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The Productivity Hangover: When Your To-Do List Is Killing Your Vibe
Feeling that first-of-the-month motivation and the weight of overcommitted calendars? This edition helps you reset how to approach productivity through a more mindful, wellness-aligned lens.
Valerie Alvarez
04 May • Reading Time: 9 minutes
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Let’s just say it: Your to-do list isn’t sexy anymore.
It’s not motivating. It’s not giving “main character.” It’s giving burnout in a neutral-toned planner.
If you’ve been riding that first-week-of-the-month productivity high and suddenly hit a wall (somewhere between task #6 and ChatGPTing “how to stay motivated when you’re literally tired of trying”), you are so not alone.
This week, we’re calling out the Productivity Hangover—the silent killer of vibes, joy, and rest. We’re unpacking why you’re not lazy (you’re overstimulated), how to spot the signs, and why doing less might actually move you forward faster.
No hustle-shaming. No 3-hour journaling routines. Just real talk and small shifts for high-achievers who are tired of pretending they’re robots.
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Let’s get into it.
What's Inside
You’re Not Lazy, You’re Overstimulated: How to spot the difference and heal from productivity guilt
Let’s be honest—how many tabs do you have open right now? How many unread messages, task reminders, and Slack pings are lurking just beneath your screen? And yet… you still feel like you're not doing enough.
Welcome to the productivity hangover—the messy aftertaste of being constantly “on,” even when you're technically off. It’s a flavor overachievers know too well.
We confuse burnout with laziness. We internalize the guilt of rest. But here’s the truth: you’re not lazy—you’re overstimulated, overbooked, and undernourished (in more ways than one).