Hi, beauties. How are you?
I was thinking: Where is the borderline between hyper-productivity and burnout? What would be the difference between these two things? Is there really a difference?
I am not a great expert on the human psyche, as much as it is a subject that interests me, but as an Experience Designer it is important that I know at least some concepts of psychology. So what I want to do here is not a technical analysis, but a provocation that starts the dialogue. OK?
Then come with me!
There are a lot of clichés about "live to work or work to live", but let's face it. Anyone who wasn't born into a millionaire family needs to work to live and that's a fact. Working is no longer optional from the moment that staying alive, minimally healthy and fed is backed by a simple word: Money.
Work:1 Set of productive or intellectual activities carried out to generate a utility and achieve a certain purpose;2 Any task that is or has become someone else's obligation or responsibility;
Assuming that work is any task someone does to receive a return (such as payment), then even those who are in informality or illegality in one way or another work, right? This is where I wanted to get.
Calm down! I'm not going to say that the problem is capitalism (although it is hehe), but at times I find myself surrounded by, as the song Boa Sorte said, unrealistic expectations.
There is a natural pressure on work (in all of them) for delivery, deadlines and performance. However, it is when this charge becomes the person on himself that I see the beginning of the end.
Have you heard of creative leisure?
The concept of creative leisure was created in the post-industrial revolution period, where the automation of some production processes allowed human beings to standard have time to sleep well and dedicate themselves to leisure. He doesn't talk about creativity itself - art, literature, etc - but about a moment of rest for the mind.
This deals directly with our reasoning power against the psychological strain of being under constant worry. This means that it is not just overwork that results in Burnout Syndrome, but especially uninterrupted mental acceleration. Our mind is amazing, but even it needs to rest and that's not just the role of sleep - especially in Brazil, which has the second highest number of burnout diagnoses in the world, second only to Japan.
You can read more about the concept and applications here at the post from UCS .
Try to imagine: the person with a stable job may seem calm, but internally...
I need to stand out to get a promotion", "I need to keep my knowledge up to date", "I need to go to the gym", "I need to learn to cook", "I need to paint my apartment", "I need to practice the instrument I play ", "I need to take care of my family", "I need to keep my social life active while doing all these things".
You see that none of these phrases are bad in themselves, but when accumulated, you can already feel the weight of all the self-imposed obligations, right?
About mental health
UNDERSTANDING! It's not a problem to be productive when that productivity respects its own limit.
Sometimes life doesn't give us time to breathe and spend a peaceful day, but if you can prioritize one thing, prioritize your mental, emotional and physical health, because you can't help others when you're exhausted.
So ask yourself this question from time to time:
Are my goals really things that I want to do and make me feel good, or are they self-imposed charges to not feel unproductive?
Maybe that way we'll start treating each other with more kindness.
I forgot something and you want to fill in? Leave it in the comments :)
A kiss on the ear and see you next time!
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