Episode 41: Toxic Productivity with Israa Nasir

Next Up: Narcissism

Toxic productivity convinces you that your worth is tied to achievement. But when does ambition turn into exhaustion?

Dr. Z sits down with psychotherapist and author Israa Nasir to talk about why so many people feel trapped in the endless pursuit of doing more. Israa explains how productivity has seeped into every part of life—relationships, self-worth, even rest—turning what should be fulfilling into something depleting. She breaks down how to recognize the signs of toxic productivity, why the inner critic fuels it, and what it takes to step off the hamster wheel without guilt.

They also explore the deeper forces at play, from family dynamics to cultural expectations, and challenge the belief that success means pushing harder at all costs. Israa shares ways to shift your mindset, including a simple life audit to reclaim your time and energy. And maybe the most surprising takeaway? Letting yourself just be “good enough” might be the key to a healthier, happier life!

Quotes

• “Productivity doesn’t just refer to work. In our hustle-oriented world, productivity is a measure of love, relationships, personal health, personal growth. All of these domains of our life have been now kind of wrapped with this productivity-oriented mindset.” (04:33 | Israa Nasir)
• “If your intention is arbitrary, outside, external, that is a big red flag that what you’re pursuing is unhealthy.” (07:48 | Israa Nasir)
• “The inner critic is often trying to protect us from pain. Its methods are to scare you so that you don’t do anything. So the inner critic will terrify you of trying new things by telling you that you’re a failure. Because what it’s trying to do is protect you from the pain of putting yourself out there.” (24:03 | Israa Nasir)
• “We are so friggin’ dynamic. Like we are these multifaceted, complex-brained individuals on this earth... and we’re all just like, ‘Oh no, I have to be married before 30.’ What a distillation of a beautiful, beautiful life that we’ve been given.” (36:16 | Israa Nasir)
• “Can you embrace being mediocre somewhere? Can you find a good enough point for everything? Just a good enough point for this email, a good enough point for the workout, a good enough point for the type of friendships you have. Find the good enough point, and then anything beyond that is extra.” (45:27 | Israa Nasir)

Links

Connect with Israa Nasir:

www.israanasir.com

Toxic Productivity:https://amzn.to/3C8e9Yg

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