Productivity mania: When the quest for fulfillment turns into a drain on the mind and body

In a time when a person's value is measured by what they do rather than who they are, being constantly busy has become a badge of honor, and constant work is the standard of success-if at the cost of mental and physical health and human relationships.

Statistics show that nearly 47 percent of workers in the United States derive their sense of self-worth from their professional achievements, while 31 percent of adults around the world believe that stress has become the biggest health issue in their countries. The question is no longer: "What do we do?" but "How much do we produce?"-as if life is a race with no finish line.

Biologically, the obsession with productivity puts the brain in a constant state of emergency through the constant release of the hormone cortisol, leading to poor memory, impulsive decision-making, mental fog and chronic fatigue. The body pays the price: weakened immunity, high blood pressure, sleep issues and even a 50% increased risk of heart disease in overworked people. The result? An economy that wins ... and a human being that falls apart.

At the end of this road awaits burnout: a terrifying condition in which a person feels mentally and physically drained despite all their "accomplishments." Gallup data indicates that 3 out of 4 employees globally suffer from job burnout, while scientific studies describe burnout as a condition that causes actual brain damage and is linked to depression and meaninglessness.

However, not everyone is affected equally; women, workers in the precarious economy, and the poor pay the greatest price. Women work an extra 2.8 hours a day unpaid for home care work, while 40% of digital workers are constantly stressed and 63% are unable to cover their basic expenses.

But there is a way out. Recent experiments such as the 4-day work week that reduced stress by 39% and increased job satisfaction without decreasing productivity are working. New Humanitarian Work Models call for: smart rest, work-life balance, respect for mental health, and prioritizing the human before the production number...because real progress is not in the number of hours worked...but in the quality of life.

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