Productivity
What is Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome It?
- Do you take constructive criticism personally?
- Do you feel that you fooled everyone again every time you succeed?
- Are you scared that it is just a matter of time before youâre âfound out?â
- Do the smallest flaws in your work give you a shiver?
- Do you believe that you are going to get fired because you donât deserve your job?
- Do you have a little voice in your head that is constantly criticizing almost everything you do?
- Do you think that your successes are owed to timing, luck or possibly computer error?
- Do you believe, âIf I can do it then anybody can?â
If so, join the club! đ
Thoughts like these are signs of imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
First described in a 1978 study, psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes said that people who struggle with imposter syndrome âmaintain a strong belief that they are not intelligent; in fact, they are convinced that they have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise.â
Letâs get one thing straight: imposter syndrome doesnât discriminate. It doesnât matter who you are or what you do, it can happen to anyone. It doesnât matter if youâre a student, an employee or a manager. You can experience this psychosis. That persistent inner voice telling you that youâre faking it and that your achievements are the result of luck, not merit? Itâs real.
What is imposter syndrome (also known as the imposter phenomenon or fraud syndrome)? In short, it is feeling like the imposter when youâre not, like you are a fraud on the verge of being revealed to the world. It is a sign that you apply exceptionally high standards to yourself that donât correlate with how you view others. The fear of being âunmaskedâ stems mainly from peopleâs anxiety about revealing their true selves in private while others project a different image to the outside world, which is even more pronounced in the age of social media. Not only the fear of failure but also social comparisons and the desire to be perfect are symptoms of healthy ambition gone wrong â in other words, impostor syndrome.
According to research, nearly 70% of people have felt like an imposter at some point in their lives. Imposter syndrome can lead to clinical levels of depression and anxiety. Itâs important to remember that this isnât just a short-term issue. These kinds of repercussions can have a long-lasting impact on our sense of self and effectiveness at work. Across the globe, many people suffer in silence, including Oscar winners, holders of Ph.D. degrees, and even company directors. They feel like theyâre not as good as everyone else thinks they are. This internal battle is often neglected, making it hard for such individuals to seek help or even to speak about the issue.
Types of imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is like a shadow, shifting and changing shape as it clings to different corners of our lives. Itâs not just one thing â it wears many masks, each more subtle than the last. Letâs take a look at some of the most common forms it takes:
1. The perfectionist
A perfectionist lives in a world of impossibly high standards, where âgood enoughâ is never enough. They toil and sweat, always striving for flawless execution. But when the slightest imperfection rears its head, itâs all they can see â the one flaw that undoes everything. To them, any sign of imperfection is an invitation to be exposed as a fraud. Itâs a constant cycle of self-doubt, built on the illusion of perfection.
2. The expert
The expert knows so much, but somehow, it never feels like enough. They stand on a towering mountain of knowledge, yet constantly fear the moment theyâll slip, the moment they wonât have the answer. Theyâre consumed by the idea that they must know it all, that one gap in their expertise will be their undoing. Itâs as though theyâre playing a never-ending game of catch-up with themselves, always running from the feeling that theyâre not quite as knowledgeable as they seem.
3. The natural genius
Success should come easily, right? For the natural genius, anything less is a sign of failure. They expect to master something on the first try, and if it takes longer, the doubts creep in. The idea that struggle is part of the journey doesnât resonate with them. For them, if something doesnât click instantly, they must be doing something wrong. Every stumble feels like a betrayal of their own brilliance. Theyâve bought into the myth that genius should be effortless â and every struggle is a crack in that illusion.
4. The soloist
The soloist is a one-person army. They shoulder the burden of the world, convinced that asking for help is a weakness, that needing support means admitting defeat. They wrap themselves in an armor of self-reliance, afraid that reaching out will shatter the image theyâve carefully constructed of themselves. But the weight of the world on their shoulders only makes them feel more isolated, more vulnerable to the fear that theyâre not as capable as others believe.
