Are You Trapped in the Productivity Spiral?

Have you ever felt like your self-worth is directly tied to how much you get done in a day? That gnawing guilt when you take a break? The constant pressure to make every second “count”? You’re not alone. This phenomenon has a name: internalized capitalism—the deeply ingrained belief that our value as humans is measured by our productivity. But it even goes deeper than that simple definition and has broader implications for how we live our lives.

For example, it’s one of the biggest drivers of burnout.

Here’s the thing:  every culture is shaped by a dominant paradigm—a set of beliefs so ingrained that we rarely stop to question them. The problem? These beliefs aren’t absolute truths. They’re fluid, ever-changing, and up for debate. Just think about how much American culture has shifted in the last 20 years. The good news in that is that we don’t have to keep doing things the same way.

So how might internalized capitalism be manifesting in you?  Does any of this sound familiar?

• You feel guilty when you rest or struggle to relax when you finally get a break.
• You believe that time not spent being productive is wasted.
• Even your downtime is optimized—reading self-improvement books, planning, or finding purposeful Just sitting and doing nothing? Unthinkable.
• When you do hit a wall, you escape into mindless scrolling or binge-watching, but it never truly restores you.
• You feel stuck on a hamster wheel—alternating between hyper-productivity and numbing distractions.

If you nodded along, you might be wondering: What can I do about it?

Step One: Awareness is Everything

The truth is, these are just beliefs—thoughts we’ve repeated so often they feel like reality. But here’s the good news: Beliefs can change. Once you start questioning them, you open the door to incredible freedom. And it’s amazing how behaviors start to change once your mind is not hooked on the same repetitive narrative.

So, here’s a small but powerful challenge for you this week:

Give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing for 15 minutes.

That’s right. No scrolling, no planning, no multitasking. Just sit. Watch the clouds. People-watch. Listen to the birds. And—most importantly—let yourself be okay with it.

Let your mind quiet.  Pay attention to how it feels. What comes up for you?  If you feel anxious or resistant, that’s ok.  Try again later.  You can explore small ways to reclaim your time, energy, and sense of self—without guilt.  And over time, you might just find yourself relaxing more and enjoying the empty space. 

Here’s to savoring your moments of unproductivity!