Somewhere along the way, I internalized a message that many high-achieving women have absorbed without realizing it: If I’m not being productive, I’m failing.
It didn’t come from one place—it came from everywhere. From the fast-paced environments I worked in, from the cultural obsession with hustle, from the quiet approval people gave when I was juggling twelve things without breaking a sweat. And for a long time, I wore that badge proudly. High-functioning. Productive. On top of it all.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: Being busy isn’t the same as being effective. Checking off a long list of to-dos doesn’t automatically mean you’re moving your life forward. Productivity without purpose? That’s just busyness in disguise.
The Moment That Woke Me Up
Not long ago, I caught myself doing three things at once—out of sheer habit. I was downloading a podcast on one screen, designing a Canva template on another, and firing off email replies on my phone. I thought I was optimizing my time. But the truth? I wasn’t giving any of those things the attention they deserved.
The download had finished ten minutes ago and I hadn’t noticed. The Canva design looked half-baked because I wasn’t in my creative zone. And the emails? Not urgent. Just my inner overachiever keeping me in motion.
The kicker? I had the time to do each of those things well. I just didn’t know how to operate differently. My brain had been wired for speed, not intention.
Why Busy Doesn’t Equal Better
We live in a culture that confuses high-functioning with over-functioning. We idolize people who are “always on,” never resting, always pushing. But let’s be honest: That’s not performance. That’s pressure.
It’s like the difference between an alcoholic and a functioning alcoholic—both are struggling, but one has learned to mask it better. Just because someone can push through doesn’t mean they’re thriving.
So let’s stop assuming that the person juggling the most is winning. Let’s start asking: Is this moving me toward the life I actually want?
How I’ve Started to Rewire My Days
One of the most game-changing practices I’ve developed is a simple daily review. At the end of each workday, I look at my calendar for the next day and ask myself one honest question:
“Is everything on here worth my time?”
If I said yes to something just to be polite—like a coffee with a random solicitor—I cancel it. I honor my goals more than I honor people-pleasing.
Each morning, I create a fresh to-do list that includes both professional and personal tasks. I don’t fill it with fluff. I identify what actually matters. Then I set phone reminders before each meeting so I can shift my attention fully—no more bleeding tasks into one another.
And if something unexpected comes up? I can easily reshuffle, because I’m clear on what’s essential and what’s not.
Redefining Rest
Here’s something I never used to say out loud: My drive to be productive often left me foggy, anxious, and unfocused. I’d read the same email three times and still not absorb it. I’d stare at a blank Canva file for twenty minutes before making a single click.
That’s not high-functioning—that’s burnout in disguise.
Now, I’ve learned that the most productive thing I can sometimes do is take a break. Step away. Go for a walk. Call a friend. Listen to music instead of a business podcast.
Rest is not a reward. It’s part of the process.
What High-Functioning Really Means
High-functioning isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters. It’s about knowing your goals, honoring your time, and giving your energy to what fuels your purpose.
Sometimes that looks like crossing ten things off your list. Sometimes it looks like pausing to regroup, so you don’t waste your energy on the wrong things.
Either way, the point is this:
You are not your productivity. You are your priorities.
So the next time your inner overachiever kicks in and tells you to do more, ask her: Is this the right sht—or just more sht?
You might be surprised at how different your day starts to feel.