5. The superwoman/man
The superwoman/man is a tireless force, always pushing, always striving. They juggle multiple lives â employee, friend, family member, mentor â and yet, somehow, itâs never enough. They run on empty, afraid that any moment of rest will reveal their limitations, their imperfections. To them, resting is a betrayal of their own ambition. If they arenât constantly running at full speed, they fear theyâll be caught standing still, exposed for not being the superhuman theyâve convinced themselves they must be.
Each of these types tells a story, one of fear, doubt, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. But the truth is, no one can escape the shadow of imposter syndrome entirely. The more we recognize these faces, the closer we come to understanding how to quiet them â or at least learn to live with them.
The role of social media in imposter syndrome
Letâs face it: social media is a double-edged sword. On one side, it allows us to communicate with friends and family, stay informed, and express our creativity. However, it promotes imposter syndrome. Every swipe through Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook appears to display wonderful lifestyles, careers, and people. Itâs as if the world is full of successful entrepreneurs, shining influencers, and corporate rockstars, while youâre just trying to get through the week.
When everyone elseâs highlight reel is flashing before your eyes, itâs hard not to think, âWhy do I feel like an imposter?â After all, they have their dream job, their dream body, and their dream vacation. You, on the other hand, have a pile of laundry and the vague hope that youâll someday remember to make that dentist appointment. But thatâs the beauty of the imposter syndrome social media style: it thrives on comparison. We compare our behind-the-scenes to everyone elseâs best angles, meticulously edited for perfection. And surprise â we always lose that comparison.
The issue here is that social media gives us the illusion of a perfect world. Itâs easy to forget that no one posts about the hard days or the countless hours spent behind the scenes. Thereâs no #BehindTheScenesOfSuccess hashtag. Instead, we see photos of people effortlessly crossing the finish line, and we canât help but think, âWhy canât I do that?â The truth? They probably canât either â at least not all the time.
Of course, the irony here is that while imposter syndrome feeds off comparisons, social media is the biggest culprit in turning us into perpetual comparers. We scroll, we compare, and we feel worse about ourselves. Repeat. Meanwhile, everyoneâs out there pretending that their life is picture-perfect, posting about their promotion while youâre still waiting for the coffee machine at work to start functioning again. Social media isnât just about the âlook how great my life isâ posts â itâs about shaping a narrative that we then internalize as the only narrative. Spoiler alert: itâs not.
So, what can we do about this? First and foremost, remember that social media is a highlight reel, not a documentary. If youâre reading through and feeling bad about yourself, it might be time to put your phone down for a moment. Take a step back and remember that the people you respect most likely struggled to reach where they are now. And while youâre doing it, celebrate your own triumphs, which are just as genuine as the filtered lives you see online.
A few more facts about imposter syndrome
As I said before, Clance, one of the first psychologists to identify imposter syndrome, defines it this way:
Most people who experience the Imposter Phenomenon (IP) would not say, âI feel like the imposterâ. Even though they are often very successful by external standards, they feel their success has been due to some mysterious fluke or luck or great effort; they are afraid their achievements are due to âbreaksâ and not the result of their own ability and competence.
Joyce M. Roche, author of âThe Empress Has No Clothes: Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success,â describes imposter syndrome as:
Imposter syndrome is the fear and self-doubt that causes people to question their abilities â even in the face of success â and to constantly search for external validation. Simply put, it makes it difficult to recognize and celebrate oneâs strengths and accomplishments.
Whatâs more, although the syndrome has touched approximately three-fourths of the worldâs population, it often goes unrecognized. Those who suffer from imposter syndrome are extremely scared of failure, mistakes, and negative feedback from others. As a result, imposter syndrome can limit exploration and the courage to dig into new experiences.
The discouraging paradox is that getting better at your job doesnât seem to make imposter syndrome disappear. The higher you climb up the corporate ladder, the more likely you are to become a victim of feeling like an imposter at work.
It should be mentioned that even though imposter syndrome is a popular research subject, thereâs still a great deal of uncertainty about its causes.
Why do your colleagues (or maybe you) suffer from imposter syndrome?
