The pressure of productivity

Speaking of burning questions, did it ever happen to you to experience the pressure of being productive at any cost?

From a young age, we were taught to equate productivity with worth. I remember as a kid, I’d be praised for staying up late to finish homework or for practicing piano until my fingers ached. But if I spent time playing outside or watching TV, I’d quickly be labeled as "lazy." It’s a word that sticks with you.

Fast forward to my life now as a digital nomad, and that mindset still lingers. There’s a constant pull to work, not just to make money, but to make more money. We start optimizing our days, squeezing every possible moment to be productive so we can carve out time for freedom. But the "free time "we’ve earned, we’re often too burned out to enjoy it.

I’m sure many of you have noticed the same thing, especially with the flood of productivity gurus on YouTube and social media, constantly pushing new techniques to help you "get more done." It’s easy to fall into that trap of toxic productivity.

But here’s where science comes in handy: studies demonstrate that the pressure to be constantly "on" is actually a productivity killer. Psychologist Devon Price argues in their book Laziness Does Not Exist that our brains work best in short bursts, not through marathon sessions of non-stop work. So, next time you think taking a moment for yourself means you’re giving up an opportunity to make money, remember this!

Research even shows that happiness boosts productivity, while stress and anxiety have the opposite effect. Yet, hustle culture tells us to wear our overwork like a badge of honor. It’s as if grinding ourselves down to the bone is the only path to success. But when we make business a virtue competition, we lose sight of what really means to be a digital nomad: living a fulfilling life.

So, here’s a reminder for all of us: Your worth is not tied to your productivity. Get your work done, but also take time to enjoy the simple pleasures—whether that’s a good book, a walk outside, or just doing nothing for a while. Don’t let hustle culture convince you that more work equals more worth. You deserve more than burnout.

Here’s to finding balance,

Irene Lidia

✍️ Latest Articles from the FN Website

How to Use a Portable Monitor as a Second Laptop Screen

Learn why using a portable monitor is the perfect tool for remote workers and how to build the ultimate dual-screen setup for working from anywhere.

Freaking NomadsJessica Saabor

China unveils its first Digital Nomad village in Shanghai

Shanghai unveils its first Digital Nomad village in Shanghai, aiming to offer remote workers a vibrant hub with coworking spaces and a supportive community.

Freaking NomadsIrene Lidia Wang

💼 Latest 100% Remote Jobs

Digital Nomad Account Manager at EX2 Outcoding

Apply for this remote job as a Digital Nomad Account Manager at EX2 Outcoding. Work from anywhere and advance your career with this exciting opportunity.

Digital Nomad Lead Producer at Gameplay Galaxy

Apply for this remote job as a Digital Nomad Lead Producer at Gameplay Galaxy. Work from anywhere and advance your career with this exciting opportunity.

Digital Nomad QA Engineer at bunny.net

Apply for this remote job as a Digital Nomad QA Engineer at bunny.net. Work from anywhere and advance your career with this exciting opportunity.

Digital Nomad Recruiting Sourcer at FingerprintJS

Apply for this remote job as a Digital Nomad Recruiting Sourcer at FingerprintJS. Work from anywhere and advance your career with this exciting opportunity.

✨ Nomad Quote of the Week

"The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends." – Shirley MacLaine

🔥 Our Nomad Resource of the Week

RoamRank

RoamRank is a collection of free city guides aimed at helping digital nomads make an informed choice when it comes to finding their next remote working destination.

The site consists of guides covering 100s of destinations including estimated living costs, heatmaps to highlight the best neighbourhoods in which to stay, personal recommendations of where to eat, party and work and verified real world internet speed test data derived from Ooklas open data sets.

The beauty of this tool is that is absolutely free and no sign up is required!

Find a nomad destination

👉 If you want more digital nomad resources, check them all on our website 📚

This newsletter includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission from purchases made. As we are mostly funded by you as our readers, we strive to endorse only products and services we truly believe in and think would be useful to you 🙌