3 Minutes of TimeCrafting with Mike Vardy: Recent Episodes
Mike Vardy
3 Minutes of TimeCrafting (3MoT for short) is a daily show where productivity and time management strategist Mike Vardy shares inspiration, insights, and information to help you craft your time better.
This is the final episode of 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting so I'm discussing the subject of finishing. Why I'm finishing the run of #3MoT and what you and I can do to keep this podcast going even after it's finished.
On this episode of the show I dig into the details of going small and why going small can help you out with your bigger personal productivity picture.
On this episode of #3MoT I discuss letting go of things on your to do list that no longer serve you and why it's important for you to do so.
You can pick up a copy of Pat Flynn's Let Go here. Better still, preorder a copy of his new book, Superfans, here.
On this episode of the program I share the two ways you can take positivity and apply it to your to do list – and how you can leverage both of those ways to keep you moving the things you really need and want to do forward.
You can check out the Gary Vaynerchuk shoes I "almost" purchased here.
On this episode of the podcast I discuss the role that showing appreciation in your day – for both the successes and failures – can play a positive role ion how you treat your time.
Check out my friend Karl Staib's initiative, Bring Gratitude.
Breaks are crucial components of your personal productivity, whether you want to recognize that or not. On this episode of the podcast I'll dig into why you need to take them, no matter how long or short they may need to be.
On this episode of the show I explain why today is known as World Productivity Day and offer a few suggestions on how you can celebrate it.
On this episode of #3MoT I share with you the productivity benefits of sauntering every once in a while.
You can check out the episode of The Productivityist Podcast featuring Rob Walker here.
On this episode of the podcast, I want to share with you how you can recognize more momentous occasions and how looking back at them will help you with your productivity going forward.
On this episode of #3MoT I draw attention to the idea of dealing with what tends to have permanence over what is temporary or fleeting and how that can help you greatly in your pursuit for better personal productivity.
I explain what I mean by "musing" and what tasks fall into that modality, why I've chosen it to be the first of my Horizontal Themes for each day, and why it's an essential part of my daily routine.
On this episode of #3MoT I explain why I needed to bring this Horizontal Theme into the mix and why it may very well be one that you should add to your calendar as well.
I share why this theme works for me and how it actually feeds off of my Daily Themes despite the fact that it has the power to override them.
On this episode I discuss what "maintaining mode" is, when I schedule time to work on the tasks that fall into that category daily, and how much time I dedicate to this Horizontal Theme each day.
Today I'm going to give you brief primer on what Horizontal Themes are (and what they aren't) and the basic concepts behind them. Then over the next four episodes I'll share with you the ones I use and why I use them.
Today on #3MoT I talk about how you can use your mobile phone and still keep your personal productivity and attention before you had a smartphone intact (or as close to intact as possible).
On this episode of #3MoT I discuss what I do (and don't do) when I listen to audio books and encourage you to try one scenario in particular.
That's right – avoidance is something everyone deals with from time to time. I spend time this episode discussing avoidance and how you can, er, avoid letting it get the better of your productivity – and you.
On this episode of the podcast I discuss how important friendships are to how you craft your time and why finding th best way for you to focus on friendships is something that you need to give your attention.
On this episode of the show I devote attention to the concept of recording. I explain the origin of the word, why knowing its origin can help you understand how important it is that you focus on consciously recording, and how giving attention on that will help you with your productivity and prioritization.
On this episode of the podcast I share my insights on how to make your way through the peaks and valleys in your work and personal life. And I also explain how learning to do that will greatly help you with your personal productivity.
On this episode of the show I discuss exactly that: how my becoming a runner has impacted my productivity…and so much more.
On this episode of the show I share my insights on adopting and adapting productivity practices for your own use and why you must tailor them to your own wants and needs.
TimeCrafting's key elements are built on the concept of repetition so I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas on how repetition can affect your ability to pay better attention to your intentions and get more of the right things done. I do that in this episode of #3MoT – an episode that I believe will be an episode that is worth a repeat listen.
Today I want to get a bit more personal with you about my own rocky starts, what I believe causes a rocky start, and how to avoid rocky starts whenever you can.
I keep with the etymology theme on this episode as I talk about the word "nice" and the idea of niceness. I'm not going to give too much more away here than that because that wouldn't be very...nice.
