The List: When Productivity Becomes the Mask You Can’t Take Off

The Hungry Habits Chronicles, Part 5

You wake up already behind.

Before your feet hit the floor, your mind is scanning:
What didn’t I finish yesterday?
What do I need to fix today?
What haven’t I earned yet?

The list begins.

You tell yourself, just get through the day.
But the list is never done.
Even when you check all the boxes… another one appears.

You rest, but only when it's "deserved."
You stop, but only after burning out.
You crash into the pillow and call it sleep, but it’s more like collapse.

You’re not lazy.
You’re just tired of living life like a test you’re always studying for.

(This article is part of the Hungry Habits series for paid subscribers. If this feels familiar and you're not yet a member, you can join here.)