Productivity Guilt & Sunk Cost Fallacy
There are times that you feel you're unproductive because you've been idle. But did you know that downtimes are also considered as productivity?
Not long ago, I found myself engrossed in a book titled “I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt”. It led me to question why I felt so uncomfortable during my idle time. It made me wonder, do you, like me, ever find yourself succumbing to productivity guilt?
When I was reading that book, there were so many things there that hit me through and through.
Defining productivity guilt
Productivity guilt, as I've come to understand it, is a societal construct that measures our worth based on our actions and the outcomes of our hard work.
It's this nagging feeling that we should always be doing something productive that our day is somehow wasted if we haven't ticked off a list of tasks.
This guilt can stem from various sources, including societal expectations, personal pressure, and the fear of appearing lazy or uncommitted.
A clear example of productivity guilt is the concept of “precrastination,” where tasks are completed quickly for the sake of getting things done, often resulting in unnecessary effort that could have been avoided with better planning.
The impact of productivity guilt can be detrimental to our mental health, causing stress, burnout, and a constant feeling of inadequacy.
Then, I encountered this in the book:
We can re-create the “sunk cost fallacy” across our days—that is, we focus on how much time, energy, money, or attention we may have already poured into something rather than seeing the benefit in freeing ourselves—and our time, energy, money, and attention—for something else.
It got me wondering what’s sunk cost fallacy. Surely, I saw myself going down the rabbit hole and spending a few good hours reading about it.
What’s the sunk cost fallacy?
It is defined by Very Well Mind as:
The sunk cost fallacy is a cognitive bias that makes you feel as if you should continue pouring money, time, or effort into a situation since you’ve already “sunk” so much into it already.
This perceived sunk cost makes it difficult to walk away from the situation since you don’t want to see your resources wasted.
To give an example:
Think of it that you’re in a long-term relationship with someone, perhaps for more than a decade. Slowly, you feel that the relationship isn’t allowing you to thrive or grow into a better person. You feel scared or anxious about breaking up because of the years that you’ve been together. Then, you still believe that it can still be saved as long as you’re there.
I guess that example was closer to reality than I initially thought. 🤣
Going back, the impact of the sunk cost fallacy can be significant, leading to poor decision-making and unnecessary stress.
The best predictor of the future or future behavior is the past. If until this point the relationships, hobby, friendship, job, etc. has not served you in any positive regard, it likely won't in the future.
— Yalda Safai, MD, MPH
I've noticed that my productivity guilt often leads to the sunk cost fallacy. I feel guilty for not being productive, so I continue to invest in tasks or projects that no longer serve me, simply because I've already invested so much into them.
This connection is evident in situations where I force myself to finish tasks, like reading a book or watching a series, even when I no longer find them interesting or beneficial.
How to overcome both productivity guilt and sunk cost fallacy?
Recognizing these patterns is the first step towards overcoming them. I know that’s easier said than done. But, I've learned that my value is not solely defined by my productivity. That it's okay to let go of things that no longer serve me.
Some practical tips I've found helpful include setting realistic expectations, prioritizing truly important tasks, and allowing myself to take breaks and rest.
For further help, I'm considering seeking advice from professionals or reading more about these topics. Since I have a check-up with my psych soon, I’ll be opening this up with her next month. So, I’ll be able to understand it better and how it connects to my ADHD.
Aside from those, perhaps these may help:
Giving yourself a pat on the back on every task that you accomplish that’s part of a bigger task or project. Recognizing your milestones helps alleviate the sense of productivity guilt.
If you see that if something is no longer contributing to your overall well-being, it’s time to let that go. Be it a person, show, movie, book, or a hobby. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of keeping whatever it is for the sake of saving what has already been.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Your path is different from them. Only you can define your success. But, it would be a good motivator to compare yourself with the previous version of yourself. See your progress and how far you have come.
Use your idle time to recharge. It may seem unbearable to do at first, especially if the hustle culture has been ingrained in your mind for so long. But, recharging is also productive. It allows you to bring fresh ideas or innovate at work, school, or even at home.
Understanding and overcoming productivity guilt and the sunk cost fallacy is crucial for our mental health and overall well-being. It allows us to make better decisions and live more fulfilling lives.
Life lately:
Starting my 3rd Project Management course on Coursera soon. So happy that my scholarship was approved!
I’m no longer pressuring myself to journal daily, weekly, or monthly. I got burnt out of that. So, I’ll write in my journal whenever I feel it, no matter the words.
Abandoning Twitter for good.
I tried Threads by Meta, but left it after a few minutes. 👋🏽
Making organic and genuine conversations on Mastodon about games, pets, art, mental health, and other things. Oh, the joy of the Fediverse! 🐘
If you’re on Mastodon, feel free to follow me on these instances:
Watching The Zone on Disney+ weekly since their 2nd season started airing!
Revamped my website to give it a more portfolio vibe.
Had my exit interview already. 💪🏽
Finally, I hope you’ll be able to let go of the things that don’t bring value to your life anymore. Treasure the things that bring you joy and happiness.
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Love and light 🧿
Maria