Why You Always Feel the Need to Be Productive, And What to Do About It
The Christian Life Coach Podcast Episode74
I have decided (halfway through the month) that July will be all Winging It!
In this episode, I explore how constantly striving for productivity can leave us drained, discouraged, and feeling like we are never enough.
Instead, I invite you to consider a different perspective.
Because you were created in the image of a Creator.
Whether you're making dinner, coaching clients, raising children, tending a garden, building a business, or simply creating peace in your home, your life is filled with opportunities to create instead of merely produce.
Sometimes changing one thought changes the entire emotional experience of your day.
In this episode you'll learn:
• Why productivity isn't the only measure of a meaningful life
• How your thoughts create the emotional energy you bring into your work
• The difference between doing something because you "have to" versus because you get to create
• Why creativity isn't reserved for artists
• Practical ways to shift ordinary daily tasks into meaningful acts of creation
• How this simple mindset shift can reduce stress and increase joy
Watch Here
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[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:24:34
Hello and welcome to the Christian Life Coach Podcast. I am Shanna, your Christian Life Coach.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:24:41
Okay, so I think that.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:24:44
July, I have just decided, since this is the… is this the third week, or is this the second week? I don't even know. It's the 14th, so it's the…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:24:54
This will be my third podcast episode in July, and…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:24:59
this will be my third podcast episode in July. That is Winging It. I am winging it again, as I have on the past two episodes, so I think that I'm just gonna continue that in July.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:12
And the topic that I want to talk about today is.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:18
What if…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:20
We can just let it be easy.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:24
What if…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:26
It doesn't have to be productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:31
What if…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:32
It's okay.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:36
To just relax.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:37
What if it's just okay to have fun?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:42
I have had on…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:45
two calls today already, and it is 10:25 a.m. Mountain Time.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:50
Um, I had a private call, and I had a group call.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:53
And it came up on both calls. Women talking about how…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:25:58
Basically.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:00
If they are not being productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:04
They feel like they're wasting time.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:07
And to be honest.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:10
In both of these calls, the women that were talking about this were realizing that that's how they had been thinking, and they're working on changing that way of thinking.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:22
Um, they're noticing the pattern that has been showing up in their life pretty much, you know, for 50-ish years.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:30
So, what if…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:33
What if productivity is not the goal?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:39
Oh, dear. Then what? Then what?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:44
I keep hearing…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:48
from women on different calls and different places.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:26:53
they're talking about how they have been over-functioning. Over-functioning for years. They consider themselves over-functioners.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:04
And I can I can totally see this. And I love one of my mentors.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:13
said at one point that when we over function, we are.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:20
Not only allowing, but also teaching other people in our lives.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:27
to underfunction. We are allowing them to underfunction. We are teaching them.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:34
to under function because we are over functioning.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:40
We are overly productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:45
And what if it's just okay?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:48
To take some time to take a step back and to ask yourself.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:53
What really even matters in this season to me? What do I want?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:27:58
In this season.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:01
What do I want to be producing in this season? What do I want to be creating? And even that, like, maybe even that, maybe shifting from…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:12
Thinking of yourself as being productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:17
to being creative.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:21
Ooh, that's a good shift.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:24
That's a winging it moment right here.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:27
What if we could go from.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:31
Thinking of ourselves as being productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:35
to thinking of ourselves as being creative.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:39
Rather than, what am I producing?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:43
What am I creating?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:46
What am I creating in my life? What am I creating in my days?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:51
And it could be so many things. Maybe you create art.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:28:56
Maybe you create amazing meals for your family.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:00
Maybe you create beautiful spaces in your home.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:04
Maybe you create opportunities for others.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:10
to…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:12
create for themselves.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:15
Maybe you create safety for clients that you see.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:23
Maybe you create quilts.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:26
or other crafts and things.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:31
Maybe you create clean spaces.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:35
Maybe you create a beautiful garden.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:41
What are you… what… instead of thinking, I have to be productive, I have to be productive, I have to be productive. If it's… if I'm not being productive, then it's not worthy of my time.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:50
What do I want to create?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:53
How do I want to use my creativity?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:29:58
And there's… there's a quote by Brene Brown, I don't have it handy, but she talks about how…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:04
It's not a question of whether or not you are creative. You are creative. It's how are you using your creativity?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:16
And, um, she says, unused creativity is not benign.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:23
I'm not gonna be able to say this word. It metastasizes. I said it.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:27
unused creativity is not benign, it metastasizes. It has an impact. So when we're keeping that creativity inside of us.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:36
We're stifling our creativity.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:38
It's not benign.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:41
It is having an impact.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:45
And you and and what confirms this is.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:50
You are made in the image.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:54
of Creator God.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:56
The creator of the universe.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:30:59
His creativity is…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:03
awe-inspiring.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:04
There are no words to describe his creativity, and you are made in his image.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:11
Therefore…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:12
You are also a creator. You are also creative.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:16
You might not be artistic. I had that. I am.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:22
I came to that realization at one point. I am creative.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:25
I am not artistic, but I am creative. And so are you.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:31
So…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:32
What is it that you want to be creating at this time in your life, in the circumstances within with with?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:40
In which you live.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:43
What is it that you want to be creating?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:47
And it could, I mean, it could be, like I said, it could be anything.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:52
You want to be creating delicious breakfasts.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:31:56
And thinking of making those breakfasts as an act of creativity and creation.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:04
Do you want to create, and this is something that's been, that is on my mind.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:10
I want to work on creating more beauty in my home. I was just walking through my kitchen the other day.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:21
I have an open concept kitchen, dining, living room, and so I have the kitchen.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:29
The kitchen island.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:32
And between the island and the counter, where the stove and stuff is, there is a little… there's a walkway.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:40
And I had these very functional.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:46
Padded.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:47
Matt's.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:48
They weren't rugs, but they were mats, like padded mats, a smaller one in front of the kitchen sink, and a longer one in front of the stove.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:32:56
And… or maybe that's… no, opposite. Whatever. It doesn't really matter. And I was walking through there the other day.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:04
And I was like.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:08
Why do I have these in my house? Very functional. Padded mats in the kitchen.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:15
And…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:16
They're a light gray.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:18
With, like, a darker gray kind of, um…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:23
I don't know, frame kind of thing within the middle of it, a big rectangle.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:28
And they're not pretty.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:32
But they're very functional.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:34
But not pretty. And my house, pretty much everything in my house is gray. And I was walking through the kitchen, I'm like.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:42
It's just not pretty. Why do I have these? Why are these in my house?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:47
And I immediately got on the Amazon.com, my Amazon app, and I found a pretty rug.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:33:56
To put down in that space. And it came yesterday, and it's beautiful! It brightens up the space. I also ordered a new rug for my living room.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:08
Um, we have hardwood floors, and I ordered a bright…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:14
flowery giant rug for my living room to replace the very dingy rug that has been there for a long time. And I've just been thinking, I want to brighten up my house. I want to bring some color into my house. I want to create more beauty.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:30
In my house.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:33
Now, in the whole scheme of the world, does that really matter?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:36
Is that productive?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:39
No, but every time I have walked in that kitchen since I put that rug down yesterday, I'm like.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:46
Oh my word, I love this so much.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:49
It's so pretty. It is so much prettier.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:54
And those gray mats, padded mats.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:34:58
On the floor.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:00
I don't know.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:02
That just…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:04
Hey, I'm winging it here, right? Wing it with me. So where is it that you want to create?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:12
To bring your creativity.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:15
And how can you just think of things that you already do in your days differently instead of thinking?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:24
I have to cook dinner for the family again. I have to clean this. I have to do that. I have to, I have to, I have to.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:30
In order to be productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:34
Can you think about it differently? Can you think about how you're creating?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:42
Order.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:44
Can you think of how you're creating?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:47
Peace in your home.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:48
Through decluttering.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:52
Or, yeah, decluttering, cleaning up, whatever.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:35:56
Instead of I have to make dinner.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:00
How can I create?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:03
A meal for my family.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:05
from love.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:07
And just thinking about it as creativity rather than a task to accomplish. And it sounds so silly. It can sound so silly, but honestly.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:17
The way that we think about things.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:20
changes the energy from which we do the things.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:24
The way that we think.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:27
creates the feeling that we're experiencing.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:31
And the feeling that we're experiencing drives our actions. So we can either take these actions through, I have to do this feeling resentful, or pressure, or whatever, and we can do those… we can do the thing.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:46
From that place of pressure, resentment maybe, maybe low-level resentment, obligation.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:53
Or…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:54
We can do that same task.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:36:57
from a totally different energy. If I'm thinking.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:01
I love creating…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:04
delicious meals for my family, and if I'm telling myself that as I'm… as I'm working on the meal, and I'm generating emotions of creativity and love and generosity.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:17
Cooking dinner becomes a totally different experience.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:23
And it's the same with anything else that we do.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:28
This took a little bit of a different direction than I intended, but that's okay.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:33
Can we, how can we find enjoyment?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:37
in the things that we do on a regular basis.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:44
And…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:46
Can we eliminate?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:49
The need to be productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:37:54
Can we be creative rather than productive? And how does that change things? How does that change?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:02
the way that you feel about doing the thing.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:06
How does that change the energy with which you're doing it from?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:11
I would love to hear.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:14
And where can you apply this in your own life, in your own situation, in the things that you do on a regular basis? Laundry.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:25
Folding and putting away laundry, right? Grocery shopping.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:31
Making a grocery list.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:33
What is it that I want to create in my life?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:37
At this point, realistically.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:41
And what does that look like on a daily basis? What does that look like on a weekly basis?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:48
How am I using my creativity?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:52
in my life.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:38:57
And can I release?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:02
The…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:05
Thinking that I need to be productive.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:10
Where can I take time for myself? Where can I re-energize myself?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:16
And really.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:18
I think just taking just doing this work to change the way that we think about things.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:25
Is going to.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:28
Relieve us.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:30
of some of the energy that we're exerting.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:33
If I have to, I have to, I have to, I have to do this, I have to do that, I have to do that. Just thinking that way can drain your energy.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:43
So changing the thinking, you're taking the action from a different emotion, and it feels so much better that it actually takes less energy to do the thing.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:39:57
Interesting, right?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:00
I might be less tired. I might be less exhausted doing the exact same things.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:09
But doing them from a different place.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:13
from a different energy.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:17
Rather than from the striving, needing, obligated, have to, pressure.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:25
Stress.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:27
If I'm doing those same things.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:31
from love, from creativity, from curiosity.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:38
Totally different energy, less draining.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:42
Right?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:44
I'm curious, what comes up for you when you listen to this, when you think about it in your own life?
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:50
I would love to hear.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:54
What comes up, how you can.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:40:59
How you can incorporate more creativity into your life and let go of.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:05
productivity.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:09
So something to consider.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:12
So there those are my winging it thoughts for this.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:16
podcast episode coming out on July 15th, 2026.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:22
If you are curious about life coaching.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:25
I would love to chat with you.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:29
And…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:30
You can schedule a RightFit call by going to the show notes and clicking the link for a RightFit call to chat about how coaching can help you in your specific situation where you're at.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:43
And if you are a.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:48
coach and you are working on building your coaching business, which I call cultivating your practice.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:41:55
I am opening up my full steam ahead. It's open right now to enroll. It starts in August. I just did a workshop on Monday talking about the five essentials for every coaching practice.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:42:09
And I will have that linked in the show notes as well. I would love to have you in full steam ahead in August if that's something that you're working on.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:42:19
And thank you so much for being here.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:42:23
Like, comment, share.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:42:24
Subscribe all the things that helps push podcast episodes out. And if you are watching on YouTube.
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:42:34
Hi, I'm waving at you. Um, you can watch on YouTube, you can listen on the… on Spotify, on Apple, you can also watch on Substack, um, all the places, so…
[Shanna Pyzer | shannapyzer.com] 10:42:47
Thank you so much for being here. Remember that life coaching is life-changing. One renewed thought at a time.

