Does Being Productive Make You Happy (and Improve Your Mood)?

Humans are fickle beings full of contradictions. As much as you put off a difficult task and dread it, checking it off your to-do list can make you feel elated. People who realize this and find a way to do what they love manage to lead a more fulfilling life. 

You may wonder, why does being productive make you happy? Is it solely related to professional accomplishments? Can you find happiness outside of that workaholic mindset? 

You may slip into an existential crisis pondering over these questions. 

So let’s cut to the chase. 

Despite what hustle culture has you believe, happiness achieved through productivity isn’t limited to work-related jobs. Doing so much as tidying your room, running errands, or hitting the gym can feel equally rewarding. Balancing work and well-being can be the formula for the happiness we desire. 

Otherwise, life may go by in a blur—void of meaning, happiness, and contentment. It’s why we need to be productive and proactive. 

Why do you feel happy when you’re productive? 

Whether completing work-related tasks or decluttering your closet, you will experience an instant boost of happiness. Being productive makes you happy because it gives you a sense of achievement and purpose. In turn, this motivates you to keep moving forward and growing. 

This article talks about the benefits of productivity. We also discuss how to maintain them without burning out. 

Let’s start. 

The Foundation: Why Does Being Productive Make You Happy? 

What’s the connection between productivity and our mood? 

A study shared in the Harvard Business Review revealed the interaction between productivity and happiness. Research shows that achieving goals prompts the brain to release happy hormones (dopamine). Your stimulated brain effectively stays focused, increases memory retention, and becomes more motivated. 

This creates a “positive feedback loop” where more productivity leads to more happiness and vice versa. 

There are multiple reasons the brain releases dopamine when you check off tasks from your daily to-do list.  The benefits of productivity and happiness achieved through it range from mental, physical, and emotional well-being. 

The leading reason for this is that productivity cancels off sedentary behavior.  As the adage goes, an empty and idle mind can quickly become a “devil’s workshop.” 

Psych Central explains that “idle time is a nourishment for worry.” 

Mindless activities allow our brains to wander off in anxious-driven thoughts. We start delving into what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. If these thoughts start feeling like facts, you may find it hard to perform well at work and fulfill commitments. 

Succumbing to idle thoughts creates a host of other problems. The inability to perform tasks makes you feel worthless. This can lower confidence and self-esteem and make you feel inadequate. 

Luckily, you can shake off these negative emotions by pursuing a productive lifestyle. 

What Are the Benefits of Productivity?

Being productive makes you happy when you work towards a self-gratifying purpose. You see your life moving forward when you push yourself to overcome professional and personal challenges. 

You’re motivated to do more. With time, you develop a lifestyle that satisfies your emotional, physical, social, and mental health needs. 

Here’s a breakdown of these interrelated benefits of productivity: 

You Gain a Purpose and Direction in Life 

Every day you wake up and grind through work and other obligations. You can achieve more than others because your goals are purposeful. 

You’ll grumble less about Monday blues when you find that purpose. Eventually, getting up in the morning won’t feel challenging. You will look forward to getting closer to achieving your goals. 

Moreover, as the positive productivity loop shows, each accomplishment will boost energy levels and increase focus and an eagerness to perform. With each success, you’ll see your self-esteem and confidence soar. 

These reasons can vary from one individual to the other. 

However, remember that aims and ambitions vary from one individual to another. 

For instance, career-driven people will measure productivity through sales, promotions, and monetary rewards. On the other hand, community-oriented people will find a purpose in philanthropic pursuits. You might even enjoy acting as caregivers for your family and friends. 

Despite the differences, it’s important to direct your efforts towards valuable outcomes. Ensure that these results add value to your quality of life instead of decreasing it. If you do that, you manage to lead a successful and content life. 

You Develop a Growth Mindset 

Phase two of productivity revolves around the growth mindset. When you find a stimulating, self-fulling life purpose, you build the confidence to step out of a restrictive comfort zone. You start taking the initiative and face challenges head-on instead of avoiding them. 

Challenging yourself facilitates personal and professional growth. You develop new skills and expand on your knowledge. You find yourself in a new, exciting situation and feel less like a hamster stuck on a wheel of repetitive tasks.

For instance, you become more vocal about the projects you’d like to lead at work. It can also motivate you to speak up and participate in group meetings. These things create a pathway for new opportunities. 

On a personal level, you use time mindfully instead of scrolling through your social media feed. You gain the urge to work out, read a book, sign up for a skill-based class, and volunteer for charitable events. The holistic approach brings forth change.

It will not happen overnight. Therefore, you must track progress to feel accomplished and acknowledge your growth. Focusing on progress instead of outcomes stops you from overworking yourself. 

It Promotes Mental Health and Wellness 

Experts from VeryWell Mind state that without productivity, life becomes stagnant. We start working in autopilot mode, which lowers our quality of life. The realization can feel frustrating and even cause depressive episodes. 

The decline in mental health affects other aspects of your well-being. You may become socially distant, emotionally unavailable, or physically exhausted. You either try to keep up with activities in vain or give them up entirely. 

On the flip side, productivity helps you feel unstuck. Purposeful plans and a growth mindset improve mental health. It makes you feel good about yourself and your surroundings. As you regain the sense of self, you start taking care of yourself too. 

