Why You Can’t Get As Much Done As You Used To (and why that’s okay)
Keep reading this post to learn:
Why your “old productivity levels” were probably fueled by stress and adrenaline
What it looks like when your capacity changes in a healthier, more sustainable way
How to reframe productivity so you can stop hustling to prove yourself and start living at a pace that lets you thrive
If you’ve ever looked at your to-do list and thought, “Past me would’ve crushed this by now, so, like…what happened?” you’re not alone. I’ve been there too, wondering why I couldn’t keep up the way I used to. But here’s the truth: it’s not laziness, and it’s not a lack of motivation. It’s your capacity changing as you heal from hustle culture.
And honestly? That’s a beautiful thing!
Hustle Culture and the Illusion of Capacity
When I was living deep in hustle culture, I could run around like the Energizer Bunny for 16-hour days, fueled by caffeine and adrenaline, not genuine energy. My capacity looked huge, but it was inflated by survival mode. My nervous system was wired to push and push, no matter the cost 😅
As I started healing, I expected slowing down to feel instantly peaceful. Instead, my body freaked out. Years of stress don’t disappear overnight. Your body has to learn to trust rest again, to believe it’s actually safe to slow down.
Why Slowing Down Feels Hard at First
When your body finally gets the memo that it doesn’t have to hustle to survive, all the things you shoved aside, fatigue, brain fog, even emotions, rush to the surface. Slowing down doesn’t always look like spa days and serenity. Sometimes it looks like exhaustion, naps, tears, and realizing you can’t “handle” as much as before.
But this isn’t weakness. It’s your body recalibrating. It’s building a new, more sustainable baseline.
Redefining Capacity
Your capacity isn’t about how much you can cram into a day. It’s about how much energy and presence you can give without depleting yourself.
That might look like:
Choosing slow mornings instead of 5 a.m. sprints
Saying yes to two social events instead of five
Working six focused hours instead of twelve drained ones
Protecting rest days instead of stacking your weekends full
This isn’t about doing less out of laziness, it’s about doing less so you can live more fully.
A Gentle Reframe
If you feel frustrated because you can’t get as much done as you used to, try shifting the question. Instead of asking, “Why can’t I do as much as before?” ask, “What is this season teaching me about what matters most?”
Resting is work. Healing is work. Saying “no” is work. And all of that makes space for something better: living your life with joy, peace, and presence instead of just surviving.
It took me years to recover from hustle culture, and I’m still learning. But I promise, this slower, healthier pace isn’t the end of productivity. It’s the beginning of a peacefully productive life.
✨ Ready to start your own shift out of hustle culture?
Check out my free Chaos to Calm Workshop. It’s the perfect first step to creating rhythms that honor your well-being while still helping you get things done.
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