Productivity is one of those buzzwords we’ve all heard too often, and it seems to follow us everywhere—from the office to our homes and even in how we approach our personal goals.
At its core, the term productivity is simple: it's about getting things done. But when you dig a little deeper, it becomes clear that the version of productivity many of us have adopted comes straight from the factory floor.
The factory model of productivity1—where workers were pushed to produce more in less time for greater profit—is still alive today. Instead of machinery and assembly lines, we now deal with tight deadlines, performance metrics, and a culture that glorifies hustle.
Many bosses, though not all, still prioritize efficiency: more output in fewer hours.
And, of course, if you’re not getting paid for your time, like in freelance or creative endeavours, the assumption becomes that you should work even harder to free up your time.
After all, doesn’t that make you more productive?
Post-COVID Well-being Awareness
In recent years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic2, there’s been a more conscious effort to prioritize well-being.
Suddenly, mental health, work-life balance, and self-care have become part of the conversation.
People started realizing that burnout isn’t a badge of honour, and overworking oneself to exhaustion doesn’t necessarily mean you’re productive—at least, not in a sustainable way.
However, this focus on well-being has collided with our long-standing beliefs about productivity.
We’ve gone from a culture that values sheer output above all else to one where we’re encouraged to take care of ourselves—but the demand to stay productive hasn’t disappeared.
If anything, it’s evolved.
We must balance relentless productivity with mindfulness, meditation, and wellness rituals.
But how can we truly strike a balance in a world that still values output over well-being?
The Need for Balance
There’s no denying that productivity has its time and place.
There are moments when you need to push yourself to win that proverbial gold medal, secure that promotion, or learn a new skill. These moments are like projects—finite, with clear goals and a set lead time. They require focus, dedication, and yes, sometimes a sacrifice of sleep or social time to achieve the desired outcome.
But this isn’t the norm, nor should it be.
Today, many people feel they need to be constantly productive. To maximize efficiency, we track our time off, our hours of sleep, and even our calories.
It’s almost as though we’re living like elite athletes or world champions—people who have to meticulously manage every minute of their day because success depends on it. But for most of us, this is not realistic.
It’s important to remember that these individuals are often the exceptions. World champions, billionaires, and the like are in a league with resources, support systems, and talents that the average person doesn’t have.
Trying to emulate their daily routines can lead to feelings of inadequacy and burnout.
After all, do you believe living like a billionaire will make you one?
Sure, being in environments where such contacts exist may help, but imitating someone else’s life will not necessarily lead to the same outcome.
The Pressure to Stay Productive
The concept of always being productive isn’t just draining—it’s damaging. We’ve become so accustomed to this mindset that we feel guilty about any downtime.
We label relaxation as “wasted time” or “being lazy,” and even our hobbies have become something we need to “monetize” to feel like they’re worthwhile.
This pressure to stay productive stems from more than just a desire to succeed. It’s rooted in a societal belief that our worth is tied to our output. From a young age, we’re taught to measure our value by how much we can accomplish, whether it’s in school, work, or even our personal lives.
Social media exacerbates this issue, constantly bombarding us with images of people achieving, grinding, and hustling 24/7. It’s no wonder we feel like we’re not doing enough.
Living Life on Your Terms
It’s time to challenge this narrative. Not everyone is meant to be a billionaire, a world champion, or the next big thing in their industry, and that’s perfectly okay.
These extremes are just that—extremes. They represent the pinnacle of what a few individuals can achieve, but they’re not the standard for everyone else.
Instead of chasing someone else’s definition of success, we must focus on what makes our lives fulfilling.
Productivity shouldn’t be about squeezing every last drop of efficiency out of our day; it should be about using our time to align with our goals, values, and well-being.
The Role of Rest and Reflection in True Productivity
In the constant hustle to do more, we often forget the importance of rest. Rest isn’t just about physical recovery—it’s about mental and emotional rejuvenation as well.
Taking time to step back, reflect, and recharge is essential to long-term productivity. After all, even the most successful individuals take breaks. Olympians have rest days, entrepreneurs take vacations, and artists step away from their craft to find inspiration.
Without rest, our output diminishes, and the quality of our work suffers.
More importantly, our overall well-being takes a hit. Stress, anxiety, and burnout become all too familiar, and before we know it, we’re in a cycle of exhaustion that leaves us unable to perform at our best.
True productivity isn’t about working 24/7. It’s about knowing when to push yourself and when to step back. It’s about recognizing that rest is just as important as effort and that taking care of your well-being is the key to sustained success.
Done is Better than Perfect
Another trap we often fall into is the pursuit of perfection. We think that to be productive, everything we produce must be flawless. But this mindset can hinder our progress.
Perfectionism leads to procrastination3, as we become so focused on getting things just right that we delay taking action.
The truth is, nothing will ever be perfect.
There will always be room for improvement, and that’s okay. The key to actual productivity is knowing when to let go and move forward. It’s better to have something done than to have something perfect.
Quality Over Quantity
In a world that glorifies doing more, it’s easy to forget that success isn’t just about how much you accomplish. It’s about the quality of what you do. Instead of focusing solely on output, we should also consider the impact of our work.
Are we creating something meaningful?
Making a difference in our own lives or the lives of others?
Do we feel proud of what we’ve accomplished, even if it’s not “perfect” by societal standards4?
Success should be measured by more than just numbers, deadlines, and milestones. It should be about the journey, the lessons learned, and the fulfilment we feel along the way.
Key Takeaways:
- Productivity has been heavily influenced by a factory model, focusing on maximizing output in less time, often at the cost of well-being.
- Post-COVID, there has been a shift toward prioritizing well-being, but the pressure to stay constantly productive remains.
- Balancing moments of intense productivity with rest is essential for sustainable success.
- Trying to live like billionaires or world champions is unrealistic for most people, and we should focus on what makes our lives fulfilling.
- Rest, reflection, and letting go of perfectionism are crucial for long-term productivity.
- Success should be measured by quality and impact, not just output.
Conclusion: Productivity Redefined
In the end, productivity isn’t about doing more in less time. It’s about balancing effort and rest, ambition and well-being, and living life on your terms rather than chasing someone else’s dream.
We don’t all need to be billionaires, world champions, or the next big thing—and that’s okay.
What matters is that we live fulfilling lives, where productivity is a tool to help us reach our goals, not a metric that defines our worth.
It’s time to stop turning productivity into a race and start using it to enhance our lives without sacrificing the things that truly matter.
After all, what’s the point of being productive if you’re not living the life you want?