Recently, I have been trying to focus on my health and improve my daily habits. To do so, I am keeping a habit tracker, tracking my food and workouts, and completing daily to do lists.

While working on this, a thought crossed my mind: "I just gotta get through this and then I can check it off my list." I stopped and thought about what this really means.

I make myself feel like I always have to be productive. I find myself adding things to a to do list just to feel like I am doing something important. Obviously, checking a task off a to do list feels good and makes you feel accomplished, but it shouldn't be the only thing that makes you feel like your days matter.

More than ever, we are feeling the pressure to be productive and "busy" constantly. Life has become about work and being successful; if you aren't stressed, you aren't doing enough.

I think we can all agree that this is an extremely toxic ideal.

I feel very unsettled by the thought of going through life without really living. I don't want my whole life to be about work and being productive. Yes, I want to be the best I can be and succeed, but that doesn't have to be the only thing that defines my days.

I know some people prioritize making money, working, and being productive more than others, and if that's what they enjoy, then I commemorate them for living how they want. However, you shouldn't feel like you have to live that way if you aren't passionate about it.

My goal is to be mindful in the tasks I take on. Obviously, some things we just have to do as adults, even if we don't really want to. But I want to be able to balance those tasks with tasks I truly want to do. I don't want to be doing things just to check it off my to-do list.

I want to be present. I want to live. And I encourage everyone to strive for what makes them happy, not what they feel like they have to do.