Hustle culture’ has got many constantly working. They idolise the notion of working harder and faster being an indicator of success. It’s so important for them to keep working even when there is not so much output to show for it. Harder and faster can be effective but not for long. At this point, a person finds themselves unable to take a break even when they are exhausted or supposed to have free time. This tendency is believed to point towards toxic productivity. Toxic productivity is defined as an obsession with work where more matters, even if the quality is not exactly great. It normally occurs when an individual has a harmful fixation with being productive and constantly on the go. Omer Mayobera, a peacebuilding and development practitioner with knowledge in psychology says toxic productivity feels normal most of the time because of the society we are living in now. Everyone is on the run to make both ends meet. He says people are trying to be extra productive and they even spread the same energy to others by encouraging them to do the same. However, the consequences of toxic productivity can be devastating. Among side effects such as stress, being overly productive can drain your energy leading to burnout. Festus Irungu Ndirangu, a lecturer at Mount Kenya University believes that there is need for one to rather focus on quality instead of quantity. By doing this, he says, one will avoid falling into the pit of toxic productivity. He points to the bad side of toxic productivity noting that it comes with many negative effects. For instance, it can affect a person’s health and relationships. This, he explains that it is because people tend to ignore requirements like sleep, eating healthy, exercise, socialising with friends and family, and that such people tend to forget even simple responsibility like combing hair or washing clothes. “This situation makes people feel stressed and sometimes lower their self-esteem. This is because they always rate themselves based on how productive they are at work,” he says. For John R. Butera Mugabe, managing partner at Hyper Consulting Group Ltd, toxic productivity can push people to unhealthy extremes as they try to focus on being productive at the expense of everything else in their lives. This, he says, can drain their energy which in the long run can affect their normal productivity even for simple tasks. He also points out that this type of productivity amounts pressure on an individual, leading to both mental and physical burnout, and this can in the end result into chronic stress associated with depression and anxiety. And of course, these too can lead to other health problems. How to deal with it Overcoming this issue may not be easy but requires simple steps that you need to put into action. Ndirangu says that one of them is by setting yourself smart goals, which are realistic and are achievable and flexible, and that one can alter these goals when need be. Aside from that, he says to always remember why you are working. One should ensure they get enough rest by exercising, sleeping and taking time to read a book like a Bible or Quran or any other book that will add value to them. Ndirangu quotes Napoleon Hill’s words “If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost, For out in the world we find, Success begins with a fellow’s will— It’s all in the state of mind.” Butera advises that there is need for companies and organisations to come up with a solution to this. For instance, he says that both employers and employees should try and create work-life balance, because balance between work and other issues like family is very vital. “Both employees and employers need to be sensitised about the consequences of toxic productivity, and the long term effects on mental health,” he says. Mayobera says people need to learn to acknowledge their emotions and sit with them, as opposed to avoiding them by staying super busy, this will help this pattern shift. If need be, it’s vital to look for a therapist or other mental health professionals to help you deal with deeply ingrained feelings, he says “Also, scheduling time every day to do something relaxing or just having fun is important. One can also try exercising. In the beginning, it may feel uncomfortable but with time, after getting used to it, it will automatically become a habit.”
