Imagine getting hours of homework each night, expected to complete it by the next day; this is a reality many high school students face.
A new expectation has been placed upon students to complete nightly assignments in their free time. They are expected to be productive daily and complete work while also balancing sports, clubs and activities. In theory, this seems to be encouraging and a good strategy for students to get work done and be productive. On the other hand, it is not a sustainable way to complete work long-term because students need breaks and can’t constantly be working. According to a survey taken by a journalism class, 83.3% of them have felt like their workload has been too overwhelming.
This expectation sets unrealistic expectations upon students and makes them feel overwhelmed. It is hard to focus on all the work they need to do and make time. It may make students feel as though they always have to be available and don’t have time to do the activities they enjoy. Also, it is very hard to stay consistent with an immense amount of work, so if they keep adding responsibilities, they will eventually stop having energy to complete them and this causes burnout.
Productivity culture also changes how people and students specifically view rest. They may view themselves as weak or lazy when it comes to resting, when in reality, it is vital to success. Rest promotes consistency and ensures longevity in whatever you are doing, whether that is school, sports, etc. Viewing rest negatively can lead to misplaced value. You value how much you can do in a day instead of what is most beneficial to you long-term. If you are stuck in that productivity mindset, it is hard to see the importance of rest and this can cause burnout.
Some people may believe that productivity culture leads to increased efficiency. This may be true short-term, but it is not sustainable long-term and will not be beneficial once they burn out. Some assume that doing the most you can in a day will lead to success and accomplishment. Overall, this belief causes burnout and once you have no energy from doing too much, it is hard to keep up with those activities. Then workers or students fall behind and feel overwhelmed by all that they are expected to do. According to talkspace.com, hustle culture worsens productivity and positivity in the workplace and harms mental health, as stated in the article published by Olga Molina.
In order to try to avoid burnout, you have to veer away from this strict mindset and give yourself some grace. As mentioned above, it is beneficial to rest and take breaks when needed, instead of pushing yourself to the limit. It is also useful to do things to fill your own cup and do things you enjoy to be able to stay content even when you feel swamped. Set realistic goals and give yourself enough time to complete them. All of these things help to minimize the chance of burnout and avoid productivity culture’s pressure.
