anyone know how to fix the "i-need-to-be-productive" anxiety? for years, i always feel like i "should be working towards something," it's like a never-ending opportunity cost mindset it's hell, and i'm looking for help
It helps to be mindful of moderation. Grinding, working 24/7 is just a recipe for burn out. When you’re not working and feeling guilty, try still doing something more passive but still potentially learning toward your interests a little, like podcasts or what have you, but never forget you need to have breaks.
Maybe apply your productivity anxiety to understanding the origin and meaning of your productivity anxiety. Therapy, drugs, writing, long walks, self-help books, etc. I find intentional introspection helps me form a narrative foundation necessary for embracing or changing parts of myself.
I find myself 'coping' by overworking on sisyphean tasks, and have to tell myself that self-reflection usually yields more net impact
What works for me is just listing down everything I want to do. And then accepting the fact that I can't do all of them and have to prioritise. Once the expectation is lowered, I can be satisfied by completing the things planned.
I usually write when I feel like that. It's cathartic. Feels like there's something inside that needs to come out. Can be anything from a story or a poem, to a product spec. But after getting the thoughts down it feels like something meaningful has been done.
can definitely relate. I wonder how much of it is more of a future orientation than productivity anxiety Do you have any practices or hobbies that keep you grounded? When you feel it, try to center yourself & as much as i hate to say it… tap in with the present moment Autotelic habits are the key to resolving i
thinking this way is indeed hell, and i’m with you in it! but i try to look at rest as a productive thing. sleep is productive. taking care of yourself allows you to work towards something greater because you need to look inwards first. idk if that’ll help but thought i’d share regardless 💙
At least for me, I‘ve managed to generate evidence that if I have times of unproductivity, then my results afterwards are of better quality. It has happened several times that I have a viral blog post or a good idea after holidays etc.
Same, always have so much on my mind. I guess we all need to accept and let most of the things go and just take the most important ones.
I try to remember that if I do the same activities the only difference between an anxiety filled “rest” day and a contented rest day is my experience of it — no vengeful god is keeping score of any of that. Your ability to enjoy every moment of your life is your rebellion against a fear driven society 🫡
Yes - get therapy. You almost certainly cannot fix this yourself. The "I should be working" likely comes from events in your childhood. The patterns might be obvious to a good therapist our brains are not good at seeing our own patterns. Get a good therapist and in 5-10 years you can heal this.
By having occasional burnouts, after which I capitulate into a kindof hedonic zombie like state for a while. Then I recover and can be productive again.
I know exactly what you mean. I don’t know your story and background but it’s a long journey to feel less of it - but that’s exactly it, it’s a feeling. Acceptance is the first step. And the hardest to achieve. Untilthen you could trick yourself into productive tasks that are breaks from the usual to avoid burn
Lastly: always go back to the basics - are you eating well? Sleeping well? Moving regularly? Screen time before bed? We are machines and when something is off we are thrown off
It says a lot about our society that so many people (myself included) have their self-worth wrapped up in their work/productivity 😞
I have to write sometimes. The good news? It helps with basically everything that makes me anxious. The bad news is it takes time and effort.