On this episode of the podcast I spend more time exploring etymology and the power of words with one that can add more meaning to your "no" and help you create sounder boundaries in the process.
On this episode of #3MoT I discuss the idea of incorporating the word "flourish" into your personal productivity and time management. I share why I believe adding the word to your vocabulary will have a greater impact on your work and your life.
You can check out my friend Charlie Gilkey's Productive Flourishing website here.
On this episode of the show I offer up strategies on how to take care of aging tasks, including those pesky emails that have a tendency to linger in your inbox longer than they should
On this episode of #3MoT, I talk about a blog post from my friend Kourosh Dini discussing the concept of "attention hygiene" and why it's something that we should give our – wait for it – attention.
You can read the blog post here.
On this episode of the podcast I discuss the subject of fixing things and how it plays a role in your personal productivity. (I also reveal how much time I spend fixing things and what I can fix and what I don’t.)
On this episode of #3MoT I focus on the role that speed plays in personal productivity and time management andwhy it should be the thing that concerns you the least instead of the most.
On this episode of the podcast I talk about how pride can derail your ability to craft your time in a way that doesn’t serve you...but also when pride can work in your favour.
I'm going to share with you some ways to protect both your time and attention on this episode of the podcast.
(Spoiler alert: One of the things you need to protect them from is yourself. You can learn what I mean by that once you hit "play" on your podcast player of choice.)
On this episode of #3MoT I slow things down a bit to discuss the benefits of doing some of your intentions – the things you need and want to do – slowly.
Want to watch my TEDxVictoria talk? You can do that here. And you can listen to Carl Honoré's appearance on The Productivityist Podcast here.
On this episode of #3MoT I share my thoughts on how you can stand out from others in the best way possible – and how to keep yourself from doing so in a way that works against you.
On this episode of the podcast I share some tips and tricks that I use to make my notebooks work better for me and how you can do similar things to make them work better for you too.
Check out my post on The Strikethrough System here.
On this episode of #3MoT I talk about how measuring things - your time and your tasks - can impact your productivity and how you treat your to do list. (Spoiler Alert: It can have a negative impact if not done right.)
Further to that, what about YOUR seasons in YOUR year? I touch on that idea and how leveraging seasons can benefit your personal productivity and ability to craft your time on this episode of the show.
I take every Friday as a day to give my overarching focus to deep work. On this episode of #3MoT I share with you what I believe falls into the modality of deep work and why it matters that you give your version of deep work plenty of attention.
On this episode of #3MoT I share my insights on changing gears. I discuss how I've found a way to do it effectively and what you can integrate into your life to help you do the same.
On this episode I talk about why leaving tasks on your to do list as “waiting” can be a recipe for productivity pain and what you should do instead that will allow you to be more assertive with tasks where you’re waiting on others before you can move forward.
On this episode of the podcast, I talk about my experience with meditation, what meditation can be for you, and what we can all do to be more consistent with a meditation practice.
On this episode of #3MoT I piggyback off of my previous episode (On Quantity) and spend time discussing the importance of quality when it comes to your efforts in personal productivity and time management.
On this episode of the podcast I explore the idea of quantity when it comes to your to do list and overall personal productivity and time management. I talk about why having more on your agenda, even though it's seemingly unconventional, might actually help you do less things better.
On this episode of 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting I discuss my thoughts on building a framework that can stand the test of time and why it's crucial that you put one in place to promote crafting your time beyond just today.
On this episode of #3MoT I discuss some of what Holiday put in his book "Ego is the Enemy" and how the ego can affect your ability to lead your time in a way that promotes progress.
“You’re not as good as you think. You don’t have it all figured out. Stay focused. Do better.” - Ryan Holiday
On this episode of #3MoT, I discuss why rest is crucial to your personal productivity, why steering clear of rest periods can actually be counterproductive, and where you can find space for short and long rests throughout your day.
On this episode of #3MoT I explain why I dedicate the overarching focus of one of days to Learning and how that makes me better at teaching – something I never thought I'd be able to do well.
On this episode of #3MoT I talk about why being a night owl is just fine and why you should listen to your body clock instead of fighting it.
So I'm going to do that. I expand my thought on integrity and how the idea of making everything from scratch can overwhelm you to the point where integrity can be compromised.
I'm more vulnerable than usual on this episode as I speak to the role of integrity in your life, on your to do list, and how I'm trying to bring more focus and attention to what I need to do to keep integrity at top of mind.
