The Yerkes-Dodson Law; the REAL reason you can’t get stuff done!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Too much stress and too little stress look identical when viewed through the lens of productivity. In other words, you might not getting things done because you don’t care enough, or you might not be getting things done because you care too much!
So often we misunderstand the relationship between stress and productivity and just pile more and more stress onto an already overwhelmed system, which just makes the problem worse. The relationship between stress and productivity is shown through a simple graph illustrating a principle called the Yerkes-Dodson law.
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my problem is overthinking and im never sure if im trying too hard or not hard enough , being too hard on myself or not .
Common problem. Check out my video on the Yerkes-Dodson law, it might help! ❤️
I am 100% sure you’re trying too hard. If you’re overthinking, you’re trying too hard
I feel the same! Just wrote about it in above comment.
@@DrScottEilers Man I really like you ! I just found you not that long ago actually a few days ago but I’m the biggest fan. I love everything you say. Your clear concise and to the point. So intelligent as well. You reaffirm and confirm things I already know about life. You make me feel better and more confident about navigating life because you, repeat what I already noticed and you make me more confident in this way into things I believe in or I notice but I haven’t reaffirmed. I just really love your channel. You’re down to the point you don’t beat around the bush you’re very clear very concise and you keep the topic you’re laser focused. I can’t tell you enough of superlatives. I am extremely impressed by you.
thanks for the like! :D … btw would it be possible to talk to you directly, I might love to hire you as a consultant / therapist - I really think you are beyond amazing
"if I were lazy I'd be having a good time"
Thank you for saying this!!!! I've never looked at it that way❤ ❤❤
Ironic that because I'm so stressed and depressed I'm watching TH-cam videos as escapism, and I get to watch this (enlightening) tutorial which explains exactly what I am doing (not being productive because I'm so stressed and depressed). As usual, articulate and interesting. Thanks.
Me too
Me too! I’m stuck but these videos give me hope.
Same...❤
👍
Yes, yes, yes! Caring too much, perfectionism! I'm finally actually "hearing" this at 70. Thank-you!
And I....at 85.
Old dogs new tricks club 🙋🏻
And, so, I'm guessing this is a bad thing? (at 66 years old) 😮😊
Me too, age 63!!
So this is the reason I am watching TH-cam all day long, while being very stressed knowing I have tons of other things that I convinced myself I need to do, and still not being able to push myself to do those things? This resonates quite a bit with me.
This hits... HARD. I've trapped myself by overthinking, overanalyzing; I have so many things going on in my life right now, both personal and professional.
As a matter of fact, I had a one-on-one and told my manager today that I felt that I was not in a good place to meet an important deadline. She laughed: "You seriously think that way?? Out of all of the new hires, your work is the most outstanding. You're in a very good place. Keep up the great work".
Oddly enough, it made me feel even more stuck.
Oy!! Trying to get out of freezing and imposter syndrome at the same time.
Thanks for this great content!
I'm going to try some self-care and go easy on myself.
I’m so thankful to have found this channel. I’ve been stuck in freeze mode for 5 years. A few days ago was my 30th birthday and I decided to focus on all my blessings and honestly not caring so much, after being painfully disowned by a covert narcissistic parent.
The videos I’ve watched on this channel, so far, have validated my exit out of freeze mode. Put my clothes away after several months, today!!!
I’m remembering to celebrate the little wins like suggested. Good luck to anyone struggling out there. I know it’s hard when you’re in the pits of it. Sending love. ❤
This is really helpful.. my parent put toxic expectations and stress on me and I was crippled. Wow! Teachers need to understand this about students too.
She didn't know. She just wants you to have a better life than ahe had. I am now elderly and I know that the Sun still rises and the Earth still turns.
I had very extreme parents....But I figured out that they were both human and are flawed.
Try to forgive her and heal yourself.
Best wishes
Yes! Teachers need to understand this about students as well!
This makes so much sense. I feel like the person on the right so much. Stress and depression and anxiety have shut me down many times.
This is the second time I've looked at this video. You are so well spoken! Your ability to connect the information from one point to the next is amazing! It becomes so easy to understand!
