Hustle Culture and Productivity Shame

It’s easy to walk around the exhibit hall or scan the colossal list of papers being presented and have no response for the unbidden question: “What have I done with my life?” Do you know the feeling? When you look at all the cool stuff other people have done, then you look at your life and feel like all you have to show for yourself are the ashes of your good intentions?

A few years ago I learned a term that helped me understand and begin to move beyond the aching sense of insufficiency I often felt in my work and life: productivity shame.