Click here to read the piece by Adam Grant that I mention during this episode.
On this episode #3MoT I share my thoughts on how tradition can play both sides of things and the key to allow traditions to help rather than do harm to you and your ability to give attention to your intentions.
Invisible tasks can be problematic because the only person that makes them invisible is you. On this episode of #3MoT I drive home the importance of making invisible tasks visible so that you can make sure none of them slip through the cracks.
On this episode of #3MoT I decided to discuss the word that can help you with your overall priority, attention, and time management – proactivity.
The first of May is commonly known as "May Day" - a term used when someone is in distress and needs help. On this episode of #3MoT I share some insights on how to get out of your own way when someone asks if you need help and how to get the help you need with your tasks and projects when you really need it.
On this episode of #3MoT I talk about the role that honesty plays in your personal productivity and time management. It may not seem to be as big a deal as you might think, but it is.
On this episode of the podcast I share with you how to turn your wish list into a to do list in a manner that makes sense and won't overwhelm you at the same time. You'll need patience and willpower as allies but it can be done...and done well.
As I've been writing my new book I've spent time thinking about the tasks on your to do list that can really "save the day." I'll share with you my thoughts on these types of tasks and how you can use them any time you feel the need to save your own day, becoming a hero for yourself in the process
On this episode of #3MoT, I encourage you to spend some time listening more. To the thoughts in your head, to the words on your to do list, to the appointments on your calendar. Why? Because there's value there. Sometimes you just need to spend time listening to notice it.
Check out Rob Walker's work on noticing here.
On this episode of #3MoT I talk about the importance if really looking at your to do list to make sure that it is the to do list you really need it to be so it can take you in the direction that you really want to go.
On this episode of the show, I talk about gratitude and its effect on your productivity. If you want to dig deeper into the world of bringing gratitude, I encourage you to check out the work of my good friend Karl Staib over at Bring Gratitude. Doing so is definitely time well spent.
But is it possible that we spend too much time on administrative work? Do we look for work there over the work that may take us beyond the status quo because that work is easier to do than the work that will take us to greater heights? That's what I'm exploring on this episode of #3MoT - as well as how to do the administrative work so it doesn't overtake your day.
There’s more to it than that. On this episode I share what that “more“ is and how you can regain awareness should you lose it ( and maintain it going forward).
On today’s episode I want to share with you my thoughts on impact and how you can craft your time and to do list in a way that allows you to move forward in a way that will have a greater impact on your life and the lives of others.
But they can also bring uncertainty and inexperience. On this episode I discuss the drawbacks of seeking out the allure of “newness” and what can be more beneficial to your intentions and attention instead.
On this episode I discuss why I’ve invested more time, energy, and attention on crafting my methodology in a way that places timelessness over timeliness.
On this episode of the podcast, I reveal two potential hiding spots for these tasks so that you can foster awareness around them and keep them from evading you more often than not.
On this episode of #3MoT I talk about how what Page did was unique, the phrase that kicked off his WCW entrance theme, what all of this has to do with Jerry Maguire, and why praising yourself matters.
On this episode of the podcast I speak to biases and how the way many humans have been taught to peel a banana is not the only way to do it. (It isn't wrong, but it isn't right, either.)
On this episode I'll discuss how I'm accepting forgetting things as part of my process, allowing my mind to do more of the deep and creative work it was designed to do. Yet at the same time I've found ways to keep my memories alive and, better still, intact.
During these three minutes I'll share more about my next big project and how I'm working daily to keep it in perspective. Essentially, I'm doing all I can to take my own advice – even when my mind is pulling me away from that.
I use the lens of making this podcast as a way to show you how to batch tasks when needed and when doing them daily instead makes more sense. (You may not be doing a podcast like I am but I'm sure you can find something that fits the mould of my example here.)
During this episode I talk about the concept of flexibility within frameworks – including TimeCrafting – and how it's such a personal thing and why looking at the shape of your day matters when figuring out whether or not your framework is flexible enough for you.
So today I wanted to share with you my thoughts and approaches to the different ways we can communicate and how some ways we choose to communicate can be more productive than others.
On this episode of 3MoT, I offer insights and ideas around how to manage your notifications in a way that works for you rather than against you.
