Is Hyperproductivity Costing You?

Do you measure your worth by how much you get done in a day? Do you judge others the same way? Does it feel indulgent to sit down for a meal without multitasking? Are you listening to podcasts while walking, doing dishes, or cleaning? Reading work emails while watching TV at night? Constantly trying to make every moment “count” by checking something off your list?

If any of this sounds familiar, I invite you to take a closer look at your beliefs about productivity.

We live in a society that glorifies efficiency, often at the cost of meaningful interactions. When productivity becomes the highest priority, we start missing the subtleties of life—the unspoken bids for attention from our spouses and children, the moments to unplug and enjoy what’s in front of us, the connections with others, and most importantly, the connection with ourselves.

While productivity is valuable, the relentless push to maximize every moment is harmful. We aren’t meant to be in constant “doing” mode—especially when that “doing” keeps us trapped in our thoughts. Research shows that we are mentally checked out nearly 47% of the time—which means we’re missing almost half of our lives.

Hyperproductivity might be costing you more than you realize—your sleep, your peace, your relationships. It might show up as overworking, with blurred lines between home and work. It might show up as an inability to truly relax because there’s always something more to do. It might even show up as guilt—guilt for reading a book, taking a walk without electronics, or simply watching a movie and unwinding.