The change enables you to:

• Control your emotions better and overcome everyday stressors

• Build healthy relationships at work and outside it

• Adopt an active lifestyle by eating well, exercising, sleeping well, and relaxing

More importantly, you become more attuned to your mental health and needs. Self-awareness allows you to take a break when things become stressful. Maintaining a balance between work and rest can be advantageous. It enables you to reap the benefits of productivity longer.

The Balance: How to Stay Productive Without Burning Out

Learning the difference between being productive and being busy can reduce burnout. Structure your day well. You can do this by leaving time for rest and recovery. Also, eliminate nonessential tasks. It ensures your energy goes into something meaningful. 

Otherwise, you stay busy without accomplishing anything. The gap breeds negative emotions that burn you out. 

Here’s what you can do to maintain a healthy work-life balance: 

Set SMART Goals

You need to measure progress instead of fretting over how much you must do. You can’t do this when you set unrealistic expectations for yourself. It’s why maintaining a daily planner isn’t enough. 

You need to create SMART goals to feel productive. Otherwise, you look busy but accomplish nothing. We have created a checklist to help you readjust your daily plans.

Ask yourself: 

• Is your goal specific and well-defined?

• Can you measure your progress?

• Do you have the resources and skills to achieve set goals?

• Are these tasks relevant to your life purpose?

• How much time will it take to accomplish these goals?

Use this list to skip tasks that don’t fit the SMART framework. 

Alternatively, you can break them down or change your approach to make them attainable. The thought process will ensure that being productive makes you happy. It’s because each action generates desirable results. You also stop overburdening yourself by undertaking extra responsibilities. 

Practice Gratitude and Self-Compassion When Faced with Failure 

What if you can’t complete those SMART goals? 

The pandemic taught society how uncertain life could sometimes be. Therefore, you should not fret over small mistakes and bad days. 

Note that we’re still recovering from the aftermath of losing jobs, loved ones, and a sense of normalcy. According to the World Health Organization, mental health illnesses have amplified globally. Anxiety, depression, and stress drain our energy daily.

Due to this, you are unable to perform consistently. Being hard on yourself isn’t helpful. It only makes you feel frustrated and distressed. Repeated failure and comparison to how productive others are can force you to give up your dreams. 

According to Business Insider, practicing gratefulness can build the mental strength and resilience required to break this cycle. It teaches you to acknowledge your progress. Realizing that you are doing well despite the odds stops you from fixating on mistakes. 

You can do this by:

• Start your day with self-affirmations.

Negative self-talk can cancel positive thinking. You must talk over the inner critic through self-affirmations and motivational pep talks. It can be as simple as saying you can do something instead of saying it's impossible. 

You tap into your problem-solving skills to overcome that seemingly impossible challenge. 

• Maintain a gratitude journal.

Use it to list everyday achievements and track your progress. That way, you will sleep better. You are less likely to worry about unfinished tasks. You also bolster your self-esteem through gratefulness.  

• Express gratitude.

Your surrounding plays a pivotal role in how you feel about yourself. Meaningful interactions with others can restore your faith in your capabilities. For example, when you compliment someone, they might do the same for you. Motivating others and helping them creates a chain of kindness. 

Each of these actions gives you that sense of purpose and feels productive in its way. Also, remember to show self-compassion. Would you be hard on yourself if your friend was experiencing a similar problem? Chances are, you told them to take a break. 

That advice applies to you too. If you’re still feeling out of sorts, use it as a sign to step back. It can help you regain the composure and mental clarity required to focus on the task. Consequently, allowing you to tick off those SMART goals effortlessly. 

Unwind Mindfully After a Productive Day  

Being productive can make you happy. Yet, it simultaneously drains your mental and physical strength. Dedicate your free time to recharge and recuperate. There are various ways to do this; most don’t require your smartphone. 

Excess screen time and an always-on mode deprive you of the rest you require. Harvard Medical states that overexposure to screens can be harmful to the brain. The happiness you receive from social media and video games isn’t real. It’s short-lived and often achieved at the cost of our well-being. 

Therefore, you should drop the digital device and look for some screen-free recreational activities. 

It can include:

• Taking a walk to reconnect with nature in the evening

• 10 to 15 minutes of stretches and yoga for mental and physical relaxation

• Cooking food with your family (or roommates)

• Meeting people in person instead of catching up over the phone

• Picking up hobbies that keep your hands and mind busy (like gardening, knitting, crocheting, coloring, etc.)

• Dancing to your favorite to let go of your worries

In short, change your routine to make room for self-care and relaxation. Staying unplugged during this period allows your body to recover naturally. 

Consequently, this helps you power through the next work day and stay productive.  

In a Nutshell 

So does being productive make you happy? The answer lies in how you measure your success. Productivity benefits are best achieved when you find a purpose that helps you grow and keeps stress at bay. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can allow you to achieve these goals. 

It requires you to restructure your day. Find a purpose that caters to every aspect of your well-being. Practicing gratitude, self-care, and adopting SMART goals can ensure you aren’t just going through the motions. This way, your current robotic routine can transform into a mindful and fulfilling lifestyle. 

It might take some time to adopt this mindset. 

However, you will reap lifelong rewards when you make the right changes. 

Good luck!