To begin with, imposter syndrome is a problem partly caused by social media. Everyone hides their efforts but reveals their achievements there. People present themselves as successful brands on social media, an impression that often does not equate with reality. People sometimes forget this fact and compare themselves to these âbrands.â It leads to unhealthy personal expectations. Since we all try to present ourselves as shining stars, the standards have risen extremely high.
Other researchers have noticed that imposter syndrome is related to the gig economy, where temporary jobs are commonplace and turnover is huge. We have thousands of career options. We exist in a highly competitive environment, and our professional environment is constantly reminding us that we should be the best. This can be damaging and confusing to our self-esteem and mental health.
Moreover, many fields of business, especially digital ones, are fast-paced and changeable. It is what makes business ownership and startups so interesting and challenging at the same time. That also means that you regularly have to deal with things you donât know, and everyone tells you âyou need to learn them ASAP.â The pace of technological change is faster than ever; itâs hard to stay on the cutting edge unless you can learn on the fly.
Similarly to social media and the gig economy, another contributor to the problem is overworking, writes Julie Bort in Business Insider. Some companies not only expect their workers to work 50- and 60-hour weeks but also tell them that âreal specialists should love their work so much that they do it in their spare time too.â Sadly, these long work hours actually kill productivity and strengthen the effects of imposter syndrome.
To sum up, no one can be sure what the exact cause of imposter syndrome is, but ever-increasing social comparisons, the competitive nature of todayâs professions and businesses, the pressures of perfection, and the fear of failure are all cited as contributing factors.
Downsides of having imposters in your startup or small business team
Imposter syndrome can result in thoughts like, âI donât know what Iâm doing, but I feel like I should do something, so Iâm going to pretend I have it all figured out.â It can affect anyone, from CEOs to developers. Your business, whether itâs a startup, a small business, or a large enterprise, may experience serious consequences if you have a large number of people who are faking their way through the workday.
Imposter-led startups use different metrics to make themselves look better, and prioritize motion over progress, and their startups may suffer from vanity-driven decisions. Check out these three common symptoms of imposter syndrome in your team:
1. Poor crisis management
Imposter leaders spend more time solving problems than preventing them, and they tend to try to solve the same problem over and over again.
2. Decision-paralysis
To the imposter, thereâs nothing more terrifying than making the wrong decision and being proven incompetent. He or she wonât make a decision until they have all the answers, which of course they never will.
3. Denial of fear
Everyoneâs afraid of something. But people who suffer from imposter syndrome are internally shaken with a fear of potential failure, even if they never outwardly show it. Their startup is failing? Not a possibility. Letting their team down? No chance. Theyâre 100% in control at all times. Or so they want you to think.
Any of those symptoms sound familiar? Weâve all been the imposter at some point in our lives. Of course, feeling like a fraud at work is not enjoyable. But what if we can find a silver lining to this self-doubt?
The good side of being an imposter
As it turns out, having imposter syndrome can actually be a good sign. How so? People with imposter syndrome tend to be perfectionists, which means theyâre highly motivated and more likely to spend extra hours working to make sure they excel in every single field. So if you do suffer from imposter syndrome, chances are youâre doing a pretty good job đ
How to overcome imposter syndrome?
Here are several practical exercises on how to overcome imposter syndrome.
1. Be sincere to yourself
Itâs easy to tell yourself that your fear is down to imposter syndrome and then let it go. The first step to dealing with this is to identify it. The first step is to face the facts and admit that you have a problem. Our biology makes self-doubt a practical thing, and so is recognizing it in ourselves. Itâs important to remember that everyone, at some point in their life, has experienced imposter syndrome. Even those who are successful can struggle with it. Youâre not alone in this fight.
2. Share your fears
Imposter syndrome grows in isolation. So donât hide your fears! If youâre afraid of something, there a good chance that others probably are too. Like you, they have been too afraid to say anything. Break the silence. Talk with trusted friends or professional colleagues. It would also help to find a mentor in your field who understands the details of your job.
The only person who expects you to have all the answers is yourself. Make room for collaboration. Your team probably knows you donât have all the answers anyway, so stop pretending. You canât work together effectively without full transparency.
