At the end of 2024, I was beyond burned out — very much “burning the candle at both ends.” Then I came across a new book called Toxic Productivity by Israa Nasir, a licensed therapist in New York City who also founded the digital community Well Guide. As it turns out, Israa struggled with many of the same things — saying “yes” to too many commitments and overscheduling herself, while taking little time for herself. Fortunately, she made some radical changes to ditch these toxic habits and ultimately lead a happier, mentally healthier life. In this episode, she’s sharing:

• Why hustle culture is toxic and how to escape it
• How to set boundaries with yourself, and why it's important
• How to say "no" more easily if you're a people pleaser
• Why a "gentle reset" might be the way to make healthy habits stick
• Hacks for carving out more downtime and "me time" if you tend to overschedule yourself
• How the "five-minute rule" can change your life
• The difference between process-oriented goals and outcome-oriented goals (and why we should start focusing on the former)

I also got Israa’s honest take on a range of buzzy wellness trends, from cold plunging, forest bathing, and sleep tracking to habit stacking and dopamine menus. 

This episode is for anyone who feels like they have to cross every little thing off their to-do list to feel productive, tends to overpack their calendar, or just wants to create more breathing room for themselves but doesn’t know where to start!

PROMO CODES:

• For 15% off your first order from Pact, shop here and use code WELLBENT15!
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Follow Israa Nasir on Instagram here.

Order Toxic Productivity here.

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