If You’re Always Playing Catch-Up, It’s Time to Rewrite the Rules
Why over-productivity isn’t a badge of honor—and what to do instead
Kamy Charles
7/29/20251 min read


The Trap of Over-Productivity
We live in a world that rewards busyness.
Fast replies. Overflowing calendars. 10-tab multitasking.
But being busy doesn’t always mean being effective.
And feeling behind isn’t always a you problem—it’s a system problem.
Many professionals are stuck in a loop:
🎯 Always striving
📉 Rarely arriving
💡 Constantly catching up
This isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s an overflow of outdated expectations.
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When the Rules No Longer Serve You
Maybe you were taught:
Say yes to every opportunity
The earlier you wake up, the better
Hustle is the only path to success
But those “rules” often lead to exhaustion, disconnection, and a version of success that doesn’t feel good to live in.
It’s time to redefine what working well actually looks like.
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Rewriting the Rules: A More Sustainable Model
🧭 Start with your energy
→ When are you most creative? Focused? Rested?
📅 Audit your calendar
→ Are you prioritizing urgent work—or important work?
🛑 Add intentional ‘no’s’
→ You’re allowed to protect your time, peace, and mental space
📈 Define success your way
→ Is it revenue? Flexibility? Meaningful impact? That’s your blueprint.
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Final Thought
If you're constantly sprinting just to stay in place, it’s not a race worth running.
Systems should support your goals—not sabotage your well-being.
You don’t need to do more. You need to do what matters—on your terms.