Compulsive Eating to Stay Productive

Do you force yourself into productivity when you’re tired? This can explain why you compulsively eat when you’re fatigued.

To change this, we can examine our emotions regarding achievement, perfectionism, and productivity.

Why do we overeat or want junk food when we are tired?

We may not be ok with being tired because we feel that we MUST continue to be able to be productive and achieve, no matter what.

We want to use refined carbohydrates, sugar, caffeine, and heavy food in general to supposedly give us energy to overcome our fatigue, so that we can continue to be productive.

Our compulsive eating can be tied closely with workaholism or over-busying tendencies.

We may compulsively feel we MUST keep going and being productive and achieving, we MUST not slow down or stop even if we're tired.

These tendencies can reflect deep fears and belief systems that stem from our childhood and family, such as:

-My worth is tied to my achievements. If I don't continue to work and achieve, I am worthless.

-My worth is tied to perfection, I must keep working so everything I do is absolutely perfect. I must avoid mistakes at all costs.

-My worth and self-identity are tied into doing things for others. The more I do for others, the better person I am, and the more liked I will be.

-I am terrified of others being disappointed in me or letting others down. I must do more and more so that people like me and are happy with me.

-I do not want to slow down and have space and time in my life because then other feelings will come to the surface. I must never slow down enough for those feelings to come up.

-I must make as much money as possible, for status, power, or for safety. I cannot stop or slow down till I have what I want.

When we have fears and beliefs such as these, we will often compulsively use food to try to force ourselves to keep going even when it is not self-loving or healthful to do so.

We may feel annoyed or anxious about the fact that we are tired, and try to bulldoze ourselves through that state rather than making lifestyle adjustments to be more balanced.

What are your feelings regarding achievement, perfectionism, productivity and slowing down?

Photo by Magda Lukas via Unsplash