Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I wonder if there is a conflating of pushing oneself too hard or with a toxic work environment, with toxic productivity. I've always seen toxic productivity more in the context of a person having an unbalanced life, where they have nothing going on for themselves but work. When life is completely consumed by work, those types more often mentally burn-out, get into stress related health problems, or we see suicides.

That a person sets goals for themselves that they seek to accomplish, is often a good thing. Those goals usually only become problematic when they are unrealistic or its too much, too soon. Like if a person is way too overweight, but thinks they are going to be able to run a marathon in a month. So by pushing an exercise routine to the limit, they begin to have say knee or back problems.

If a person is simply goal-orientated or competitive in multiple aspects of their lives, I don't see that as toxic, unless they are taking it to extremes. Like if it is causing relationship, stress, or mental health issues.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: