Presence Over Productivity
We’ve all been there: It’s 5pm, you’ve cleared sixteen tasks, your inbox is at zero, and you feel like a god of productivity. You’re "scaling," you’re "moving the needle," you’re… oh dang…
Why does your neck feel like it’s made of dried concrete? Why did you just snap at the person who asked what you wanted for dinner? Why is your mouth SOOOOOOOO dry?
As high achievers (slash ADHDers/hyperfocusers/beasts), we have a superpower: we. can. do. everything! If there’s a wall, we’ll climb it. If there’s a spreadsheet, we’ll optimize it. If there was a problem, yo! I’ll solve it… But there is a very fine, very blurry line between momentum and exhaustion.
The To-Do List Trap
The To-Do List is a liar. It tells you that as long as the boxes are checked, you’re winning. It doesn't care if you’re fueled by inspiration or by three shots of espresso and a looming sense of "I’m not doing enough." It isn’t REALLY your friend. Yes, it’s useful, but the tool must not become the master.
When we are over-functioning, we are operating from the neck up. That consciousness that lives between and above the eyebrows and about an inch back into our head… that’s not ALL of you. We’re fast, we’re efficient, but we’re also brittle. We’re getting sh*t done because we can, not necessarily because it’s feeding our bigger vision. Not necessarily because it’s right. Or good. Or healthy.
The Body-Check: Your Internal Bullsh*t Detector
This is where your body comes in. Your body doesn't read your planner, but it definitely knows you better than anybody else. It knows what you are feeling, what you need, what you’ve neglected.
Soul-aligned momentum feels like:
“F*ck yes!” from your chest. Even if the work is hard or the day is long, there’s a sense of expansion. It RESONATES. You feel the presence of your entire body in the now. You’re curious. You’re available. You’re not depleted. You’re not crunchy.
Over-functioning exhaustion feels like:
Turtling: Your shoulders are trying to become earrings. Shallowness: You haven't taken a breath deeper than your collarbone in three hours. Static: A buzzing feeling in your head that makes it impossible to hear what people are saying to you. Blur: Your eyes are watering because your haven’t blinked.
The 60-Second Lab
Next time you’re deep into a productive tear, try this: Stop. Don't look at the screen. Just drop your awareness into your feet for ten seconds.
If you feel grounded and energized: Keep going. Shine on, you shiny diamond.
If you feel like you’re vibrating out of your skin or everything hurts: Close the laptop. Walk to the window. Drink some water.
We’re here to build lives that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside. Or better even! Don't let your To-Do list talk you out of listening to your soul. Don’t sacrifice your body and your health and your wellbeing for a moment of productivity. Especially if you’re ultimately just checking things off a checklist, and not moving forward in the aligned direction you’ve set out for yourself.
That’s all.
If you want help figuring out that aligned direction, we’re here for you.
