Conversion Therapy and productivity exist in a frustrating cycle: conversion therapy reduces productivity, which creates more stress, which worsens conversion therapy. Breaking this cycle requires specific strategies.
How Conversion Therapy Undermines Productivity
- Concentration difficulties make task initiation and completion harder
- Decision fatigue compounds when conversion therapy is high
- Perfectionism (a common companion of conversion therapy) causes paralysis
- Energy depletion means less available for productive work
Productivity Strategies That Work With Conversion Therapy
Reduce friction: Make tasks easier to start — prepare the night before, break into tiny steps
Work with energy cycles: Do demanding work when conversion therapy is lowest, administrative tasks during harder periods
Body-doubling: Working in proximity with others (library, cafe, video call) reduces avoidance
Time blocking: Visible, concrete schedule reduces decision overhead that conversion therapy makes harder
When Conversion Therapy Makes Work Impossible
Sometimes the most productive thing is to acknowledge you're not well and reduce demands. Pushing through severe conversion therapy often worsens it and produces poor-quality work.