My once relaxing moments of alone time in my room have now become the hardest part of my day.
Being at college has made everything feel like a race. It feels as though everyone is always doing something; competing to see who can accomplish the most, when in reality we're all a little burnt out. It's almost as if it's shameful to be doing nothing or want to spend time alone. The moments that once brought me peace, now bring me an abundance of anxiety.
It begins in the morning. I wake up tired, wanting to lay in bed and go back to sleep, "maybe I will skip breakfast to have 15 more minutes of rest." But then I get upset with myself. Why can't I get out of bed, why can't I be productive? Once the anxiety finally pushes me out of bed I don't feel better until I make it to class and my mind is distracted. I am satisfied with the fact that I'm actually doing something good with my time. I make it through the long day and want nothing more than to lay in bed, but the second I'm there I wonder "what am I doing with my time?" I stare at my computer reading emails, searching LinkedIn, trying to find something to do even though I've already completed assignments a week early. It seems like a silly problem to have, but I know a lot of college students struggle to feel that it's ok to give ourselves a moment to breathe. No matter how much we accomplish, it never feels like
enough.
Culprits Behind the Anxiety
I have found that several factors have been amplified in college and are the main contributors to productivity anxiety.
"Hustle Culture" Hustle Culture is when success and value are equated to busyness and productivity. The more you have going on in your life, the better you are. The glorification of busyness and overworking yourself in college also contributes to this. When your friend asks you what you have been up to today and you have a long list of tasks to share, you tend to feel better about yourself than if you say "nothing much."
Social Media Social media is constantly making people's lives look more exciting than they are. It seems as if everyone has stuff going on, and they are enjoying every second of their day. However, it's important to remember that people showcase their achievements and successes without acknowledging their setbacks and struggles. Social media is carefully curated to show the exciting moments and leave out the dull.
Work Environment A demanding work environment can cause a lot of anxiety as well. As college students, we have gotten used to constantly studying and having things to do that anytime we don't, it feels unnatural. I remember at the beginning of the year I was extremely overwhelmed with everything going on, but now I have adapted and it has become my normal.
How to Overcome Productivity Anxiety
The best way I can beat productivity anxiety right now is to distract myself with something I enjoy other than my phone. For example, writing in this blog or going for a run have been two things that I resort to a lot. While this method works for a short-term fix and is great given the context, it is not necessarily helpful in the long run as the anxiety returns when the task is finished. I have not overcome productivity anxiety yet, but I have created goals that I believe will help.
Goals I have for the future
Create a boundary between my relaxing space and working space I tend to do a lot of work in my bed and I think doing so makes it feel like less of a relaxing space. If I associate both work and relaxing with my bed, when I am not working in this space it will constantly be on my mind.
Spend more time outdoors I believe because I have associated my bed and room with work rather than relaxing that if I spend more time away from it, it will feel like something to come back to once I can finally rest. Being outside and lying in the sun also boosts my serotonin and brings a state of tranquility.
Practice more self-care By involving more self-care in my life such as mindful thinking, skincare, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and rewarding myself for big and small accomplishments, I can feel as though I am being productive while being good to myself.
Feel free to reach out to me through the contact page of my blog if you are experiencing this feeling. While my goals may work for you, I am also more than happy to listen to your experience and help you determine goals that may work for you.
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