Your to-do list won't save your soul

The galaxy-brain levels of coping with productivity anxiety

Jun 05, 2025

“…goal setting helps counter the shapelessness of the dreary days…Productivity is less about getting shit done and more about imposing an architecture on the void.”

We tell ourselves to-do lists are to be productive, but be honest–don’t you really make them to feel less lost in this cold, hostile world? I know I do!

Friend of the blog Elspeth Michaels sent me the above quote a few weeks back, saying “L Vago must have a hot take about this.” (most relevant part in the caption)

I don’t know if this is the heat Elspeth had in mind, but the quote helped me further understand what I was tryin to articulate back when I attempted a take-down of goals and dreams. In a flash, it yielded a galaxy-brain framework (apparently my favorite way of communicating) for the levels of to-do-listing. Let’s explore:

Tiny Brain: Completionism

You attach to doing all your items and any incomplete ones eat at your self-worth. Living at this level most of my life led me to irrationally swear off goals at one point. In hindsight, being able to contextualize this attitude into a brain-framework reflects how BQE writing has helped me see past and beyond it. Always good to celebrate little markers of growth!

Big Brain: “A” for Effort

Within the ridiculous parameters of our current workhumper world, I’d count this as a well-adapted lens of thought.

Radiating Brain: The List is merely a vehicle

This is where Carrie Brownstein, the quote’s author, is at. It’s probably where I’m also at on my best days, bouncing between this and the previous level. I’m proud that I’m no longer as much of a slave to my to-do lists, but a day with nothing “to do” feels dreadfully purposeless to me.

Galaxy Brain: No List, Just Flow

You may have intentions to guide you, sure, but you go with the amorphous flow of the universe, no map or list needed. Galaxy Brain, God-level shit. The (very few) people I’ve met like this both inspire and terrify me.

Find the framework in full below. It may be a helpful reminder when you’re beating yourself up–where are you on the scale? How can you “level-up” to give yourself more grace?

Or it may be totally off the mark for you. Weigh in either way!