3. Make decisions, even bad ones
The consequences of a bad decision are rarely worse than the consequences of indecision. The truth is, that most of your decisions will be wrong. And that is okay and natural because you will be able to make a better decision with the information you have after a failure. So get over yourself, make a decision, measure your productivity, and adjust properly.
Being wrong doesnât make you a fraud. Nobody is perfect. Losing is just a part of the game.
4. Stop comparing yourself to others
This is a must if you want to learn how to overcome imposter syndrome. If you look at other peopleâs Facebook or Instagram feeds, everyone seems to live bright and easy lives. But what you see there is a filtered look at reality. You donât see failures on social media because those donât get as many âlikes.â We share what makes us look better.
You arenât here to live the life of another person. Live your own life, not someone elseâs. Donât fall into the trap of letting othersâ opinions dictate your actions. Shut down Facebook and Instagram and start to respect your own experience.
5. Accept your role in your successes
We feel like the imposters because we are unable to accept our successes. We were given an opportunity that others werenât. And so nothing weâve achieved after that opportunity was actually deserved.
Think about how long you could realistically dwell on these ideas. How did you seize that chance and make the most of it? But think of plenty of people who were given the same opportunities and didnât make the most of them. As they say, luck favors the prepared. Let me put it this way: the outcome of your effort is always down to how much work you put in, your skills, and how well you time things.
6. Keep a file of people saying nice things about you
Every time someone writes you something good, take a screenshot and put it in your folder. When you feel like the imposter you can go look through the stories of people you have helped. Collect your wins, testimonials, or whatever, and then visit them when you are feeling like a fraud.
7. Admit that perfection doesnât exist
It just doesnât.
Thatâs it.
Which of the previous tips seem useful to you? Comment below đ
Be aware of the imposter syndrome
The world we live in is the result of a lot of brave people trying and failingâand only succeeding once in a while. Youâre not an imposter for trying something that might not work out. Youâre a hero.
Keep in mind that obstacles are frequently the catalysts for growth. Failure is a chance to grow and learn, not a sign of weakness. Your flaws are what make you stronger, therefore thereâs no need to hide them.
Bit by bit, complete the tasks at hand; identify the issue, appreciate the little things, and donât be scared to seek assistance. Taking proactive measures to better understand yourself and practice self-compassion will help you slowly shift your perspective from one of âI feel like an imposterâ to one of âI am growing and learning.â
For many companies, working from home is still a novel idea, therefore data on remote work is limited. However, these ten work from home statistics appear to indicate that allowing employees to work from home, or working from home yourself, has tremendous value:
1. Employees are more productive when they work from home
To make a profit, businesses require productive professionals. Employees, on the other hand, are only productive around 77% of the time, according to research, and are more likely to be productive when working from home.
Majority of the employees polled in favour of being more productive when working from home. This is because of the lack of noise and interruptions that come with working in a crowded workplace, the removal of daily commutes, and the improved comfort of self-described introverts.
Coworkers, ringing phones, loud discussions, and individuals moving around in the workplace are all common sources of distraction for employees. It takes an employee an average of 23 minutes to refocus after being distracted. Most of these distractions are not even an issue when working from home. Introverts claim that they can get more work done when theyâre at home, away from the pressures of having to interact socially with coworkers.
Others attribute their greater productivity to the fact that they are no longer wasting hours each day driving to and from work. Because they donât have to commute, theyâre more at ease and less resentful of working longer hours from home to complete a job. They also can use time management apps that will help them to stay productive while working from home.
2. Employees who work from home are 52% less likely to take time off
According to a CoSo Cloud survey, employees are encouraged to work more efficiently at home and take fewer vacations. Employees who work from home are more likely to work without calling in sick and also take fewer vacations resulting in lower absenteeism.
3. Managers of remote employees are concerned about reduced productivity, according to 82 % of them
Even though workplace productivity data by Owl Labs have repeatedly demonstrated that remote work increases productivity, managers who work with remote employees are nonetheless concerned about decreasing productivity and focus, as well as whether remote employees complete projects on time. They appear to be less concerned with employee loneliness and employee future.
