How Can You Combat Productivity Dysmorphia?

Productivity, the condition of dysmorphia, is defined by an unfavorable outlook on production. It can be a conviction that one never works hard enough (despite evidence to the contrary), an unfounded concern that one’s work will be questioned, a constant comparison of one’s output to that of others, or attempting to do too much at once.

You may be aware of the term “body dysmorphia,” which refers to excessive preoccupation with one’s looks and the false belief that some features of one’s physical appearance are wrong. This can be stressful, as the affected individual spends much time worrying and attempting to resolve trivial or fictitious issues. Similarly debilitating is its counterpart in the workplace, productivity dysmorphia.

At first look, productivity dysmorphia may appear benign or even advantageous. It seems like a prescription for success that you always seek more and are never satisfied with what you have. Avoid making this error, as it will lead to long-term unhappiness.

What Is the Appearance of Productivity Dysmorphia?

Suppose you are going on a lengthy walk. It’s a hot and muggy day, and you’re wearing a big rucksack.

After many kilometers of walking, you become exhausted by dusk. It is time to call it a day, pitch the tent, and rest. You will need your strength tomorrow, your muscles will be sore, and you will fall asleep as soon as you lie down.

Even if you believe you can run more than usual on a given day, you will only advance by doing so. You’ve just hit your limit.

However, you continue to work throughout the night, despite being exhausted due to productivity dysmorphia. The following day, you discover you have yet to make much progress and are at your worst since you are so exhausted.

You can only lose in this circumstance.

The Negative Aspects of Efficiency

Many want to be productive and with good cause – believing that productivity is the key to attaining our objectives and obtaining success. The desire for efficiency is commendable; there is nothing wrong with this fundamental concept.

However, this principle can sometimes falter in today’s competitive corporate environment. If all you can think about is your productivity, and it becomes a never-ending cycle of self-blame, you have a problem.

How does an individual get performance dysmorphia?

Perhaps it is due to having been raised by parents for whom “good” is never sufficient. It’s certainly more prevalent in industries that attract talented, hard-working individuals and have a competitive work environment. As an entrepreneur, you’re also at risk for this; additional responsibility can lead to poor work habits.

Productivity dysmorphia might be viewed as an undesirable byproduct of our contemporary workplace culture. Lacking is the ability to recognize and enjoy the results of one’s labor, despite the effort involved.

This raises the issue: What should a healthy outlook on production resemble?

• It entails seeing production as a necessary component of effective work, deserving reward and a respite afterwards.
• It entails acknowledging that there are limitations – eventually, the workday finishes, and you must turn off the lights.
• It entails listening to those around you; if they believe you’re doing a good job, there is typically no reason to doubt it.

Only sometimes and not always is productivity everything. There may be unproductive days that must be acknowledged – humans are not machines capable of continually producing top performance – and, to be fair, we acknowledge that machines, too, require routine maintenance.

The Dysmorphia of Managing Productivity

Unfortunately, it can be challenging in the economic environment to identify one’s limitations. You can send one final email at the end of a hectic workday (and then another…). Even though you may have answered dozens of emails that day, you still feel unmotivated.

Sometimes we could be better judges of ourselves because we become so engrossed in our task that we lose sight of the overall picture. No one voluntarily welcomes productivity dysmorphia; yet, we sometimes don’t notice it until it’s too late and we’re forced to deal with the consequences.

Listed below are some suggestions on how to identify and address productivity dysmorphia:

1. Welcome Comments

It will be noticed if you do well. Consistently receiving positive comments from coworkers, bosses, and clients indicates that you’re putting in sufficient effort.

Take favorable feedback as an indication that you are performing your best work. Feedback can serve as good reinforcement and allow you to recognize your accomplishments. When you believe someone is doing an excellent job, don’t ignore them and give back – these tiny gestures can have a tremendous impact.

2. Use To-Do Lists

Task lists are one of the finest ways to manage your workload and boost productivity. It is possible to avoid some dangers connected with productivity dysmorphia if utilized intelligently.

You can objectively evaluate the amount of work you’re performing using task lists. You may believe you are lazy, but a review of your duties proves otherwise. Writing down all of your tasks is a smart idea. Thus, you will have concrete proof of your successes and be less prone to question your productivity.

3. Identify Your Limitations

We are all human, so our capacity to work is limited. Certainly, we adore tales of superhuman feats, but the truth is considerably more mundane for most of us. The only way to have a productive day when we’re exhausted and uninterested is to get out of bed.

Don’t get me wrong; we may and should strive to be as productive as possible, but there is a limit to how productive you can be. You may grow anxious and close to tiredness if you continue to strive.

Accept your limited possibilities with a sense of realism. Overexerting yourself serves no one’s best interests in the long run. Remember that retiring to fight another day is sometimes a wise tactic when confronting insurmountable work obstacles.

The Conclusion

Today’s workplace culture is centered on performance. Your competitors will eclipse you if you do not perform at your best. However, we must be careful to emphasize this quality, as some individuals may feel that everything is unsatisfactory.

Read more: How Can You Effectively Prioritize Your Workload?

Human resources are finite. Thus the measurement of productivity must be realistic. If we place excessive expectations on ourselves or others, we will sooner or later be forced to deal with the repercussions.

Productivity dysmorphia is associated with various possible issues, including stress, burnout, and psychological disorders.