Signs of Productivity Anxiety

Alejandra Machado, LPC, therapist in Houston, TX

Productivity anxiety, or just feeling anxious if you’re not always productive, manifests in various ways for people, often it can be subtle. Let’s explore what this can look like:

Unable to enjoy leisure activities-

“I feel like I’m just going through the motions”, “I’m there but I’m really thinking about work or what I need to get done.”  This gets tricky because it often compounds into guilt not just about not being present but guilt about not being present and guilt about not doing enough, so it’s like a double guilt sandwich, and it doesn’t feel good. 

Perfectionism can also play a role too. 

We feel like we have to keep working on things and they never seem good enough, we are afraid that we will fail, so if we keep chipping away at it, we can feel that we are always in control.

This anxious feeling can also show itself in physical symptoms like fatigue or insomnia. 

We might be overthinking late into the night, not sleeping well, and waking up tired. If we are already fatigued, this can make us more vulnerable to anxiety or mood swings in general, which ultimately impacts our ability to function day to day.

If any of this sounds familiar and you feel that you have tried different strategies to help you cope but are still struggling with managing the anxiety, consider speaking with a therapist. You can reach me, Alejandra Machado, LPC, therapist in Houston at 281-858-3325.