Pulse surveys are a great way to take your work from home experience up another notch. Pulse survey benefits include greater flexibility, reduced commute times, and increased productivity since youâre able to focus on what matters most â company tasks.
4. Attrition is reduced by 50% when employees work remotely
Because employees are more satisfied at work when they work remotely, there is a significant reduction in employee attrition. When individuals leave a job, itâs usually because theyâre dissatisfied with it.
Working from home, according to Stanford Business, is considered as a huge perk that could compensate for any other shortcomings in the position. Employees who stay on the job receive more experience and lower the need to train new employees, enhancing the overall performance of the team.
5. Working from home jobs have grown 115 % in the last decade
According to the State of Telecommuting, work from home jobs have grown 10 times faster than traditional jobs. This measure can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Itâs possible that firms are understanding how much more productive individuals are when they work from home, and as a response, theyâre expanding their workforce to include more remote working positions. Itâs also possible that more people are keen to build their own work-from-home opportunities.
6. People who work from home on a regular basis are more satisfied
Employees who work from home at least once a month are 24 times more likely to be pleased at work, according to OWL Labs. There are a variety of reasons why someone can be happier working from home, but the most important is that happiness rises consistently.
7. Companies with remote positions have a 25% lower turnover rate
According to Owl Labsâ 2017 state of remote work report, positions that allow for working from home had a 25% lower turnover rate. This is most likely related to the jobâs pleasure and stress levels; if employees are grateful for the ability to work from home, they are much less likely to quit.
8. Organizations with a completely remote workforce hire 33% quicker
The same report by Owl Labs states that if your entire team works remotely, youâll be able to fill positions 33% quicker than your competition. This has an impact on your teamâs overall output because youâll be stuck with open positions for much shorter periods of time, and youâll spend significantly more time at peak teamwork and production as a result.
Building a totally remote team, on the other hand, is difficult, especially if team members are in different parts of the world. Itâs critical to create a culture where everyone feels valued as a team member.
9. At least some work is now done from home by 23% of employees
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23% of American workers currently work from home often. The number of people working from home is steadily increasing, indicating that companies are more confident in their employeesâ ability to be productive under these circumstances.
10. 74% of experts believe that remote work will become the norm soon
When asked about the future of work, 74% of professionals predict that remote work will become the accepted norm. According to Forbes, this viewpoint is held by 76% of entrepreneurs, indicating that traditional office spaces, as well as co-working spaces, will soon decline to be in use.
Large firms such as Twitter and Slack have already stated that all employees would be able to work from home on a permanent basis, while Salesforce has just unveiled their hybrid work plan. Because of the precedent these companies are setting, as well as employee expectations, not having a remote work option will be damaging to a companyâs ability to move forward.
Other advantages of working at home
According to these working from home statistics, productivity gains, effectiveness, and improved work performance are the evident benefits of working from home, but they arenât the only ones a business may experience by implementing a work from home policy. The following are only a few of the other benefits:
1. Reduced office expenses
If you own your company and now rent an office, you should calculate how much money youâd save if you went completely remote. Allowing all your workers to work from home at the same time is a risky decision, but if itâs feasible for your company, you could save thousands of dollars per month.
2. Better job opportunities
If youâre recruiting remote employees, you wonât be limited to those in your immediate neighborhood; youâll be able to hire people from all over the country, and even continents. This broadens your range of possibilities and allows you to locate better matches for open opportunities.
3. Benefits to the environment
People who work from home will not drive or even take public transportation to work. As a result, your teamâs greenhouse gas emissions will be greatly reduced, which will have a positive impact on the environment.
