In the US, popular faith in the American Dream helped to normalize these new, grueling work regimens.

This led to a dramatic increase in the number of hours people were expected to work. Rather than paying workers per task, factory owners began to pay wages per hour. Even medieval peasants worked fewer hours than the average modern worker – and they also had more vacation time!īut things changed in the days of the Industrial Revolution. The key message here is: Our modern fixation with productivity is rooted in the past.īelieve it or not, we didn’t always work as hard as we do now. And although it’s never been more powerful than it is right now, this phenomenon didn’t grow overnight. So, what exactly is this cult? Well, it’s an attitude that supposes that the busier we are, the better. If you're constantly adding to your to-do lists, looking to optimize your schedule, and hoping to somehow find more hours in the day, you might have fallen victim to the “cult of efficiency.” Or maybe you’re wondering if your kids should learn an instrument or take up another sport. Perhaps you’re planning your next promotion. Maybe your friends have got you thinking about running a marathon. Everyone seems to be getting busier and busier, and goals for our work and personal lives have never seemed so ambitious.

Recently, you might have noticed that productivity is trending.

Celeste do nothing