In the modern world, time is measured not only in seconds, but also by how many tasks are completed, how many steps are taken, and how many results are achieved. Every wasted moment is considered lost. Each second that you don't work or produce something is marked by an invisible sense of guilt.
Now, making each day "valuable" requires achieving something. Progressing, developing, and being productive. This cycle includes not just working hours, but every waking moment. Vacations have become performances, hobbies have become projects, and rest has become personal development. There is no such thing as "free time" anymore. Every moment must have an outcome or proof.
While the body pretends to rest, the mind is still focused on the next step. Even peace of mind has been added to the checklist.
So where does this insatiable expectation come from? And where exactly are we in this cycle?
STARTING POINT
Looking back, it’s not hard to see why we constantly feel like we should be doing something these days. In the post-Enlightenment world, working was not just a means of livelihood; it was considered a virtue. Producing, being busy, striving... These have become necessities that determine an individual's moral and social value. And the system never liked to stop. Emptiness was seen as a threat. Amidst the constantly turning wheels, you were expected to keep turning too. If you stop, you fall; if you fall, you become worthless… This teaching became ingrained in our minds.
No matter the subject, the form sometimes changed, but the teaching remained the same. Today, one area where we feel this most is perhaps social media and the concept of digital visibility. Declaring "I am here" on social media has become a prerequisite for existence. It is not enough to just produce; you must share what you produce and demonstrate its value. Otherwise, can you truly claim to have accomplished anything?
THE OBLIGATION TO BE PERFECT
Sometimes the traumas we carry from the past, sometimes what we hear from those around us, and sometimes the fears that grow within us force us to be perfect. This pressure does not only come from external expectations; in fact, the most devastating thing is the high standards we set for ourselves. We have tied our very existence, our self-love, and even our breathing to being perfect.
This quest for perfection is not only related to ourselves, but also to what we do. Producing becomes a means to achieve success and recognition. Every job, project, and thought must be perfect and approved, in a sense. Production becomes a way to prove ourselves and justify our existence. Yet, in this endless cycle, what we do is never enough.
Perfection becomes an unattainable goal, and every completed task creates pressure for a new beginning. We grow weary from producing and always feel inadequate. Perhaps the greatest illusion is believing that we exist through what we produce.
ROMANTICIZING BURNOUT
The ways of describing how hard one works have diversified: sleeplessness, coffee addiction, a calendar filled with meetings, an agenda with almost no space between tasks... And all of them have turned into badges of honor.
Burnout is no longer an alarm that requires you to stop. Saying, “I'm too busy, I'm sleep-deprived, I have no time,” is proof that you are pursuing your goals. Feeling tired is seen as a sign that you’re giving it your all. Because if you’re still standing, people think it makes you strong. But sometimes, tiredness is just tiredness.
It is not a gateway to productivity, nor is it a sign that you need to keep going. It is simply a pause where your body and mind quietly say, “Enough is enough.” And if we don't listen to that voice, we start to get stuck.
TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY
Creating is one of the ways in which humans realize themselves. It is not just something created with the hands; every idea that passes through the mind, every dream, is also part of creation. But the issue is no longer creation itself. The issue is the pressure to create incessantly. As if there should never be a moment of emptiness, even silence has become a void that must be filled.
Even just sitting around in our free time makes us feel guilty. We immediately open a video, start a podcast, or try to distract ourselves with something “productive.” Even if we are doing something productive, our attention span has decreased so much that we combine what we are watching and listening to with this productive moment. At the same time, doing two things at once makes us feel like we've accomplished more and gives us a brief sense of relief. We've become so accustomed to integrating everything we do with productivity.
TOLERANCE OF EMPTINESS
Staying in constant production mode is something that dulls creativity, the most valuable ingredient in production. However, the creative part of the mind, the “default mode network,” kicks in precisely when we are doing nothing. Emptiness provides a fertile ground for ideas to grow. Thoughts that flourish in silence emerge when the noise of the outside world subsides. But when stopping is almost considered a crime, the inner voice is also suppressed.
WHAT DOES MEANINGFUL EMPTINESS REALLY ENCOMPASS?
Doing nothing does not mean sitting around for hours watching social media videos and numbing your brain with dopamine. Doing this, fills your mind with noise that prevents you from hearing your own thoughts. However, there is a name for the concept of truly doing nothing: Niksen. This Dutch concept means “doing nothing without a purpose.” But what is important here is that “doing nothing” does not mean browsing social media, watching movies, or keeping busy. Because even these activities have a purpose, a result; to relax, have fun, or gain knowledge. Niksen, on the other hand, refers to a completely expectation-free, unconditional stance. It is choosing to simply “be” without planning what to do or having a goal. This concept emerged as a gentle way to escape the pace of modern life and the constant pressure to produce. Because only in this calmness and aimlessness can the mind and body truly renew themselves, and creativity can naturally flourish.
HOW TO REST
Some things are easier said than done. This is one of them. However, by giving some examples, we may be able to help you understand how it can be done.
Take short breaks: Take short breaks from work regularly. Do small movements such as stretching or getting something to drink.
Going on meaningless walks: Walking without a destination, without counting steps, without listening to podcasts. This allows us to hear our inner voice and relax our bodies when we are physically tense.
Create conscious rest time: It is also important to plan time to rest during quiet periods at work. Instead of spending time worrying that you should be doing something, you need to really rest. This time includes taking a nap in the middle of the day, reading a book, in short, spending time without worry.
REMEMBERING TO EXIST
Doing nothing is not the enemy of production; in fact, it is a kind of preparation. Like leaving the soil fallow, sometimes the way to be productive is to not produce. In a world where everything is constantly open and constantly active, choosing to “shut down” is a silent show of strength.
SOURCES
https://boxofamazing.substack.com/p/the-cult-of-productivity-is-breakinghttps://www.thetribune.ca/opinion/on-why-the-cult-of-productivity-is-not-productive-682364
https://time.com/5300633/doing-nothing-work-vacation-time-history-leisure
https://www.creativeboom.com/tips/the-power-of-doing-nothing-and-why-it-helps-your-creative-work/
https://lithub.com/you-cant-have-creativity-without-boredom
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/what-does-boredom-do-to-us-and-for-us?
https://www.iesohealth.com/wellbeing-blog/what-is-relaxation-induced-anxiety-and-how-can-i-avoid-it
Psychology Today – Why We Feel Guilty Doing Nothing
Olga Mecking – Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing
https://www.vogue.com/article/what-is-toxic-productivity?