Challenges of working from home
Despite its many upsides, remote work isnât without its drawbacks. For remote setups to be sustainable, itâs essential to address the common challenges employees and organizations may face:
- Isolation and Loneliness
Many remote employees report feeling disconnected from their team. Without the daily interaction that comes with office life, itâs easy to feel left out or disengaged. This can affect mental health, collaboration, and overall job satisfaction â especially for extroverted team members. - Communication Barriers
Remote work depends heavily on digital communication tools, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, delayed responses, or misaligned expectations. Without face-to-face contact, building rapport or reading tone and intent becomes more difficult. - Work-Life Boundary Blurring
One major downside of working from home is that it can be difficult to “switch off.” When your home becomes your office, boundaries can dissolve. This often leads to burnout or overwork, especially for employees who feel pressured to be âalways available.â - Performance Monitoring and Trust Issues
Some managers struggle with trusting employees they canât see. As mentioned earlier, 82% of managers are concerned about productivity levels. This can lead to micromanagement or the adoption of invasive monitoring tools, which can erode morale and trust.
Last thoughts
People seek flexible schedules and the option to work from home or in a hybrid work style, even if only on an occasional basis. Furthermore, by implementing a few relatively simple regulations, businesses might save money while increasing productivity and employee morale.
Depending on your arrangement, working from home can be a more efficient work environment than a traditional office cubicle, also allowing you to achieve a better work-life balance. The epidemic has altered the way we work, with more businesses opting for at-home solutions.
Make sure that your staff is comfortable, organized, and healthy to ensure that their production remains at a high and consistent level for months to come.
Employee productivity, according to WhatIs.com, is âan evaluation of an employeeâs or group of employeesâ efficiencies.â
Employee productivity, in short, assesses how much useful work an employee performs for an organization over a given time. If a company wants to prosper, it needs people that are highly productive.
Weâll give you 15 intriguing and useful employee productivity stats that are applicable today. Hopefully, you can use this information to develop new policies in your company and improve the general efficiency of your team.
Employees prefer to work alone 86% of the time
According to a study done by Apollo Technical, whether working from home or at the office, on average 86% prefer to work alone. Employees report that being able to separate oneself from others reduces distractions. They also feel less motivated to deliver or connect in certain ways, allowing them to concentrate only on their tasks.
This autonomy pertains to projects as well. Many workers would rather work on projects on their own than rely on others to complete their part of a collaborative effort. This is still applicable in most circumstances, even if working alone requires the person to work harder.
Employees believe that interactivity may boost workplace productivity by 89%
When projects are gamified and become interactive, many employees believe they become more competitive and motivated to do them, which enhances workplace productivity. Statistics on productivity and technology continue to reveal a link between technical complexity and output.
80% of employees require financial assistance
According to a poll of 220 clerks, over 175 of them wished their employers had provided financial assistance to them. Employees who are concerned about their financial situation are less productive than those who are financially comfortable. Employees seek loan counseling, and itâs a relatively inexpensive practice to start in most organizations. They believe that if they were more confident in their financial management, they would be happier and more productive in general.
Every three minutes, the average employee is interrupted
After an interruption, it may take people 23 minutes to refocus. Employees are interrupted every three minutes and five seconds, according to a study done by experts at the University of California, Irvine. That indicates that for every 26 minutes spent at the office, workers get three minutes of work done.
The average employee works for less than three hours daily
Every day, the average worker is only productive for 60% or less across all industries. However, for some working professionals, this ratio reduces dramatically. According to VoucherCloud research, the average employee is only productive for merely two hours and 23 minutes each day.
This means employees are generally unproductive for five hours and 37 minutes per day, assuming an eight-hour workday. Every day, thatâs a significant amount of time and money squandered by the employer.
Employees cost $28 billion a year to using facebook
Facebook also costs employers several billion dollars per year, according to research done by Hubspot. This is because employees spend roughly 32% of their workdays on Facebook. Generally, they wonât be working if they are on social media. Each year, this productivity loss results in a significant amount of money being squandered.
Multitasking has been shown to reduce productivity by 40%
Multitasking, according to productivity data, can reduce your productivity rather than increase it. Constantly switching from one job to another is stressful to the brain, making us less productive or causing toxic productivity.
Try incorporating the 1-3-5 rule into your work routine instead of handling multiple projects at once. This method works by handling the most difficult things first, then moving on to medium-level jobs, and finally finishing the day with the simplest tasks.
