We talk to people aged 21-50 about work from home productivity
Can more pressure ever be positive?
Text: Tiff H
There’s a fine line between a healthy drive for productivity efficiency and the immense mental pressure of optimising every single waking second. When you’re working from home without any clear-cut boundaries — boom — you’ve suddenly got a real life-determining balance on your already packed plate. In the face of a global pandemic, the increased time spent at home for both work and play birthed a rhetoric insinuating that any ‘down time’ should be used effectively. Got a morning spare? Start an online business course! An hour free? Now’s the time to bake a cake! Ten minutes to twiddle your fingers? Dedicate it to meditation!
While this pressure for productivity reveals our society’s obsession with overachieving and could potentially lead to burnout, we’re also seeing positives to this ‘new normal’ when it comes to working from home. A study by Qualtrics revealed that one in three employees in Singapore feel more productive when working from home. Additionally, while Covid-19 has perpetuated an anxiety outbreak, almost a third of workers stated that WFH has contributed to improving their mental health in Singapore.
So, can more pressure ever be positive? And how does this drive for productivity affect our mental health? The Soothe found out:
‘I have greater autonomy over my time’
“A productive period to me, is one where I successfully manage to strike a balance among all my commitments. I feel more productive now that I’m working from home, although there have definitely been days when my self-discipline has been challenged. The convenience of working anywhere helps in maximising the time I have, and also grants me greater autonomy over my time.
As with most things, the drive for productivity efficiency is a double-edged sword. An obsession with being productive will invariably lead to stress. If managed well, however, the need to constantly achieve and actually doing things will definitely reap rewards.”
Hoi Han, 20s
‘I can align work with my creativity’
“I used to have a really unhealthy relationship with productivity where it was all about output. Today, productivity efficiency is about using my time efficiently, whether that’s for work, socialising or self-care. These only feel productive when they’re in balance with each other. Taking a day to rest feels productive when I’ve been working hard, socialising feels productive when I’ve felt isolated.
It’s been a big change going from an office and being part of a team, to freelancing from home. I certainly feel more in control of my productivity as a freelancer. I love being able to align my work with when I’m feeling creative and productive, rather than being restricted by standard work hours.”
Jenny, 20s
‘Making an effort adds to my growth as an individual’
“While measuring productivity is difficult without a definite means of measuring the quality of an outcome, I tend to measure my productivity based on my anticipated timeline of tasks. It’s similar to fruitfulness — making the effort to achieve a set goal adds to my growth as an individual and a part of a community.
I often struggle with guilt and disappointment when I feel like I'm not being productive, but I also understand that it's crucial to not be burdened by the pressure to be productive at all times. Productivity efficiency is crucial in bringing about change and development that I can be proud of. The hard work I put in is an essential part of building a more fulfilled life.”
Hane, 20s
‘Productivity is the ability to strike a balance’
“As someone who really embraces the slow life, which is the driving force behind S L O W H O U S E, productivity is not measured by the hours spent on a project, but rather to what I create and how successful it is. We often measure productivity based on the amount of output, but I see it more as the ability to strike a balance.
I have been more productive since circuit breaker as it’s given me the opportunity to step back and reflect on what I’m doing. Having my daughter at home was challenging as a child is never constant. But I’ve always had the philosophy of putting her first. I find that once I have that mentality in place, everything falls into place around it.”
Bella, 30s
‘I’m at my best when I’m achieving’
“Productivity is about achieving results so at its most basic level it’s about output. I measure my productivity in a holistic way — it’s not just about numbers, and I rely heavily on feedback from clients, peers and colleagues.
My mental health benefits positively from the drive to be productive. When I’m achieving, adding value and making progress, this is me at my best. I feel good about myself.”
Dyanne, 40s
