Worker ≠ machine

Companies are obsessed with productivity these days. Efficiency is highly valued. Workers all around the globe are giving every ounce of effort and value they have to their bosses and to their companies. But what if this approach is actually detrimental to our wellbeing? What if we're not machines built to run at full throttle all day long? Newsflash: we’re not!

I can’t tell you how many people I talk to that describe their state of being at work as overwhelmed, burnt out, overworked and stretched thin. They feel like they’re going at it non- stop and being pulled in a million directions, going, going, going with tons of work and no end in sight. Feelings of dread, resentment and exhaustion accompany the flood of thoughts about a million work tasks, the never ending to do list and the unexpected fires to be put out.

As a society, why do we do this to ourselves? You can't do it all. I was speaking at a wellness retreat the other day, and I told the audience that when it comes to their wellness, they need to recognize they’re not machines. None of us were born with batteries or a usb port inside of us. We have to know our limits and communicate them. If you express your needs and no one is listening, well that should tell you something. I think company values, ethos and culture is incredibly important and as an employee, you should look for alignment with your core values. If there is no alignment or even worse there is a contradiction with your values by your employer, well it may be time to search for other options. You don’t have to stay in a toxic or unsupportive work environment. Forge a new path even if it means stepping out on your own as a consultant, freelancer or to start your own business. 

Let’s create work environments where mental health and mental wellness health is valued just as highly as productivity, output and KPIs. Let’s celebrate the value in what we bring to the table as humans including creativity, wisdom, innovation, adaptability, complexity, relationships and the ability to pivot. Not to mention emotions like love, passion, care, joy, satisfaction, fulfillment and purpose. Let’s create a culture where workers can thrive. Let’s treat people like people and machines like machines and we’ll all be just fine.