Employees involved in decision making are more productive
Employees who are allowed to engage in âmajor decision-making sessionsâ are often more efficient, according to another study. When employees are given a say in company decisions, they feel as if their position in the firm counts â as if they have a perspective that is heard. Higher productivity rates are a result of these feelings.
People often feel like they helped develop something when theyâre investing in it and have a hand in improving it. They want it to succeed, therefore they put in extra effort to make it happen.
Stress has a negative impact on productivity
According to research by Go Remotely 50% of employees miss one to five hours of work every week due to stress. Managers usually take several actions to reduce the stress levels which ultimately affect the productivity of employees. These measures may include offering a higher salary, paid vacation leaves, more flexibility in work schedules, and wellness initiatives for better productivity levels.
Appropriate nutrition can boost work productivity by 25%
A productivity study by Go Remotely that lasted three years questioned 20,000 employees per year. They came to the conclusion that employees who ate fruit and vegetables at least four days a week were 25% more productive than those who did not.
Employees are more productive around the holidays
According to workplace productivity statistics, the main causes for the productivity decrease among the 35% who feel less productive are social and personal responsibilities, increased year-end workload, flu season, and holiday shopping. The more productive employees, on the other hand, avoid common office distractions to depart on time.
Stress and a lack of work-life balance
According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, our ability to perform at our best is determined by the amount of pressure we are under for the work we are performing. When we are under too much stress, our performance suffers dramatically. Productivity suffers when an employeeâs mental and physical resources are depleted.
66% of 1,077 adults surveyed by Glassdoor believe they would be better and more productive employees if they had more sleep, especially those between the ages of 18 and 44. Furthermore, persistent stress is linked to absenteeism. According to research by the Health Advocate, one million employees miss work every day owing to stress.
Freelancers are productive 36 hours each week
According to a study done by Yahoo Finance, in comparison to the average office worker, the average freelancer works for roughly 36 hours each week. If freelancers work five-day weeks like the rest of us, that equates to almost seven hours of productivity per day.
They put forth more effort than those in other professions since the amount of time they spend working is directly proportional to the amount of money they earn. But the overall productivity of a freelancer also depends on the type of technology, software tools, and techniques they are using.
Moreover, it is also noticed that companies who need to leverage on-demand workforce onboarding benefit from a freelance management system. It makes onboarding and offboarding, invoicing, payment, and workforce classification easy and also help managers help find the right talent quickly.
Environment influences productivity
According to a Robert Half poll, 71% believe that listening to music at work makes them more productive. According to a CareerBuilder poll, 53% are less productive when their workplace is excessively cold. According to Gallupâs State of the Local Workplace, 85% of employees are neither engaged nor actively disengaged at work, resulting in $7 trillion in lost productivity. According to research by Exeter University, open workplace layouts cause a 32% decline in overall happiness and a 15% drop in productivity.
Meetings are exceptionally unproductive
Meetings arenât necessarily a waste of time, but they arenât always helpful either. Atlassian did a study on meetings that revealed the following startling findings:
- 91 % daydream in meetings
- 39 % have slept in meetings
- 96 % have missed at least one âmandatoryâ meeting
- 73 % started working on other tasks while attending a meeting
- 50 % of employees perceive meetings to be a waste of time
AI programs enhance productivity up to 40%
In 2025, AI programs like ChatGPT, Grammarly, Jasper, and Notion AI are the norm at the workplace. They assist in writing, coding, note-taking, calendaring, and research â making employees free up to 10 hours a week.
This increase in efficiency is supported by an MIT-Stanford joint report, which found that employees using AI finished work 25% faster and with better quality. AI is thus widely preferred today by writers, marketers, developers, and customer support.
Each team utilizes these tools differently. Writers have AI to write and rewrite faster. Developers utilize it to code and debug. In customer service, AI speeds up responses and handles repeat inquiries.
Aside from helping at work, AI also reduces decision fatigue. By taking over routine tasks, it clears room in workers’ brains for more complex and creative work.
Looking ahead, AI will be integrated into most workplace platforms. Those who can harness these tools effectively will have the upper hand as AI becomes the norm in workflows on a daily basis.
