5 signs you're too focused on your own performance
If you are productive, you will have a fast-paced career. Otherwise, you have nothing to look forward to - you can pack up and go anywhere. That's the way most employees and business owners think today, and they consider productivity to be the only objective factor in measuring success.
"This is where serious problems begin," writes BBN Tomes, "because this approach sooner or later leads to psychological dependence, which is expressed in the obsessive desire to go beyond one's capabilities day in and day out." It will end in emotional burnout, stress, and depression.
How do you know if you're not obsessed with productivity before it's too late? Here are the main signs of addiction and tips on how to get out of a psychological dead end.
Working is cool, but resting is a shame?
- You enjoy being busy all the time, working on weekends and late at night.
- You feel guilty about all the unfinished business even when there is not a single unfinished task on your daily to-do list and you stay up at night thinking about work.
- You take your work home from the office and spend time with your family and friends.
- You scold yourself for inefficient use of time and believe that even short breaks from work are unacceptable.
- You're terrified that being unproductive could cost you your job.
It doesn't matter if you are on the verge of addiction or have already reached the danger point, if you match the above points, it's time to take your foot off the gas.
And the first thing you should do in this direction is to change your approach to productivity and recognize your obsession with it.
Below are some recommendations from psychologists on how to overcome the addiction.
Get rid of negative thoughts about yourself
How many times have you said these words? You have created such tension in your mind that all you can think about is work, work, and more work.
Stop thinking these thoughts the next time you criticize yourself for not getting enough done. Remind yourself that you are a human being, not a robot. Everyone can have a bad day, and everyone can make mistakes.
Take short breaks from work regularly
When you're obsessed with productivity, you're likely to relax at your desk with a cup of tea or coffee. And that's not right.
Take a break and give your mind and body a proper rest from the continuous, exhausting stress.
Set boundaries and stay within them
Prioritize your tasks for the day. Work only on urgent or high-priority tasks first, and delegate low-priority tasks to others. Don't work beyond the scheduled time and don't take on other tasks when you are already busy with others.
Don't get distracted from work
Many productivity-addicted people work overtime because they often miss deadlines. Completing tasks on time is a big problem because you combine work with other activities, such as checking social media messages, gossiping with colleagues, sending texts, and so on.
Don't lose concentration. Instead, set aside some time for additional tasks. Use a time tracking tool to set time limits, start and end dates for tasks. This will give you a sense of purpose and direction to complete a specific task on time.
Establish a work-life balance
Disconnect from work at scheduled times, don't work on weekends, go on vacation, and spend time with your family and friends. Engage in creative activities that will help you de-stress and relax so that you return to work feeling refreshed and not mentally and physically exhausted.
