Most people tell me that they want to get more done in their day.

They want to be more productive in all areas of their lives.

But, what if you are actually getting too much done?

Is that possible?

Can you actually be too productive?

Can You Be Too Productive?

You strive to be highly productive, but when do you reach an upper limit?

Can you actually be too productive?

Can you put too much time in your work? Your job? Your career?

I recently read a post from Gary Vaynerchuk (author of Crush It!). He wrote that his biggest mistake of the last 5 years was being too successful.

(This is a mistake that many people might say they want to make. Others might point out the irony of Gary’s book…)

Gary said he had put too much time into his business and efforts. He had neglected his work-life balance. I can’t speak for Gary, but you can read between the lines of his post. (You can read it here.)

It was apparent that he wanted some of the time back from the past 5 years to spend with his wife and kids.

I applaud his openness, candor, and efforts to redirect his time. He intends to spend more time on his personal life.

Many people do not come to this realization until it is too late and the time has passed.

Highly Productive at a Cost

Being highly driven and highly productive can result in tremendous accomplishments.

However, at some point to you have to ask yourself a few questions…

• How long can you keep up the effort?
• What cost are you paying for your work?
• When will you burn out if you continue at top-speed?

You need to consider the cost you will pay along the way.

All work and no play… results in lost time, opportunities, and memories.

I have witnessed many highly successful people sacrifice themselves, their families, and their personal lives for the next big win.

In the end, only you can decide if the cost you paid was worth it.

Here are just a few things that you may be sacrificing by being too productive:

• Health – You can’t run at full capacity forever without burning out. And when you do hit the wall, it’s not going to be pretty. For some, it takes a medical emergency to see the error of their ways.
• Relationships – Relationships are about spending time together. They are about enjoying time with each other. Pretty sure those are both in the definition… if not, they should be.
• Family – Many a home has been torn apart by one person being too much productive in their work. If you are never there, are you truly part of the family?
• Life – As the cliché goes, “No one has ever wished on their deathbed that they had spent more time at the office.”

Productivity Within Limits

Being highly productive is something that many of us strive for. However, there are upper limits to almost everything in life.

If you find yourself always operating at full tilt, it may be time to back off a bit.

Sometimes you need to slow down. Spend some time on yourself and those that you care about.

Make sure you are not putting so much effort into the race, that you don’t enjoy the path along the way.

Question: Are you being too productive at the cost of other things in your life?