5 Myths That Define Productivity and Affect Your Work Rate

In this article, we'll take a look at five productivity myths that people believe are true but actually disturb your workflow.

1. " Only when you are working you make valuable things."

In reality, everything that brings your joy is valuable. There's a concept called "sustainable joy," which refers to how we sustain the joy we create and find in our lives. Joy can be a state of being when we give thought to what truly makes us happy. If you take time to do things that have a special meaning to you outside of the office, it doesn't mean you are not productive. Indeed, you will be taking care of your wellbeing and feelings.

2. " To be productive, you need to work all day."

The logic of "more hours=more work" is a pure myth because, in reality, working long hours leads to lower productivity, worst results, and unhappy workers. The Economist put together data from 1990 until 2012 and found that longer working hours don't co-relate with higher productivity. For example, they discovered that Germans work about 600 hours less than the Greeks, but their productivity was 70% higher.

Another study conducted by DeskTime showed that the more people work, the less productive they actually become. The study showed that employee productivity drop by 11% immediately after 8 hours of work, and it keeps decreasing by up to 19% for each hour they keep spending at the computer.

Also read: WARNING SIGNS OF GASLIGHTING AT WORK

3. "Productivity is lineal."

Productivity is a cycle in which you also need to rest and do other things that make you feel well to get back to the productivity mindset in a healthier way. Some people think that taking a break; it's counter-productive when, in fact, it helps increase productivity. Taking time to reflect on your actions and emotions daily can significantly positively impact your mental health.

4. "We can force our productivity."

Productivity depends on our energy, so if we drain it, we will go through burnout more easily. Multitasking might sound like an excellent technique for maximizing your output. You might think it feels like doing several things simultaneously, your using your time more efficiently. However, recent studies have found that multitasking, in reality, slows down and increases the number of errors we make.

A study conducted at Stanford University proved that people pro-multitasking were less likely to remember information, were often unable to pay attention, and generally found it harder to switch from one task to another compared to people who like to complete one task at a time. In short words, they were less efficient.

5. " For avoiding burnout, relaxation is the only way."

To reduce stress, we can use satisfaction as well, not exclusively relaxation. Sometimes working outside the office can increase employee's productivity, as shown by Standford. This depends on each person but working from home can be the most productive environment for some people. If you feel happier teleworking because you get to spend more time with family or your pet and avoid the stress that can cause traffic, it's ok to make this choice.

What makes us feel happy helps us to recover put energy, motivation, and mental clarity. We shouldn't connect the word productivity with stress, burnout, or pressure. Get rid of these myths to start to work more healthily and positively.