The Productivity Myth

When we think of myths, we tend to think of creatures like the Loche Ness monster or stories of Greek gods. I wish the productivity myth was as fantastical as it sounds. The truth is, the way we have been trained to view productivity has been done in a capitalist framework that pushes the idea that work tasks are the only thing that are productive. We hold the idea that if we are resting or engaging in leisure activities, we are not being productive. We expect ourselves to be able to clean the house, care for our family, care for ourselves, and work our social jobs but we do not expect ourselves to need rest, relaxation, play, and fun. We look at these things as less valuable, when, in reality, we need the rest to be able to care for all of these things.

If we view things from an existential framework, we remember that life is so much more than the chores we have to do (or think we have to do, in some cases). Most people look forward to the "breaks" in responsibility and put them off for so long that when we get them, we try to jam them full of what could be fun activities but wind up being stressful because we have turned those into a regimented task machine. Think of the vacation itinerary. We want checklists and spreadsheets because we have been trained to function in this very Western and capitalist point of view that was designed to benefit the ones who hold majority of the money and power.

I am not saying to run out and quit your job or to view your job as unimportant. Socially, we need to work together to in some capacity and in the system we have, we need income to live comfortably and safely. I am simply saying that these are not the only things in life that earn the stamp of productive approval. Washing laundry is important, playing is important, tapping into creativity is important, resting is important, and taking time for yourself to simply exist on this planet is important.