Dr. Vaishaly Bharambe
13-Apr-2026
Why does our work never seem to end, whether we’re back home, on a holiday or even when asleep?
Inputs by: Dr Vaishaly Bharambe, Counsellor & Medical Educator and Founder: VB Anatomy Academy
Today, productivity is seen as a very positive thing. It simply means how much work we can do in a given amount of time. The more we produce, the more productive we are considered to be. But behind this idea, there is also a darker side that we often do not talk about.
To understand this, we first need to look at two terms—overwork and overwhelm.
Overwork means working more than what our body and mind can comfortably handle. It is about the number of hours we put in and the lack of proper rest. Many people today are working beyond their limits, often without even realising it.
Overwhelm, however, is different. It is not just about how much we are working, but also about how we are feeling while doing that work. A person who is overwhelmed feels emotionally tired, unable to cope, and sometimes even lost. So while overwork is about the quantity of work, overwhelm is about the “experience” of that work.
The real concern begins when overwork is no longer a choice. In today’s world, there is a growing demand for constant productivity. The market, workplaces, and even social expectations push people to do more in less time. Because of this, overwork has become normal.
This is where the dark side of productivity comes in.
A few decades ago, when a person left their workplace, they truly left their work behind. Home was a space for rest, family, and connection. Today, that boundary has almost disappeared. Work travels with us—on our phones, on our laptops, during commutes, and even into our homes. What was once appreciated as hard work has now become expected.
This change has affected family life deeply. Conversations between family members have reduced. Time spent together has decreased. Relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and even with the elderly have been affected. Many elderly people now continue working or supporting their families longer than expected, as a way of helping in this system of constant work.
Among all this, women are often the most affected. In many homes, they are expected to manage everything—home, family, and sometimes their own professional work as well. Even when others are overworked, it is often the woman who tries to keep the family running smoothly. This creates a constant state of pressure for her.
So while overwork may be common for many people, overwhelm is something that many women experience deeply. Traditionally, women have been seen as the ones who bring balance and warmth into a family. But today, for that role to be successful, they carry the burden of overwhelm.
The dark side of productivity is not just about working too much. It is about a society that is slowly losing its sense of balance. It is about expectations that ignore human limits and the basic purpose of life. And it is about the emotional strain that many people carry every day.
Recognising this may be the first step towards change.
Cover Credits: Instagram @tamashaofficial
By Shahzeen Shivdasani
