Staying Away From Harmful Productivity Mindsets in Quarantine

Quarantine  offers many of us an excess of time at home––time spent wondering what to do, what new movies to watch, what new walk routes to take. Inevitably, however, the harmful ingrained ideas of productivity remain looming over many of us. Have you ever found yourself with nothing to do, deciding to watch Netflix, and still hear a little voice in your head telling you that you should do something productive like study for the SAT? To continue to do work, even if you’ve finished all your homework? That’s what I like to call a pandemic productivity case, or as many coin it: productivity guilt. I can’t blame you if you have– I know that this feeling often lingers within me. In a rapidly moving and capitalistic society, we are taught that if we do not work, that if we are not productive, if we do not have anything to contribute and produce, then we don’t have value. 

This is incredibly toxic to think, yet the idea permeates so much of our thinking––whether it be on how we define ourselves from our grades, our achievements, how much work we’ve done in a day. It feels like it is everywhere we look––even when we got back to school, the first thing our teachers ask us is “What have you done over quarantine summer?”. That being said, how can we move away from this mindset that pits us against ourselves? Here’s some advice I have gained while tackling my own dilemma with the situation for the past year: 

1. Recognize that we all have inherent worth regardless of production and productivity. 

   1. It’s as simple as this. You deserve to exist because you are you, and you are human––not because you have good grades, or because you tutor children in your free time, or because you’ve started a non-profit. If we start thinking more like this, and recognizing that while productivity is good, it shouldn’t define us, than this is one great stride towards reducing productivity guilt. 

2. Let go of fixed mindsets. 

   1. Be proud of yourself when you complete goals and do work, but as I said earlier, don’t let it define your sense of self. When you approach any kind of work, growth mindsets are essential . Instead of telling yourself that this needs to be done in order to raise your grade and that even though you’re terrible at math, you need to get through it (I speak from experience here), ask yourself how you can grow and improve from this situation––believe in yourself regardless of failure or a “lack of productivity”. I know this is hard, but try shifting your mindset to this when you can. Fixed mindsets only serve to bring us down. 

3. Let yourself do what you want to do sometimes. 

   1. There’s a lot going on in the world, and even if there was not, you deserve to do things you want to do––whether it’s something mundane like taking a nap or having a slice of cake, or if it’s taking a mental health day you really need, or seeing a friend. You do not need to work for anything or prove yourself––you deserve happiness regardless of how productive you are. While it can be a good tactic to use incentives to be productive, just be conscientious about it and don’t get too confined by it. Above all, take care of yourself, whatever that may look like. 

No matter what, it’s crucial to honor yourself and your needs–– and always remember that you are valued regardless of the work or productivity you achieve. Accepting this is tough, but taking small steps can make a big difference!