When Getting Things Done Goes Too Far

Last week, we touched on how our culture often glorifies being ‘busy.’ And if you’re anything like me, there’s been a time (or a thousand) where you felt guilty just for resting. Maybe you told yourself ‘I should be doing more,' even when your body and mind were crying out for stillness. 

That’s the heart of toxic productivity.

It’s not just about ambition or working hard - it’s about never feeling like it’s enough, no matter how much you do. And instead of leading to success, it often leads to burnout, disconnection, and a sense of never measuring up.

Right now, I’m personally balancing the need to rest and recover from a season that has been hard in many ways, with the practical needs of the moment, and all that still needs to get done, alongside my in-built drive to achieve, produce, get stuff done. It’s not easy.

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In this blog - and in this week's podcast - we're digging into the uncomfortable truth of how our obsession with productivity can actually get in the way of living.

Why we buy into it

There are a few myths that keep toxic productivity alive and well in our lives:

Myth 1: Rest is laziness. 

Truth: Rest is how we recharge. It’s essential: not optional.

Myth 2: My value is in what I produce. 

Truth: You are valuable because of who you are, not what you achieve.

Myth 3: If I stop, I'll fall behind. 

Truth: Slowing down is often what allows us to move forward with more clarity, energy, and purpose.

How Toxic Productivity Shows Up

At Work
The ‘always on’ culture tells us to hustle harder, reply faster, and be endlessly available. But it leads to burnout, not brilliance. Healthy productivity respects boundaries and builds in breathing room.

In Relationships
Even in our personal lives, we can fall into the trap of always needing to be ‘doing something.’ I know I can feel guilt for sitting down and stopping, especially when I know there’s a shed load of stuff that needs to be done.

In Ourselves
Toxic productivity often whispers: You should be doing more. But learning to sit in stillness, to exist without constant output - that’s where healing happens. I know it’s tempting to want to avoid those moments - I know I do, and stay stuck in productivity to avoid any uncomfortable feelings I may not want to deal with.

Ask yourself: Am I doing this because it’s meaningful, or because I’m afraid of being still?

More than we need more hustle, we need more humanness.

We need people who can rest without guilt, who can say, ‘I need a break,’ and who know that their worth isn’t measured in checklists.

So here’s your gentle challenge this week:

Where has toxic productivity crept into your life? And what’s one way you can slow down - on purpose - this week? 

Let’s talk about it.

Drop a comment, send a message, or better yet - tune into the full podcast episode where we dive deeper into this topic with personal stories, honest reflections, and practical tips on shifting the narrative from toxic productivity to purposeful living

You’re not a machine. And you don’t have to live like one.

With love,  

Hannah x