Add to that the compassion and validation you bring, it becomes something so valuable to the soul!
Thank you! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, this visual was so helpful. It explains why even while I’ve been on leave’ from work that I haven’t been dramatically more productive in the many home fronts that my attention and productivity has been needed. I’m putting pressure on myself and keeping the stress high. I need to integrate more moments of relaxation and restoration to recover from the burnout, not just expect myself to do more with the extra hours. I’m learning.
Thank you for your content.
I am so very grateful for the information you are sharing! Your down to earth style makes it comfortable to be open to these difficult topics. Your thoughts are insightful and extremely helpful! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Dude! I've participated in tons of therapy, even earning an AS in addiction counseling, also earning third in my class' top three, and I've never heard this before. This is monumental, incredible... and freeing. I'll start today to be gentler with me, but I do wish I'd learned this two decades ago. I would have saved myself from years of self flagellation. Thank you for sharing this law. 🍻
finally... the perfect explanation on why i often procrastinate doing the things i love most because i care too much abt how it'll turn out that it just kills my motivation instead.
This is super interesting! Thanks for sharing this. At my former job, there was too much pressure on me and I spoke up to show that the workload wasn't acceptable, but the managers didn't agree. So even though I tried to lower the pressure, which would benefit my work output, they didn't accept it. In the end, after a long time, I decided to leave the company. The best decision ever!
Wow this makes so much sense. When I have to make a holiday dinner or some special occasion I get so overwhelmed. And it's too much. I always hated myself for that. Wow thank you
You are so welcome!
Man I really like you ! I just found you not that long ago actually a few days ago but I’m the biggest fan. I love everything you say. Your clear concise and to the point. So intelligent as well. You reaffirm and confirm things I already know about life. You make me feel better and more confident about navigating life because you, repeat what I already noticed and you make me more confident in this way into things I believe in or I notice but I haven’t reaffirmed. I just really love your channel. You’re down to the point you don’t beat around the bush you’re very clear very concise and you keep the topic you’re laser focused. I can’t tell you enough of superlatives. I am extremely impressed by you.
crying watching this 😭
Scott, this is just the most valuable video. I am a mother with two kids-one has an extreme anxiety disorder, and the other struggles with depression. I have long felt that these are two sides of the same coin, and while I didn’t fully understand the dynamics, I was beginning to figure out that lowering the stress levels in their lives to the best of my ability was helpful to them both. Here in this video you have defined the “why” for me, and given me some solid tools to work with. I am so glad I found your channel! I wish there were therapists in our town who understood these concepts as well, or understood them well enough to use them as tools for my kids.
thank you for making this video. This hits me way too close to home for me.
It’s been like this all my life
Wow dude, I watch like 30 TH-cam videos a day, this one really clicked. This is my experience. This is why when people try to get me going and to 'light my fire' or get me excited it simply doesn't work, why I feel it as another stressor and not an encouragement. Holy shit! Thanks!
Oh my gosh, this is the first time I've heard anyone talk about this! I know this from my own experience. So validating to know that I'm not imagining things! So so helpful!
Glad it helped!
This describes me to a tee! Ive been trying to catch up all my life . I have lists everywhere that haunt me day in and day out! I look forward to hearing more about this through your newsletter. Thank you for all you do. You, more than any other videos Ive watched of brilliant people like yourself, really seem to hit the mark when it come to identifying what we experience on a daily basis. thank you so much for your help!
This is the first time I've heard of this. Makes a lot of sense to me. Thank you 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Exactly. If it has been known for 100 years, why doesn’t everyone know about it?
Thanks for presenting this information to me. I am finding it extremely difficult to return to work (2 years) after being "suspended" from work for standing up for myself and legal rights. I can identify now, that I was on the right (wrong) side if the graph. It allowed me see and acknowledge that my manager's had the preception, i wasn't as productive as previously demonstrated and then mounted further pressure on me to perform. As a result resentment grew, anger manifested, and i now want acknowledgement of their wrong doings and accountability. I will resume consultation with my psych's and express these concerns now i have some of the time to be at peace and relax. I stumbled on this video because I began thinking about PSI, and was very concerned, but again i have a family that needs me more than my selfishness. Again, thankyou.
