As 2024 comes to a close, you might be feeling the pressure between year-end deadlines and holiday plans. Perhaps youre looking to supercharge your productivityor maybe youre thinking ahead to your resolutions and what you might accomplish in the new year.If youre a chronic multitasker or someone who tends to overcommit, you may find yourself reverting to those habits during this time. But those tendencies can also lead to an unhealthy fixation on your productivityor what some experts call toxic productivity, which can cause burnout and take a toll on your overall well-being. Productivity can create an imbalance in your life when its the only thing that matters, says author and therapist Israa Nasir. Its the fastest way to burn out.What causes toxic productivityAnother habit to look out for is feeling guilt about enjoying your free time, or filling your schedule with activities that you view as productive. You might feel like youre slacking if you allow yourself to relax, which can spark feelings of shame. You dont want to be the person whos not doing something, Nasir says. Usually, we jump into avoidance to process shame. What better way to avoid an emotion than by busying yourself? It motivates us to skip rest, relaxation, and just being. Toxic productivity is also encouraged by expectations in the workplace, which can overemphasize the importance of looking busy. Multitasking, for example, might seem impressive but actually requires your brain to switch between tasks, making you less effective overall. Working long hours can also be counterproductive, since your brain needs breaks to function.How micro habits can helpStill, there are things you can do to fight your impulse to pursue productivity at all costs. The kinds of habits that exacerbate this issue can be hard to break. One way to chip away at them is to start small, by taking stock of your to-dos on a given week and doing one less thing. Another recommendation that might prove more challenging for many of us is to try doing just one task at a timewhich means putting your phone down.Beyond those more tangible changes, its also important to reflect on why you have set certain goals for yourself, and why you spend your time the way you do. Most people who are on the productivity wheel, or what I call the productivity paradox, are on autopilot, Nasir argues. Autopilot is a big problem, and it happens because we dont have self-awareness. Were not regularly checking in with ourselves.