Yahoo Finance What is productivity anxiety and why is it affecting more workers?
Whether it’s because you’ve got a heavy workload, multiple deadlines or a difficult boss, feeling anxious at work is far too common. More employees, however, are reporting experiencing a specific type of anxiety linked to productivity – which, conversely, can significantly impair our ability to focus and get things done.
In a survey of 1,000 full-time workers by the employee recognition platform Workhuman, 80% of respondents reported having “productivity anxiety” – worries over whether they are being productive enough. A third of those polled said they experience it multiple times a week.
Productivity anxiety is characterised by that gnawing feeling that no matter how many hours you put in or what you accomplish, you’re not doing enough. It can lead to feeling dissatisfied, overwhelmed and stressed, which can take a toll on your self-esteem, happiness and health. But why is productivity anxiety so prevalent among workers – and what can employers do to alleviate the pressure?
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Our 'hustle culture' is one driving factor behind the rise in anxiety. It promotes the idea that there’s always more to be done and that to be successful, we must immerse ourselves in work – and potentially sacrifice our health with long hours and unrealistic to-do lists. Being busy is equated with success and more often than not, this relentless pursuit of success is dangerously linked to our sense of self-worth.
Georgina Sturmer, a counsellor and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, says that productivity anxiety often emanates from two different – but sometimes interlinked – sources.
“Externally, we might feel driven to be – or appear – productive in response to the demands or standards set by our workplace,” she says. “Achieving KPIs, meeting deadlines, keeping up with colleagues, appeasing management. And anxiety might emerge as a worry or fear that we are not meeting these demands.”
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The last few years have seen increased rhetoric around the importance of work-life balance, but research suggests this may be performative. According to research by CCLA Investment Management, only one in four of the UK’s largest listed employers have improved their performance on workplace mental health in the past year, despite 93% acknowledging wellbeing as an important business issue.
“Many workplaces value the time we spend 'being productive,' with zero hours contracts, devices that monitor our activity and a sense of clocking in and clocking out,” says Sturmer. “This can make us feel more anxious about being seen as productive, than about the actual work that we are doing.”
However, Sturmer adds, there may also be an internal element involved. “As we grow up, we develop an understanding of the type of behaviours that will make us appear likeable or successful in the eyes of others,” she explains.
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“If we grew up in a family environment where productivity was valued, then this is likely to drive us towards this type of behaviour. And it can add a layer of anxiety or insecurity over whether we are being productive enough. This can lead us to be worried about our productivity in the workplace, when in fact it’s being triggered by experiences from our past.”
And, while pushing ourselves harder to accomplish more may feel productive, studies show that anxiety likely impairs cognitive performance. For example, feeling anxious or stressed can affect working memory, which facilitates planning, understanding, reasoning and problem-solving.
Anxiety may also affect how we direct our attention and process information. When we’re focusing on a ‘threat’ – like being reprimanded by a manager for not finishing a task on time – we’re more likely to spend time worrying than actually doing the work.
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“If we are feeling anxious it can make it harder for us to concentrate and focus,” says Sturmer. “It can lead us to being stressed and can even tip us into burnout. It might make it hard for us to take breaks or switch off. This can be counterproductive, as it’s so important for us to allow ourselves to destress and re-energise in order to be productive and creative.”
Dismantling our urge to ‘rise and grind’ isn’t a quick or easy process, but there are steps employers can take to alleviate anxiety among workers. Encouraging people to finish on time and take lunch breaks is key, as is allowing flexible working and setting clear boundaries around working hours. Achievable goals and reasonable workloads should be a priority.
It is crucial to provide tangible, helpful support for employees – whether it is paid time off when needed, mentorship or access to professional mental health support. Finally, employers should foster an open, safe environment where people can speak up if they are struggling.
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