I’ve been though this. Protecting your boundaries (before they’re urgent) is a must if heading back towards something that traumatised you. I mean hard stops set at meetings beforehand and clear boxes drawn around your schedule / availability)
I'm not sure I understand how you uses this Epiphany to conduct yourself concerning your previous employer. Or are you still employed but on medical sabbatical, or did they terminate your employment? What conclusion did you arrive at?
PSI? What’s that?
I was so stressed I couldn’t feel upset about being behind anymore. Only cymbalta had done that before. I took a month to do the minimum: bathe, eat, and keep my job. I wanted to do extra but kept my hands off projects and volunteering until the four weeks were up.
The first day of the next month, I went to clean my desk. It was soooo easy! My nerves had just needed a freaking break!
I soooo wish I knew this many many years ago!! Omygosh! It makes “perfect” sense!!! Thank you!!
excellent - I kinda always knew that me looking for a pass/60% would likely result in me getting 75% - instead of aiming high (unrelenting standards) - I'm slowly learning to be kinder to myself - and stop listening to the internal drill-sgt or give him a different role
Are there actually people who don't experience stress as you described? What sweet bliss.
Wow. I wrote about my experiences with people telling me I was an underachiever on my blog the other day, and I am a _terrible_ procrastinator. This was extremely helpful.
My therapist has been trying to tell me this for several years. I don't know why it took this video to make it stick.
It was probably the poorly drawn graph
@@DrScottEilers ROFL! No, it was just, I guess, more validation than from just one person, plus very _recent_ experience with being frozen or stuck when I had a Very Important Thing to get done.
My partner also "gave me permission" to do a little bit of work, then a lot of something not-work, yesterday, and that also helped. Not that I needed _real_ permission, but you know what I mean.
Hello, thank you for the content. Very well described. I'm currently stuck in overwhelm by tasks that are very important to me. I still don't have an idea of how to practically ease up and reduce the stress though.
Personally, I found Abraham Hicks very helpful. It is simplistic, but I like simple. If 99% of your life is shit, and 1% is going well, mentally dwell on the 1% as much as possible.
Focus on pleasant thoughts. Daydreams that make you feel good. Use your focus and your thoughts to make yourself feel good, rather than junk food or alcohol or suchlike.
Jesus I wept realising what I've been doing to myself, what so many of us do to ourselves, and others, and how we've been conditioned! Thank you so much for this! Came from your freeze response video, this was a very helpful video to follow 🙏🏾
Haha. graphs are awesome! I’ll try to think of factors that will get me to where I feel satisfied and motivated. Easier said than done… …
I want to help myself so much and yes their pressure makes it worse. I hope this changes me too.
This. Best description of my life. Ever.
I've never seen this before, it's powerful. I feel compelled to add that the metrics we use to measure production often have the erroneous straight line baked into them. For example measuring productivity primarily on how many hours you work. There's certainly a law of diminishing returns at play there. It seems reasonable to hypothesize that by redefining how we measure productivity, we could be in a better position to determine how much stress is reasonable to endure in a given situation.
Dr. Scott Eilers: Thank you for helping me understand the connection between STRESS & PRODUCTIVITY & Excess STRESS CAN lead to SHUTDOWN
For most of my life i didnt really care about studies so i couldnt force myself to study. I was being diligent for about 3 months but I've totally been unable to stick to a schedule this october. Knowing this, i think what happened was that i got into my own head about how now that I am actually trying, i have to get a great result otherwise I will prove how I wasnt just lazy, but dumb too. The fact that everyday i dont study just makes the future harder was also adding a lot of pressure and eating me up inside. I will try to approach the problem from a more relaxed mindset but it's hard because the things I do to relax are also the things i do to procrastinate and suppress my guilt about not being productive enough, so i feel relaxed while doing it, but then im stressed afterwards because i should have worked during atleast half of that time
It’s a vicious cycle isn’t it?
I have spent most of my life in burnout. As soon as I am able to get back to the grindstone, I push myself too hard, and burn out again.
I have now made a paradigm shift. Abraham Hicks helped me a lot. Google them if you haven’t heard of them.
