busy is to be doing well. And these external signals all tell us one thing: it is no longer enough to just be, you must always, always, be striving.
Along with the increased financial and schooling pressures we now face, our “rags to riches” fixation is further fuelling our work obsession. Alain de Botton explores this through Status Anxiety, suggesting that due to the recent progressions of society that seemingly allows anyone to succeed, there exists greater pressure to do so. This is a narrative we are not unfamiliar with through almost every medium: rapper’s songs on getting rich despite a life of hardship, entrepreneurial books, and seminars on making money fast, social media influencers who begin as everyday people but develop wealth into the millions… it is seemingly endless.
And with the societal mindset that anyone can reach success if only they try hard enough, then the blame for lack of success also falls back on the individual, regardless of life circumstances. The belief that we solely are responsible for our inability to succeed can quickly become dangerous, exasperating the burden placed on us to be constantly doing something to be closer to that goal. When we are working out, reading, traveling, using social media, we are subconsciously making choices that don’t necessarily focus on enjoyment, but that final, desired goal.
While having goals and dreams are of course highly valuable to leading a meaningful life, the degree to which we have grown consumed with busyness has become problematic. To quote Eckhart Tolle on matters of over-productivity, ‘the unchecked striving for more, for endless growth, is a dysfunction and a disease. It is the same dysfunction the cancerous cell manifests, whose only goal is to multiply itself, unaware that it is bringing about its own destruction.’
This is not to say that seeking success is wrong or impossible, or that hard work plays no part in our capacity to find it. Rather, it is an invitation to step away from the tunnel vision we have developed towards working only as a means to find success, believing that we must work ceaselessly, obsessively, to see results. It is a suggestion that, perhaps, overworking is just another element in our natural desire for control, which we have taken too far. And mostly, it is a reminder that this control is largely an illusion, and that if we are in the circumstances to do so, it is okay to opt-out of this path of “self-destruction” (even if it’s momentary).
If you are struggling with the pressure to be productive at all times, there are small steps you can take to ease the transition into a more balanced lifestyle:
1. Review your goals and intentions
Ask yourself not only what your goals are, but your reasoning behind them. It’s ok if your reasoning behind something is ‘to get rich’. What matters is being honest with yourself so you are able to fairly determine whether what you are sacrificing is worth your end goal.
2. Learn to say no
We can easily feel obligated to take on responsibilities outside of the ones we are already assigned to help out or show initiative, but extra work can quickly add up. Communicating with your colleagues or those in your personal life when your plate is full is not always a possibility, but if you find yourself struggling, it’s important to speak up.
3. Make peace with imperfection
When we are overwhelmed with several things that need our attention, the pressure to do these activities perfectly is undoubtedly going to multiply the stress we feel. Know that not every piece of work, every assignment, has to be perfect, and doing so helps you focus more on the things that do need to be done as well as possible.
4. Schedule time for nothing
If you are able to, set aside 10 or even 5 minutes a day to do absolutely nothing. Breathe. Look out a window. Admire your nail polish. Give yourself time for just a few minutes to step away from your responsibilities, and check-in with your mind and body.
5. Look back on your accomplishments
At a time where we are constantly go-go-go, just taking a moment to assess the milestones we have already passed can remind us that we are not as far behind as we may think.
About Roumina Parsamand
Roumina is a journalism and finance student from Melbourne, Australia. She is a filler of journals with words and drawings, and an obsessive reader. Always happy to chat books, pet dogs, and drink tea. You can find her on Instagram at @nami.reads
