Self-improvement and productivity are a cultural trap What if the true meaning of well-being were something else?

We live in an age where self-improvement has become a cultural imperative. Books, podcasts, online courses, TikTok videos, and newsletters invite us daily to optimize our lives: to be more productive, more attractive, smarter, more resilient. The promise that we can transform ourselves, that we can achieve more and become “better” versions of who we are, is enticing. Yet this obsession with individual performance hides a more complex reality, one that is rarely discussed.

Self-improvement and productivity: a long history

As Jessica Lamb-Shapiro recounts in her book Promise Land: My Journey Through America’s Self-Help Culture, the myth of self-improvement is nothing new. As early as the 19th century, Samuel Smiles published Self-Help, a bestseller devoted to stories of men who, through discipline and effort, rose out of poverty. And if we look even further back, we find the reflections of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, whose ideas are frequently repackaged in modern self-help books. The underlying message has always been the same: the responsibility for change lies with the individual, and success depends on one’s ability to manage oneself.

The invisible pressure on women

This cultural model, however, has profound effects on society and individuals, particularly on women. The self-improvement narrative tends to place the burden of systemic problems onto individuals: balancing work and family, facing discrimination, or coping with the lack of institutional support. The pressure to be “perfect” and ever-better, ideal mothers, flawless workers, devoted partners, attractive and fit women, becomes a silent form of oppression. It’s no surprise that the culture of productivity and personal optimization often goes hand in hand with feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, and isolation. The myth of constant productivity also has another pervasive effect: it makes us forget the value of time and of our relationships with others. When every moment is seen as an opportunity to optimize, life loses space for slowness, rest, and mutual care. As Lamb-Shapiro notes, many forms of self-help are focused on individual performance, overlooking the importance of community. Trying to “help oneself” often means giving up the support of others and the opportunity to build meaningful social bonds, contributing to a widespread sense of loneliness and alienation.

The meaning of a happy life

Questioning the myth of self-improvement does not mean rejecting personal growth; it means redefining what it truly means to live well. It means valuing time as a precious resource, promoting collective well-being, and building real support systems instead of leaving each individual alone to face life’s challenges. It means recognizing that many of the difficulties we encounter do not stem from personal failings, but from social inequalities, unjust economic structures, or the absence of supportive policies. In this context, true “improvement” is not measured by daily goals or productivity checklists, but by the ability to live in balance, to care for oneself without guilt, to invest in relationships, to recognize one’s limits, and to accept vulnerability as a natural part of the human experience. Only then can we transform the concept of self-improvement from a cultural trap into a genuine tool for well-being.