It isn’t always easy when things are going badly, but I try to spend more time dwelling on the one thing that is going well and less time and thought on the 99 things that are going terribly.
I try to focus and think myself into feeling good, rather than doing things to feel good. I am probably still dumb and lazy, but so what? I am sure I am not the only one.
Another thing that helps me cope when I am feeling overwhelmed, is to focus on one job until it’s done, ignoring everything else that isn’t getting done. Then move onto the next.
Don’t overthink or worry about what to do first, or how much time to spend on it, just pick something, do it, and move on. One thing at a time.
This won’t solve all your problems, but it is a million times better than serial burnouts which, for me, seems like the only other option.
Damn, he's good! How does he make every message sound as though it's intended only for you? A very rare skill indeed. Serious kudos, Dr. Scott.
This video is so spot on the money. I am a perfectionist and cause my own stress by putting such a high standard on myself I get paralyzed with fear that I wont complete the task which which in turn adds more stress and makes me even more depressed so I don't even attempt to take any action. Its a vicious cycle. Plus I had a severe traumatic brain injury to my frontal lobe and suffer with anxiety which makes it a double whammy when trying to accomplish anything. I hope watching your videos will help me recover from the struggles I deal with on a daily basis.
Your content is a breath of fresh air! 👏🏻
Your videos are really helpful! Thanks so much for sharing all of your wisdom. The insight is super helpful between therapy sessions and to check myself throughout the week. I really am so thankful! Again, thanks so very much. This one in particular was really on point for me, going to try and be patient with myself.
As ever, really insightful and helpful. Thanks Dr Scott!
Wow this made me breakdown in a good way. Thank you!
That's me on the right. Even more since my parents died. I feel it's all on me. When I don't meet my goals I feel like I'm failing at life. I really can't afford that because I won't even have basic needs if I don't get it together.
It is counter intuitive but you must have faith that everything will be alright. I am not religious , but I can see the huge benefit of a benign religion in combating stress.
Thank you for this!
I'm definitely the person on the right. I've recently given up a job because I put myself under too much pressure, so am now unemployed and having to look for work again.
For these past few weeks I've been feeling scared. I don't know if I am going to make through the next month. I lost my job recently and I've been losing my jobs just about every month or so. I can't keep it together to move forward. I'm 58 and no education and I'm struggling with depression and anxiety. I was receiving help at mental health facility but I stop because I was feeling much worse on medications. I received help from the mental health facility because I tried to shoot my heart but missed it by hair, according to the surgeon. I was so ready to die but I didn't. Now I have to live the aftermath of it. I'm hurting and I've shut down. I don't bother looking for work. I'm just at a cross road when it comes to deciding which direction I should go. I want to live but my present circumstance looks bleak. I'm holding on and hoping this episode of my life passes by. I'm scared.
I care that you are at this horrible place in your life. I feel empathy. Please, don't think you have to decide anything. Take a break from life, let your brain relax, take the pressure off yourself.
I am so sorry you feel this way. My position has never been that extreme, but I relate to much of what you say. I have always put a lot of pressure on myself and all it did was result in burnout after burnout.
Thank you for this perspective❤ it’s actually motivating 😊
Life changing stuff.
Thank you
This is terrific! Thanks!
You're very welcome!
Your content makes me feel sooooooo understood, thank you so much, you are a great phsycologist
Happy to help
I think I'ce known this for a while and have been implementing this idea in recent years (tho some people around me still don't get it and try to push more stressors ... but I am getting better at shielding myself from that mostly by believing that relaxation and removing stimuly is what I need the most). I did not know it was studied so this is a good thing to add to that. This is also is a very solid argument to pass on parents, bosses etc. That if they want their kids or employees to do better, maybe puting more presure on them is what's makes things worse.
I was led to this one from your "Why you shutdown sometimes" video. There you mentioned that your "yrks dodson" video would be a good one to follow up with. I looked all through your videos not thinking to use the search box as I didn't know what the spelling should be. Then I tried anyway and the search thing completed it for me. I'm too hung up on getting spelling right! Anyway, that was the only word that wasn't clear in that first video I watched. And this one was equally as brilliant and useful. Thanks again!
