I Don’t Feel Guilty on Shabbos
Why Shabbos is a radical act of resistance against productivity craze
I’ve been living the life of the blissfully unemployed for a few months now, or at least I should be. But when my sister asks how I've been enjoying my time off, I can’t help but be honest: "When I'm working full time, all I dream of is a vacation. But now that I've got all this free time, I feel so guilty that I'm not being more productive."
And it's true. I've become one of those people who can't relax. Instead of kicking back, all I can hear is my to-do list buzzing at me like a swarm of angry wasps, insisting I get up and get things done.
You'd think that I'd be knocking things off my list left and right. If I can’t “chill,” I’m probably a productivity powerhouse, crossing off tasks like there's no tomorrow (or like there is a tomorrow, one that I might get to enjoy if I only finished everything I had to do). But nope, not even close. Because while I can't enjoy a leisurely day at the beach or even sit down for a good read (!) without a healthy dose of guilt, somehow, when it comes to procrastinating with social media, the guilt's got a delayed fuse. It kicks in only after I've wasted a solid two hours on the endless scroll of doom.
So I’m not relaxing, and I’m not accomplishing. But it’s fine. Really. Totally fine.
But I’ve been thinking (and, at the very least, I have been able to do that): Why the constant need to feel productive? What’s wrong with a little “sitting around and doing nothing?” Are we, as a society obsessed with “productivity?”
And I think the answer is yes. In a world where we are constantly inundated with messaging that exalts the virtues of efficiency, accomplishment, and relentless pursuit of “goals,” it can sometimes feel like our worth is only measured by our output. In the workplace, burnout is worn like a badge of honor, and in our personal lives, leisure time is seen as a luxury we have to earn instead of a glorious part of life, something positive and beneficial to our well-being just like exercise and eating well.
In her book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, Shoshana Zuboff discusses the rise of “productivity culture.” While the main focus of the book is “surveillance capitalism”—a term coined by Zuboff for the way tech companies collect and sell consumer data—one of the book’s key insights is how time has become increasingly commodified.
With companies vying for our eyes and attention around the clock, there is a constant demand for engagement. This leads to what she calls “a culture of constant busyness” where people are bombarded with notifications, emails, and messages, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and perpetually "on."
Zuboff also explains how technology and capitalism blur the lines between work and personal life, with remote work and smartphones keeping workers tethered to their jobs 24/7. This constant connectivity fosters a culture where productivity is tied to always being available, fueling presenteeism and eroding work-life balance, ultimately leading to burnout and mental health concerns.
So it’s not just in our heads. Companies are spending lots of good money to make us feel like taking a break is something to feel guilty about.
But then there's Shabbos. Oh, Shabbos. Not just a Jewish “day off,” but a forced full stop. For Shabbos-observant Jews, being “unproductive” is literally the point of the day—no phones, no TV, no emails, no cars, no being plugged in at all. For one day a week, we don’t “do”—we just are.
I sat outside on my front lawn this past Shabbos and read a book (The Fraud by Zadie Smith). I didn’t feel guilty. I didn’t get distracted by technology. I just read my book. And it was wonderful.
I looked over at my neighbors. One of them was washing his car. One of them was cutting his grass. Being productive. Which is great. But I wondered if, given the chance, they would take a day to be completely “unproductive” guilt-free. (If you don’t keep Shabbos, I would be curious to hear your thoughts on this, and I can share your responses next week.)
In a society that values productivity above all else, Shabbos is a radical act of resistance—a refusal to be defined by our work, our accomplishments, or our possessions. It's a time to reconnect with our loved ones, nourish our souls, and find meaning in the simple pleasures of life. And for that, I am grateful.
What did you read over Shabbos?
A selection of shared Shabbos reads
Arty this really has been wondering why we think in such extremes — lazy or productive. But it’s a spectrum, right? Maybe I have a lazy morning so that I can roar into the afternoon. Or maybe I’m taking this weekend slowly because I know work will be crazy. And isn’t there real value in that balance?
I’m grateful for the thoughts you provoke!!
YES! This is exactly why I love Shabbos and will never give it up.
This Shabbos, I finished The Women by Kristin Hannah on Friday night, and read No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood in the afternoon. Both fantastic reads.