Toxic productivity is a state of mind where someone feels they have to be productive at all times, disregarding physical or mental health. When you first hear the words ‘toxic productivity’, you might visualize some unknown person frustrated in front of their computer screen or a worker who hates their job. Usually, it’s harder to admit that this phrase could hit closer to home than you think, and perhaps you too have been impacted by burnout. Toxic productivity is actually pretty common. I view it as a part of ‘hustle culture’, where people overwork themselves in the present moment to mask a much bigger, long-term issue.

In high school, I was impacted by toxic productivity. I had no idea how to complete my work. It felt like I was given essays on top of essays and I had no idea how to complete everything without being so stressed out that I could not focus during volleyball practice, my 7th period art class with my friends, or even while taking the time to plan for my future. Basically, I felt very trapped, with no way out.

Even during college freshman year I had the same problem. I felt very overwhelmed, with so many opportunities in front of me that felt just out of reach. So instead, I followed the people around me, thinking if they did something, I should as well. My roommate joined pre-law clubs, so I joined pre-law clubs. My friend group was stressed about the upcoming econ test, so I was as well (even though I already knew the curriculum and it was probably more beneficial to focus my efforts on my American political science essay).

Overall, I had no direction, and it felt like I was running in circles, trying to stay caught up with everyone else without taking a second to pause and think: What do I actually want to experience and learn?

When I came back home for winter break, I reflected on my first semester. Here’s what I learned and what has worked for me since then to combat toxic productivity:

1. Putting yourself first is a PRIORITY, not an afterthought. Toxic productivity does not actually make you productive. In my experience, when I was a victim of toxic productivity, I forgot to get 8 hours of sleep or prioritize physical activity. These things are just as important, if not more important, than getting work done. Additionally, I found when I prioritized myself my physical and mental health were both better, allowing me to not just be more productive, but more interested in what I was learning and doing.

2. You NEED to have a good support system. Toxic productivity actually perpetuates individuality, disconnecting you from others and preventing you from receiving help and support. Humans are social beings and need each other. We can all learn from someone else and gain different perspectives from listening to others.

3. Be smart about your goals. During my first semester freshman year, it felt like all my goals were very out of reach and unobtainable. It really helped me to take a step back and break each goal down into smaller pieces so it seemed less daunting. Furthermore, when you take a step back, you realize what you actually want to do in your life, and it becomes harder to simply follow what the people around you are doing.

4. Be creative! When I feel overworked and overwhelmed, it can feel very difficult to be creative. This lack of creativity can prevent you from having the momentum and drive to reach your goals or even take one step in the direction of them. In my experience, doing creative activities such as art, writing, or sports (even for just 15 minutes), really helps remind me that I am capable of finding new solutions, coming up with new paths, and creating a life that I am proud of.

5. Be confident. This is the one that I struggle with the most. It’s okay to be a beginner, and the only way to succeed is to start off as one. This takes time, but is really important because it will allow you to trust yourself enough to take the necessary (but sometimes daunting) steps to reach your goals and prevent yourself from succumbing to toxic productivity.

In reality, putting yourself first, learning from others, and trusting yourself enough to take the scary steps in the right direction will actually allow you to achieve your dreams. After doing these 5 steps, I realized that having a mindset that values toxic productivity is not valuable at all, but it’s possible to combat this mindset.