I was so afraid of being left behind in life.
A busy life is not a fulfilled life.
Sometimes it felt like I was living my life on the sidelines. I’d watch my friends hit milestones. Their lives seemed to unfold in a series of clear, steady steps—new jobs, relationships, moving forward—while I stood still, weighed down by an invisible pressure to keep up.
“I’ll eventually catch up”, I told myself. I filled my days—said yes to everything, stayed busy, tried to do what everyone else was doing. I convinced myself that if I wasn't constantly doing something, anything, others would see right through me and I’ll get left behind.
What was I trying to ‘catch up’ to, though? I had no idea.
Eventually, I realized the problem wasn’t that I was behind; it was that I was chasing something that wasn’t mine. And for the first time in my life, I started to feel grounded in my choices, my voice, and in my Self.
I never want to lose this feeling.
I share more about my story, and how I reclaimed my life in my upcoming book, Toxic Productivity. I wrote this book as a way to share what I’ve learnt in my journey of facing fears, embracing imperfections, learning to trust myself, and showing up more authentically in life.
If you’re in NYC on Nov 19th, come by the book launch party! Register your RSVP here.
This book has been a deeply personal project, filled with practical tools, thoughtful reflections, and stories that can help you redefine what success means for you and build a life that feels more aligned and fulfilling.
Order before Nov 19th, 2024 to access bonus content:
Two bonus chapters on guilt and burnout
Worksheets to help you break free from toxic productivity patterns and build healthier habits
A chance to join me in a book club experience (i.e. be entered into a raffle to win a seat in book club led by me!)
A 3 month membership for the paid community on Substack (January-March 2025)
Preorder here: https://www.israanasir.com/toxic-productivity
Inside the book, you'll find:
Guidance on releasing the guilt of rest and embracing the art of slowing down. Silence that inner critic that tells you to always keep pushing.
Strategies for letting go of perfectionism and embracing progress over perfection. Discover how to move forward without getting stuck in the need to be flawless.
Ways to break free from constant comparison and external expectations. Reconnect with your own goals and values, rather than measuring yourself against others.
Insights into rediscovering your identity beyond your productivity. Learn how to separate your self-worth from your to-do list and feel enough, just as you are.
I used to think that if I could just check off enough boxes—get the right job, find the right relationship, prove myself—then I would finally feel like I was enough.
Every task became a distraction, a way to outrun the growing emptiness inside. Scared that without the constant doing, I wouldn’t know who I was, that no one would find me interesting, that I would become alone. But the busier I got, the less I knew why I was doing it in the first place.
If you’re in NYC on Nov 19th, come by the book launch party! Register your RSVP here.
It wasn’t until I let go of the idea that I had to keep up with everyone else that I began to understand what truly mattered to me. The milestones I had once envied lost their hold over me as I started to define success on my own terms. Instead of living for the approval of others, I began to focus on what made me feel alive, what brought me joy, what gave me a sense of purpose—on my own path.
I realized that maybe I was never behind. Maybe I was just finding my own way, in my own time.
That’s all for now! May your tables, health, and happiness be always in abundance.
Live well + be well xx,
Israa