When Hyper-Productivity Backfires
Hi friend,
I used to wear my work ethic like a badge of honor.
For most of my career, I prided myself on my ability to shut out distractions and power through marathon work sessions – closing my door, eating lunch at my desk, and speed-walking through the halls so I wouldn’t get pulled into “time-wasting” small talk.
I thought that discipline was my superpower.
In reality, it was self-sabotage.
Why?
Because in my effort to maximize productivity, I was unintentionally cutting myself off from one of the most powerful – albeit underrecognized – performance enhancers available to us: positive emotions.
Research by psychologist Dr. Barbara Fredrickson has shown that emotions like gratitude, joy, amusement, and affection aren’t just pleasant feelings – they’re cognitive fuel.
According to Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions, when we experience these uplifting states, our brains flood with dopamine and serotonin – neurochemicals that expand our awareness and enhance creativity, problem-solving, and perspective-taking.
(Case in point: In one study, doctors who were given a small bag of candy – a simple happiness “prime” – were 20% quicker and more accurate in diagnosing complex cases.)
By contrast, when we wall off positive emotions, our focus narrows. We become fixated on avoiding mistakes instead of exploring possibilities. We lose the cognitive flexibility and creative energy that drive innovation and growth.
And the benefits of positivity extend far beyond a quick mental boost. Over time, those moments of broadened thinking help us build the internal and external resources that make us resilient: social connection, optimism, confidence, and even physical health.
In fact, Fredrickson found that college students who experienced more frequent positive emotions before the 9/11 attacks demonstrated healthier coping strategies in the aftermath. And a recent study found that women who experienced more frequent positive emotions had a longer life span!
In other words, positive emotions don’t just make us feel good – they make us stronger, smarter, and more adaptive, enabling us to perform at our highest capacity both now and over the long term.
It took me years – and more than a little burnout – to learn that maximizing output doesn’t mean minimizing joy.
That by stripping away “distractions” like social connection, rest, and play, I was also stripping away the very experiences that could have made me a better thinker, colleague, and human.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m still all for focus time. It’s the only way I get anything done.
But I no longer confuse relentless intensity with effectiveness.
Because I’ve learned that when I allow myself to slow down long enough to crack a smile in my workday – whether it's by catching up with a colleague, peeking in to partake in whatever adventure my daughter Poppy is up to, or, if I'm hard-pressed for time, simply glancing at the latest irresistible photo that’s earned its spot as my phone wallpaper – I am not wasting time.
I’m refueling my tank, expanding my capacity, and strengthening the internal systems that support sustainable high performance.
(Oh, and I’m also having a little fun ☺️).
So today, friend, I invite you to pause and consider:
What would it look like to intentionally seek out five moments of positive emotion today?
They don’t have to be big. Research shows that even micro-moments of positive emotion create ripple effects that can enhance your day, your work, and even your life.
So go ahead and give yourself that gift. ❤️
And if you’re willing, please feel free to share whatever nugget of joy has brightened your day.
It would truly make mine to hear from you!
With love,
Jordana