That said, AI is a tool â not a replacement. Human creativity, judgment, and empathy remain essential for true success. AI boosts productivity, but it canât replace the value people bring to the workplace.
The takeaway
Given the numerous advantages of workplace productivity, itâs no surprise that businesses are always looking for new ways to boost productivity and developing unique productivity metrics to effectively evaluate it.
It is difficult for any organization to maintain a specific level of productivity, especially considering the numerous factors that can influence it. Even so, anyone who wants to give it a shot will be handsomely rewarded.
Although relatable humor about traumas can reduce oneâs loneliness, it is still debatable how medicinal they can be. Almost a decade ago, awareness of mental breakdown was quite low and people did not talk much about it as it was considered taboo.
However, recently people have started talking about it openly. On social media platforms, youâre just as likely to come across references to depression as you are on medical forums, and mental state memes have seen to grow in popularity as more and more people relate to it.
While positive mental health can be treated by laughter, it is also treatable through improved collaboration and communication among teams.
As we begin with a relatable mental breakdown meme, we want to remind you that laughter is the best medicine. Itâs actually true!
Laughter has numerous psychological, and emotional advantages, some of which may surprise you. It can help improve your immunity and attitude by releasing serotonin, strengthening blood flow, and much more.
Without further ado, we present you the most relatable mental health memes â hoping to make you laugh.
Therapy works â at least in mental breakdown memes
While most people have taken advantage of therapy, there are still some of us who need the reassurance of the fact that we will most definitely make it through the hurdles. Especially with problems at the workplace in large companies.
As part of that, first comes a therapy-related mental breakdown meme. Although therapy itself might not be so funny, the memes definitely are!
threads.net
Gotta look sane in front of the therapist or they will think something is wrong with me. Oh wait, Iâm already there to seek help.
google.com
Haha, the advisor should definitely be a therapist!
theconversation.com
pinterest.com
The-breakdown.co.uk
Oops, that escalated quicklyâŠ
ranker.com
Same boy, same! We are also as shocked as you are at our problems.
images.app
It better work fast now!
feelmo.com
Socially awkward – let’s experience unworldly vibes in humor
Remember the socially awkward puberty phase we all went through? The phase continued to grow for some of us for different reasons. Even though being socially awkward can cause a cringe-worthy urge in your stomach, we assure you that these mental breakdown memes will unfold laughter from your stomach.
pinterest.com
Maybe we need to call Rapunzel for help now.
ebaumsworld.com
The struggle is real
Cheezeburger.com
Ignorance is bliss.
wattpad.com
Feeling anxious? Let’s combat it with self-defeating humor
Aahh, is there a better way to feel less anxious than self-defeating humor? At least we think that nothing can go wrong with this kind of humor and we are lighting up with hope. So bring it on Mamma Mia.. or should we say, here we go again?
All night, every night!!
Ranker.com
Ohhh look, weâve got guests over.
Ranker.com
High fives always make things better.
thehealthy.com
At least weâre laughing⊠right?
Humorously self-actualizing yourself
Even if the intent is humorous, at least we are self-actualizing ourselves. Great minds once said that self-reflection is the key to success. In this case, it might not be the success we are hoping for, but it is definitely a good laugh. And what’s better medicine than laughter?
Haha, no matter how I am doing – I will still always be there for you, pal! Also, maybe next time I should take my own advice too.
Pleated-jeans.com
images.app
The âof course I am fine cladâ
One of the most detrimental phrases of mankind’s history is âIâm fineâ. This casual phrase has now become the center of attention for many mental health memes. Hereâs to all the humor directed towards saying âIâm fineâ…but are you really?
At least you captured it worthwhile for a mental health meme.
Lolpics.com
Still donât fail to look so cute!
funnycaptions.com
pinterest.com
Buzfeeed.com
And with that..
We hope our collection of mental health memes made you smile! Let us know which one is your favorite and most relatable in the comments section below.
Moreover, we would also like to take this opportunity to support those who suffer from depression. We hopes and wishes you a very good mental space.
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