The Productivity Trap

Wellness coach Heather Jones Archer ’07 wants you to stop grinding away in your toxic work environment. Her first book, The Grind Culture Detox, aims to help people set healthy boundaries at work and integrate wellness practices into daily life. An excerpt:

“Grind culture is a phrase that points to the confluence of societal beliefs, expectations, and practices whose simple message is this: In order to be considered valuable or worthy in our society, one must be economically productive. It’s an insidious and ubiquitous idea. … But I refuse to believe grind culture is an unstoppable force. While there is no denying that it permeates all aspects of our culture, its strength ultimately lies in our acceptance and participation. We give it power, and therefore we can withdraw that power.”

THE GRIND CULTURE DETOX
Heather Jones Archer ’07
Hierophant Publishing, 2022

This story appears as part of the Smithies Create column in the Fall 2022 issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly.