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Untangling Productivity, Presence, and What Really Matters
- Mary Claire
- Dec 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Pull up a chair and grab your coffee. This feels like a sit-down kind of conversation.
I want to talk about productivity.
My relationship with that word this year has been… “it’s complicated.” And I’m guessing I’m not alone.
I’ve been wrestling with it all year: what it really means, who gets to define it, and why it’s so easy to feel behind even when you’re doing things that matter. Untangling all of that has been messier and more personal than I expected.
The Pressure of Doing “Enough”
For years, I’ve worked full-time, trained hard, built a brand I loved, and poured my energy into nurturing a relationship and building friendships that truly mattered.
And still, when things slowed down, especially on quiet nights, I’d look around and feel like I had nothing to show for it. The stillness had a way of convincing me I was behind, and the negative self-talk would get louder than it ever deserved to be.
How is it that we can be living such full lives… and still feel like we’re not doing enough? Enough for whom?
Redefining Success
Here’s what I keep coming back to: not everything in life needs to be productive to be valuable. Not every season needs a checklist or a finished product. And success doesn’t have one definition — it changes depending on the season you’re in.
This year, I crossed fewer things off a to-do list. But the things I did choose? I’m really proud of them.
I leaned into my relationships in ways I hadn’t before. I started planning a wedding. I invested in friendships that feel steady and lasting. I chose presence over output more times than I can count. And while none of that fits neatly into a productivity tracker, it’s been some of the most meaningful work I’ve done.
I’ve built a life that I genuinely love living.
Which brings me here, to this note I needed to share…
What Growth Really Looks Like
Growth doesn’t always look like forward motion. Sometimes it looks like rest. Sometimes it’s choosing not to explain yourself. Or simply saying “no.”
One word kept showing up for me over and over again in 2025: untangling.
Untangling who I am from who I thought I needed to be.
Untangling productivity from worth.
Untangling success from constant output.
Untangling healing from perfection.
There are days I feel incredibly clear. There are days I feel like I’m rebuilding from scratch.Both turn out to be necessary.
I’ve started paying closer attention to my energy, asking myself what drains it, what restores it, and what actually deserves it. I’ve gotten better at saying no without over-explaining and yes without guilt. I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t respond well to pressure, but it thrives in safety.
Here’s the thing I know for sure: I don’t want to build a brand that just looks good on the surface. I want to build something that feels like sitting down with a friend who really gets it. Something that quietly reminds you: you’re not behind, you’re not broken, you’re human.
And that’s enough. You are enough.
With you in the chaos,
Mary Claire
5 Prompts to Pause, Reflect, and Reset
1. Untangling Expectations
When did I last feel pressure to “do more” or meet someone else’s definition of success? How did that make me feel, and what would it look like to release it?
2. Recognizing Real Wins
What are three things I did this week that don’t show up on a to-do list but still mattered?
3. Presence Over Productivity
In what moments this week did I feel truly present? How can I create more of those moments in the days ahead?
4. Self-Kindness Check-In
What’s one thing I’ve been telling myself I “should” do that I can let go of today? How can I replace it with a kinder thought?
5. Reflecting on Growth
What does growth look like for me right now — even if it’s resting, saying no, or taking a step back?
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