Do you feel like you're constantly running on empty trying to be the “perfect” parent? In this powerful episode of Parenting Great Kids, Dr. Meg Meeker sits down with Israa Nasir, licensed psychotherapist and author of Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More, to unpack how the pressure to always “do more” is impacting parents and their children.

Israa shares how toxic productivity is driven by perfectionism, fear of inadequacy, and cultural expectations—and how it leads to chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, and strained family dynamics. Together, she and Dr. Meg explore practical ways to break the cycle of overfunctioning and reclaim peace and presence at home.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What toxic productivity looks like in real-life parenting

How fear and societal expectations fuel burnout

The long-term emotional effects on both parents and kids

How to set flexible boundaries and prioritize well-being

Simple tools like micro-breaks, reprioritization, and self-worth reframing

Empowering advice for single moms carrying it all

About Israa Nasir

Israa Nasir is a NYC-based psychotherapist, speaker, and mental health educator. She helps high-achieving individuals overcome perfectionism, burnout, and emotional dysregulation. Her new book Toxic Productivity is a compassionate guide to reclaiming mental space and joy in a hustle-obsessed culture.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction to Toxic Productivity
00:50 – What is Toxic Productivity?
02:05 – How It Impacts Parents and Children
04:31 – Parenting Rooted in Fear
08:40 – Breaking the Cycle of Overachieving
12:07 – Reprioritizing and Setting Boundaries
26:26 – Separating Self-Worth from Productivity
32:16 – Advice for Single Moms Navigating Overload
36:34 – Final Reflections and Empowering Takeaways

Toxic Productivity by Israa Nasir → Toxic Productivity — Israa Nasir

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