Why Doesn't Your Productivity Determine Your Self-Worth?

Yesterday morning, I woke up excited to start the day. I jumped out of bed, went for a long walk, and then had some oatmeal. Time passed quickly until it was noon.

Note: This article is based on John Rampton, a businessman, investor, and online marketing expert, who tells us about his experience in separating productivity from self-worth.

In the morning, I was able to check my inbox, organize some important meetings, and finish a big project. After a quick lunch, I crossed three more items off my to-do list.

When I sat down and checked what happened during the day, I felt like I had earned a million dollars. As a result, our happiness increases when we are more productive. We tend to work hard when we are in a good mood, and there are several reasons for that. When you delete items from the to-do list after completing them, endorphins are released in the body, which gives us a sense of goal achievement and boosts self-esteem.

However, when the alarm went off the next day, I wanted to hit the snooze button and continue sleeping, but I was mentally exhausted. And when I reluctantly move away from my resting place, I don't feel the same enthusiasm to continue the day.

Although we all take pride in ourselves when we keep working hard, the fact is that we can't maintain those feelings 24/7. No matter what you think, we don't have much time and energy. Then working hard is always not only a drain, but it is detrimental to your productivity and health.

Why Does Being Productive Affect Self-Esteem?

The answer is that when you get things done, you feel like a superhero. Besides, this thing is embedded in our culture because we idolize active people who work more than 80 hours a week, and in fact, you can't continue like this. In the end, you will be shattered and exhausted, and your continued work will not mean that you spend your time wisely.

Carrie Heinze-Musgrove, a licensed clinical care consultant in Massachusetts, says: "Preoccupation is not a badge of honor; productivity is not the only thing that makes a person feel good. Although it is easy to look for additional things that make us feel valuable, in this approach, value depends on the constant pursuit of something better, but you won't achieve anything.

Activity or doing more can be a way to feel "good enough" if you have low self-esteem, low confidence, and low self-worth. As a result, busyness, chaos, and chasing a goal can be ways to avoid just sitting and thinking. It can also lead you to avoid making decisions or facing life's adversities."

Carrie gives the following advice: "Know that you are strong, smart, and good enough. You do not need other people or other achievements to feel valued; you are indeed valuable. "

Although I agree with that, it's not easy. However, it is possible to separate your self-worth from your productivity, and you can start with the following six strategies:

1. Follow the plan of desire

In her book, The Desire Map, author Danielle LaPorte created a program that will change how you measure your success. Instead of linking your success to your achievements, LaPorte suggests identifying the top five feelings you want to feel in your life.

It's a relatively simple exercise designed to help redefine you for success. Most importantly, it can help you set goals that will help you achieve what matters in life.

As Laporte writes in her book, “When we desire a feeling of courage more than we desire the fulfillment of our to-do list and a feeling of freedom more than we desire to please others, then we must set our priorities. Holy priorities are the kind of priorities that will lead you to the life you have always wanted.” You longed for her to live."

2. Little work means a lot

I understand you very well if you think that what is mentioned above is very new for you, but I think the main finding is that little is always more. Working fewer hours a week is good for your safety and productivity.

For beginners, we are not supposed to work eight consecutive hours a day. That's because we're essentially on our rhythm, which is known as the circadian rhythm. Moreover, when you don't work so much, you will live a better life.

Are you still not convinced? Giving up weeks full of intensive working hours can also reduce errors and accidents and improve personal relationships. Climate change and inequality can also be countered.

3. Take enough rest

It is no secret that breaks can boost productivity, and we need them for rest, restoration of activity, and pleasure. However, with so many events, who has time to pick themselves up?

The truth is, everyone does. I write down breaks in my calendar and make them a priority. But you can even write yourself permission on a paper clip so you don't feel guilty.

It's up to you how you spend your break; for me, I enjoy going for a short walk without a phone. You can also use this time to meditate, watch an entertaining show, or just close your eyes and do nothing.

4. Replace and change your ideas

Life coach Jes Dickerson writes, "You're about to change the things you say to yourself. To be able to do this, especially when ideas attack you like sharks hovering around your head, you need to be prepared for a new and better style of thinking."

The choice to change is up to you. It could simply be something like, "My value is not in how much I do." But you can remind yourself of all the wonderful things that shape your identity and that none of those things represent how much you do. It may also be useful to find a reassuring logo or phrase that you always repeat. For example, you can say, "I have a lot to offer my family."

The next step is to work on changing the thoughts themselves. Although changing stereotypes is uncomfortable, tiring, risky, and time-consuming, it is worth it.

Fortunately, the process is simple: "Every time you notice that you have ideas about how to do something or that you fail somehow, you need to stop the idea and replace it."

Just notice that this will take some time to get used to, so be patient and stick to it until you finish your old style of thinking.

5. Know that there is no use in worrying

Every time I listen to Tom Petty's newly launched album Wildflowers & All the Rest, I remember this album being very cool. And one of the songs that did not achieve great popularity is the song "Crawling Back to You." What I love most about this song is the phrase "most things I worry about never happen anyway."

I read these words whenever I feel anxious or overwhelmed. It is very easy to fall into the trap of uncertainty and worst-case scenarios. Do you know what I mean? I mean scenarios like, Can I? Should I? But I'm here to tell you that most of the things you want to achieve are rarely important.

That may sound cruel, but if you look at the picture from another angle, not finishing what you wrote down on your to-do list today does not mean that you are a failure, and it is not the end either. You can simply go back to that list and continue with it tomorrow when you're refreshed.

6. Remove the words "energy" and "work to exhaustion" from your vocabulary

I'm working hard and giving my all, but I also know the limits of my ability. For example, I have reduced the number of meetings, social interactions, and networking events each month.

While each of these tasks provided some value, reducing them to very few was a gift from heaven. I no longer had to reconcile calendar conflicts or move directly from the office to a meeting. Instead, I use this newly discovered possibility to be lazy.

Moreover, I set strict limits; when I'm off work, I don't answer emails or work, and I spend time with friends, family, or activities I enjoy.

I also stopped comparing myself to others. For example, if someone is on social media talking about working hard, I don't follow them. If that's the life they want to live, it's up to them, and I don't need to compete with them.

7. Enjoy the process

As author Elizabeth Gilbert said in her book Big Magic, "Measure your worth by your dedication to achieving your goals, not by your successes and failures."

Instead of focusing on results, think about the steps you have taken to achieve your goals. Think about what you have learned and how it has helped you grow as a person.