“How can I slow down and forget about productivity, while also accomplishing the projects on my never ending list of ideas?”

This question has been lodged in my mind for a painfully long time now, sloshing around aimlessly with each step I take. I’m crazy about slow living, drinking tea and watching sunlight filter through the leaves of my tree friends. Yet, despite this deep peace I feel in these moments, I am still constantly scorning myself for not creating more things, for not creating more frequently, for not working hard enough on the goals I dream of. I have been trying to shame myself into being more productive for years and unsurprisingly, it has not worked in the least bit. My therapist once said to me, “Your productivity does not equate your self worth.” That has become an almost daily affirmation.

Note: I just wanted to add that when I refer to productivity, personally, I am talking about how it relates to my creative hobbies and self care tasks such as cleaning. I am out of education and my job is pretty straightforward, so productivity does not feel like an issue there. This was honestly a big factor in changing my perspective on this concept. I realized that my livelihood does not rely on my productivity (in the areas that I’m struggling). I don’t have to do my hobbies if they make me anxious and I can stop at any time. It is such a simple thing, but I often seem to forget that letting go of a dream is okay when it is holding you back more than it is encouraging you.

Reframing productivity

I can’t say this is a huge revelation, but it feels like a step in the right direction. Rather than viewing productivity from the goal of how much I can create, how fast I can make it, and how often I can complete projects, I’ve started viewing it as whether the activity was healthy for my mind and my mental wellbeing. For example, writing a novel may seem highly productive, but when you’re having an off day and you want to cuddle up in soft blanket and watch your comfort show more than anything, is it really a good idea to try to tackle such a large project? I am reframing productivity to be solely regarding my mental health, and resting would probably be a better choice, in this case. Of course, this will look different for everyone, but what I’m getting at is:

Rest days are productive, too!

I must admit, though, this idea may not fully align with the dictionary definition of “productivity.” Merriam Webster defines the word, “productive” as, “having the quality or power of producing especially in abundance.”1 Regularly scheduled lazy days probably won’t help you produce more than if you had just powered through, however they will reduce the risk of burnout. Trust me when I say this, you will be significantly less productive when you burn out from pushing yourself too far. As this paper words it, “Structured and strategic rest refers to the intentional creation of rhythms, routines, and policies that support recovery, conserve energy, and promote long-term, sustainable efforts that center on and care for our humanity,” (Grier, 2025). The words, “long-term,” and “sustainable,” are essential here. Being in a good mental state can help you to be more creative more often, and you won’t have to shame yourself into creating.

Rest can look like many things. It is up to you to decide what rest looks like for you. Sometimes it may look like lighting a candle, journaling, and going for walks. Other times it may look like living out of the same pajamas for multiple days, binging a show you know word for word, and avoiding the outside world like a vampire. Experiment with what works best for you. Try new self care methods or embrace your feral inner child that decides 2am is a good time for playing dress up and rearranging furniture.

Forgetting about toxic productivity and hustle culture does not mean completely forgetting about your hobbies, goals, or ambitious project ideas. Instead, it means not feeling guilty when you are not actively working on them or how much you’ve accomplished in one session. It means not revolving your identity around your productivity. As stated in the book The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler, “Your identity is replaced by your output—what you do and how well and fast you do it becomes who you are,” (Schafler, 2023). You create because you love creating, not to prove your worth to the world. You are a worthy person regardless of how much you’ve accomplished.

This shift in the idea behind productivity can bring about logical concerns, such as I had when I wondered if there was a way to live slowly and productively simultaneously. I feared my terrible self discipline skills would result in everyday being a rest day. As with anything, balance is very important here. Pay attention to input vs output activities, and try to notice how you feel if you’ve tipped too far in one direction. You may be getting an overwhelming urge to create something, and if so, focus more on output. But, if you’ve been working on a project to the point of almost despising it, then enjoy a nice input activity. If productivity means trying to do more than we should, we have to be careful not to swing the pendulum too far in the opposite direction. You can create a personalized list of input vs output activities. Here is a few examples from my list:

Input: books, (or reading in general), movies, tv shows, games, songs, conversations, etc.

Output: art, writing, sewing, knitting, journaling, baking, or any other hobbies.

(Sometimes you can even do both, such as listening to music while baking or drawing while binging a comfort show! Just be careful not to overstimulate yourself if you try to do too much at once.)

It can be very freeing when you start to view your to-do list of project ideas as a list full of wonderful new opportunities and experiences. It is not an obligation to complete these things you dream about, but you may find you are incredibly grateful to even complete a single one. Completing the entire list is not necessary, and in fact, you can’t revel in and truly appreciate your victories when you’re quickly moving on to the next goal. As another quote in The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control states, “…you’re operating from a mindset of abundance. You already have what you need, and you feel secure,” (Schafler, 2023). This is the type of mindset you want to have when you work on a creative project. Remind yourself that not completing this project, or the never ending list of projects you hope to complete, will not make you a less valuable human. You don’t need to justify your existence by creating, your existence is enough and everything else is just an added bonus!

Next time you achieve a goal or milestone, revel in it! Be unapologetically proud of yourself and take some time to pat yourself on the back. Don’t even think about starting the next project for another few days or weeks or however long you need. Stop counting how many boxes you can check off in a hobby that is meant to be relaxing.

Works Cited:

“Productive Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/productive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

Grier, Consuelo A. Preventing the Burnout and the Burn Through: Leaning Into Structured and Strategic Rest, The International Academic Forum, 2025, papers.iafor.org/wp-content/uploads/papers/acah2025/ACAH2025_94257.pdf?t=8.

Schafler, Katherine Morgan. The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power. Portfolio/Penguin, 2023.