The Productivity Trap: Why Doing More Isn’t the Answer (with Rachel Redmond)

We live in a world that glorifies doing more—but what if the constant striving is actually working against you? In this episode, Rachel Redmond, an acupuncturist and functional medicine expert, unpacks why we’ve been conditioned to believe that productivity equals worth, and how that belief is running us into the ground.

Rachel shares how the imbalance of yin and yang energy affects women’s health, why so many of us feel exhausted despite "doing everything right," and how to step off the treadmill of burnout and into true harmony.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:10] The moment Rachel realized she was caught in the productivity trap
[00:05:42] Why women are conditioned to believe rest must be earned [00:09:30] The hidden impact of yang overload on women’s health
[00:14:20] Why burnout feels inevitable—and how to stop it
[00:20:12] How to recognize when your body is out of balance
[00:27:05] The power of values-based decision making
[00:33:48] Rethinking success: what truly makes a fulfilling life?
[00:41:15] How to create harmony between ambition and well-being
[00:48:50] Practical steps to reclaim your energy and vitality

KEY TAKEAWAYS

More doing doesn’t mean more success—it often means more burnout
Productivity culture keeps us disconnected from our natural rhythms
Women have been taught to devalue rest, but rest is essential for health
Balancing yin and yang energy is critical for long-term well-being
True success comes from living in alignment with your personal values

KEY THEMES

Breaking free from the productivity trap
Women’s health and energy management
The impact of cultural conditioning on burnout
Redefining success beyond external validation
Creating harmony between ambition and rest
Values-driven decision making for a fulfilling life

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"You can’t pour from an empty cup, but we keep trying anyway." — Rachel Redmond

"Just because something is normal in our culture doesn’t mean it’s healthy." — Eimear Zone

"If we don’t build in rest, we will burn ourselves into the ground." — Rachel Redmond

GUEST CONTACT

Rachel's Website: https://www.rachel-redmond.com/
Watch Rachel's FREE Masterclass: From Exhausted to Your Best Self https://view.flodesk.com/pages/635ad2c6b967a943dd6cc657
Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel.e.redmond/

Share Your Thoughts

CONNECT WITH EIMEAR

Explore Working With Eimear:

Book a Call: https://eimearzone.as.me/breakthrough

📱 Instagram: @eimearzonecoach

💻 Website: eimearzone.com 📧

Email: [e-mail]

Subscribe to Girl, Choose Yourself on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

© 2025 Eimear Zone Coaching. All rights reserved.