Its understandable now how quickly humans can feel the hopelessness leading into the unthinkable with all the external and internal pressure of this world.😢. Best scenario is Stop, Look, Listen.
This is the second video of yours that has popped up on my TH-cam feed that I watched that has described me to a Tee. Thank you for helping me understand how F’ed up I am. 😂
Nothing wrong with video games either. About the only thing in this world that gives me any sense of peace and accomplishment any longer even though I know it doesn’t really matter.
This is such a helpful visualization! Thank you very much!
I'm chronically ill, I can care all I want, I still can't "produce" as much as I would like to or need to.
Thank you! That was really helpful
I struggled with this so much in my life, finally got the hang of it
Why are none of these things taught in schools? Especially considering school is such a stressful environment, what with societal pressure from your peers, and exams etc.
I noticed my substance abuse is an unconscious imitation of how my parents behaved around me to cope with stress in their lives. My life could not be going any better, but I'm getting high because I still think it's a healthy intermittent activity to engage in throughout the day to ease stress when there are a million better strategies I could be using.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve thought this might be the case before but it’s great and validating to hear of papers supporting that. All the best.
Wish he was available at least 3 times a week🤔 I need deep, heavy therapy right now and he hits a lot of points & nerves! Has given me a couple of ah-ha moments. He's Good, I like him
Brilliant video and never heard about any of these! How do you talk to yourself? Thank you!❤
Thank you, thank you! Not only does this apply to myself, but this helps me to understand my 63 year old husband of 38 years, who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. We've really been struggling. So in order to help him, I need to make sure that I'm not getting upset with him, because that will only add more stress and cause him to be even less capable of being productive. Your explanation was like a lightbulb turning on in my head. Thank you so much!
How have you last 38 years been? Do you regret not knowing it earlier?
@@pakiman8703 Yes, if I had known earlier, I would have kept our lives a lot simpler. I expected to have a life partner who would be capable of taking on 50% of the work and responsibility of a household and family, but I've had to take on those responsibilities and work almost totally myself. Maybe a smaller home and yard to maintain, fewer pets to care for, fewer possessions, etc, would have helped. I hope that makes sense.
I find the visuals really helpful, thank you
good work dr scott
65 yrs old , still trying
Same. 66 here ❤
How??? Everywhere I look I see 30 things I need to do. I never even get to things I want to do. Doctors, therapists, family, all see the pressure I’m under but no one knows how to fix it.
Maybe delegate or outsource your task, find capable people to do it..
@@osirusj275 wow privilege game strong 😂🎉
Any suggestions for all the people on the bottom rung of that everything gets delegated to?
@@KarmasAbutch sorry my suggestion is only for people who can afford to delegate... Since post says 30 things to do, I assume either they are like ceo or the bottom rung as you said work 3 jobs still can't get by type, so my suggestion is only for those who can afford to delegate, since this is a comment and not a video I don't need to be 'inclusive'... For the ppl at the bottom of the rung u just have to suck it up...
Thank you very much
Your Background -Settings are nice, You choose them well, You don t have to change anything.
Very insightful Scott! I learnt a lot! Than You🙏🏼💖
For me in a slump, what I need is to get into SEEKING mode, keep dopamine up.
Thank you for this video, it validates validates my experience. Could you make a follow up video on what to do about it? When it becomes too much, I go straight to the other point on the graph. For a couple of days I'll just zone out and not care about anything. I fall behind and it's back to full stress again. This happens regularly :(
Tanks!
Thank you!
I don't think i care too much or too little. I'm just frozen.
Incredible! Thank you
Ohhhhhhh productivity is plaguing me. I'm so over whelmed so I do nothing about it. It's making me NUTS!!!!!
Oh hell, this is exactly what happened. Why don't they teach this to managers and business stakeholders? This 8 minute video could make such a difference when applied to the workplace.
Thank you!
I know it sounds ridiculous to complain about having too little stress, but it happens sometimes in my job. Sometimes my manager is too busy to manage me and all my projects are on hold waiting for other people to do their parts. Unfortunately if that happens when I'm even the slightest bit depressed it leads to a downward spiral. It's not that I don't care about my job, I care a lot and want to be great at it, but sometimes it feels like I'm just not needed. Maybe that makes no sense.
