Productivity Starts with Choosing Yourself
By Sanna S. Rhazi
•Published on September 30, 2025
Productivity Starts with Choosing Yourself

It’s been a while since I last shared something here. The truth is—I’ve been in a transitioning phase. A shift from doing things because I thought I should (for other people’s approval, validation, or comfort) to doing things because they truly matter to me.
When I was younger, I knew deep down what I wanted in life. I dreamed of traveling, of freedom, of living in a way that felt meaningful rather than easy. I wasn’t afraid of challenges—I wanted them. But somewhere along the way, that clarity faded.
I slipped into a pattern of living for others. I cared about how I was seen, how my choices would be judged, and what people expected. That mindset felt like a prison—and honestly, it drained my productivity too. Because how much energy do you really have left for your goals when half of it goes to pleasing everyone else?
Life Still Calibrates You
Even now, I’m not “done.” Life has a way of calibrating you—nudging you back and forth between old habits and new ones. Some days I still find myself choosing someone else’s comfort over my own fulfillment.
Think about it: how many times have you wanted to go home, get your rest, and keep your routines—but instead you said yes to hanging out, just to be a “good friend”? How many times have you compromised on something that fuels you, just so you wouldn’t disappoint someone else?
These moments teach me something important: saying yes to others isn’t always wrong, but saying no to myself repeatedly builds quiet resentment.
What Living for Others Looked Like
When I lived more for other people’s opinions, it showed up like this:
- I didn’t fully go after my goals.
- I doubted myself just because others doubted me.
- I stuck to comfort zones instead of expanding.
- I followed the “right” way, instead of my way.
- I repeated the same routines—and got the same results.
It wasn’t about balance. It was about self-abandonment disguised as kindness.
Where I Am Now
I’m learning that life isn’t black or white. There’s value in belonging, in connection, in being there for others. But there’s also freedom in living by your own compass.
Now, I try to ask myself better questions:
- Am I doing this for me, or to please someone else?
- Is this choice aligned with the person I want to become?
- What am I saying no to, when I say yes to this?
- What would my younger self thank me for today?
Balance isn’t something you read about—it’s something you live into. Sometimes you swing too far one way, sometimes the other. The middle ground is something you have to stumble toward over time.
How This Ties Back to Productivity
Living by others’ expectations doesn’t just cost you energy—it costs you progress.
- When you focus on pleasing others, you rarely think for yourself.
- You end up doing what looks good, instead of what moves the needle.
- Innovation never comes from copying someone else’s opinions.
And maybe the biggest lesson: productivity isn’t just about getting things done. It’s about aligning what you do with who you are.
This is a reminder for me first. But maybe, it’s also a reminder for you.
Much love,
Sanna