Thank you
Wish it was that easy. But remember life not supposed to be easy
Right now I'm both overwhelmed and unmotivated. I have a friend who's getting divorced from her husband, but her ex refuses the separation and wants to get her back by any means (he's tried suicide twice already and his trying to use their son too, putting him against her) it overwhelms me not being able to help (I'm a hsp, and emotionally empathetic, I can literally feel what she feels) not only her, but him too, he's sooo off the tracks 😔😢 to make matters worse they still live under the same roof with their 2 sons (the younger one has ASD level 1)
On the other hand, at my job I'm utterly unmotivated (by my boss, co-workers* and environment), at home it's not different, I've no strength to do anything, I barely take care of my 13 cats, my mom and and brother think that swearing at me is going to make me react and do stuff, when it's all the contrary 😅
*My friend is also my co-worker, so I have to feel her almost daily, which is both a bless (being able to see her) and a curse (it's draining the life of me😅😢)
Right there, now.
I somehow observed this too early and it was a constant battle of not caring and starting to think everything is life or death?
And that's why people quit in a nutshell!
If it's just you back off, if you have a boss yelling at you...
Stop living for other peoples approval.
Stop needing everything to be perfect.
Instead of doing, try just being.
Everyone is racing around too fast.
Try yoga or meditation.
+1 for the law having as wacky a name as it does - "I'm having a meditation break to rightsize my Yerkes-D metric" is a phrase with legs.
I don't even know what this means, but I do know it's funny ❤
I feel like I must have all my I's dotted and all my T's crossed based on some bad experiences when accused of not trying hard enough or of something I was accused of doing that I didn't do on a job, back in my 20's. So since then, some people say I'm too hard on myself while some managers say I'm not producing enough and don't think I care enough, but I do care to do a good job. So am I trying too hard or not hard enough? This has affected me for years and am now in my 60s. Personally, some things just don't get done. It takes me a long time to write professional email or make business calls to say the right thing. Am having that trouble this morning with something I need to do on a serious matter. Why is it so much easier for others and so difficult for me? It takes me forever to get things done. I'm not lazy, but sometimes unmotivated or stuck due to this stress, I think afraid of doing it wrong or failing- yet again. It doesn't need to be perfect, but well done- satisfactory. What do I do to get out of this chronic rut?
Totally relate to you. I am 65 and feel the same way. As he said in the video, people who don’t try enough exist but are rare. I suspect that 80% of us are over-tryers.
I recently had a stressful interaction with family that triggered me badly. Grew up in an alcoholic household. Lots of stress. Life long stress and depression has left me shut down for 2 days. I once decided to walk away from certain family members who were toxic for me. But now I suffer from grief, realizing I am losing them of my own choice. It’s them or me. Any advice? I could use a video on this. Thanks.
Why not both?
how does giving yourself the yerks dods model help you get things done though. I still struggle to do any little thing, like getting up or brushing my teeth?
What u need is in another video of his that is to celebrate the small actions like getting out of bed etc to break the thought pattern that the thing u delay doing is difficult because after u celebrate there like a good feeling and that is not align with the thought that then delayed task is difficult..,in this video he meant if u want increase productivity u either increase or decrease stress depending on which side you are on the bell curve.
The point is to stop pressuring yourself to do anything, to let everything go until your mind has healed enough to take baby steps back to normal. Stop when you start pressuring yourself again. One can run because they are late getting somewhere WITHOUT pressuring oneself to get there and without worrying about the repercussions. This applies to everything you do. Remove the pressure.
@@septemberamyx ❤❤
I think my anxiety was conditioned as a young child. Great expectations etc
💯 FACTS!
But how? How do we do those things to help ourselves?
Video stats at 0:34
I think I'm on the left arrow side, so idk what to do :(
It's not that I can't get things done. It's because I don't have enough money to do the things I need to do. Make 13 dollars a hour pay your bills see what you have left to do anything.
Sorry, I don’t get it!
He didn't say how to reduce the stress when you have so much to do.