On this episode I decide to explore that further, especially when it comes in relation to crafting your time and bucking the trend of conventional productivity practices.
On this episode I explore the idea of necessary endings – something I've explored before – and share why even those things that might be doing okay right now may need to end so that other things can thrive over the long haul.
If you want to explore this topic even further than what I'll be doing in this series, I recommend you subscribe to Rob Walker's weekly email, The Art of Noticing. You can do that here.
If you want to explore this topic even further than what I'll be doing in this series, I recommend you subscribe to Rob Walker's weekly email, The Art of Noticing. You can do that here.
If you want to explore this topic even further than what I'll be doing in this series, I recommend you subscribe to Rob Walker's weekly email, The Art of Noticing. You can do that here.
Weird, right? Not if you understand why. In this episode I explain how my affinity for Green Lantern helps me defend myself against the perils of fear and anger – two emotions that can derail your attention and focus, leaving your positive intentions to linger in limbo.
There will be days when you feel compelled to write at midnight because you have something important to say that goes well beyond journaling.
There will be days when your system isn’t working at its best.
There will be days when distractions, disruptions, and diversion get the better of you.
There will be days when intention doesn’t get the attention it requires…and vice versa.
There will be days when you rush around instead of look around.
There will be days when The Resistance wins more than it loses.
There will be days when all of these things happen. The goal is to make them as infrequent as possible. So don’t punish yourself too much when they do occur. Simply notice it and work towards figuring out how to ward them off going forward. Because that’s the only way you can help yourself to move forward instead of moving in directions that you don’t want to go.
On this episode of the program I’m going to offer my ideas on how you can craft a to do list that fosters something we all need to have: hope.
But worry can also serve you. It’s just a matter of not becoming such a slave to it that it compromises your productivity and time management. I’m going to explore worry and productivity more on this episode of 3MoT, all in three minutes.
On this episode of #3MoT I share with you how to fight back against the allure of foolish productivity, something that often presents itself as valuable but winds up being just a waste of your time.
The words “no matter what” offer a sense of perseverance and resilience to them. Combined with “Whatever it ages” there’s even a sense of endurance in there as well. But unlike the first part of my Annual Axiom, the second part doesn't offer as much flexibility. I explain why that is and, better still, why that is important to me when it comes to yearly slogan.
You see, that phrase is the first part of what I call my Annual Axiom. On this episode of the program, I explain why I’m using it and what aspect of it is subjective enough to create some flexibility in the phrase. (Oh, and I also share how it has helped me with my personal productivity so far.)
One of the things that can keep you from trusting your to do list is by making one that is deceptive. It’s not intentional — usually — but it does happen. In this episode of the podcast I talk about how to avoid creating a to do list containing elements of deception.
On this episode I share with you some ways to make sure that the things you're trying to do – be they establishing new habits, breaking bad ones, or even adopting a new way of operating (like timeCrafting, for example) – take hold and stick for the long term.
But umbrellas aren't just used for keeping you dry. For some people, umbrellas are used to keep them cool. And kids tend to use them as swords or some other weapon when play-fighting. (And let's not forget how Batman villain The Penguin used one...) So how do you use an umbrella? I'm going to explore that on this episode of the show.
The concept of consistency is one that I believe is helpful when trying to practice a productive lifestyle. There's some safety in "sameness" and on this episode I'll share my thought on why there's sanity to be found there as well.
Projects are built of small units, better known as tasks. But too often we tend to confuse a task with something that is actually a project. On this episode my aim is to get you thinking about the small stuff so that you can make something - like an impact - big.
Having this tool in my arsenal makes the scary stuff less scary. The IDEA Criteria helps me make better decisions, and I have no doubt it will also serve you well. I hope you enjoy learning about it on this episode.
I bet you there’s at least one task on it - if not more - that holds that disinion. On this episode I’m going to share with you why you need to keep tabs on your recurring tasks in a way that gives you the feeling and sense that you’re making progress on it every step of the way.
Whenever you hear about wasting time, it’s often associated with it being a bad idea. But not all wasted time is really wasted. I talk about that today for about three minutes.
I spend at least five minutes a day - at the end of the day - writing in my journal. On this episode I share with you why I do that and why I think it's important that you journal as well (no matter what time of day you decide to do it).
I'm going to ask you to take a long look at your to do list in this episode. You'll need to do that to figure out if the story that it's telling is one that you want to be told (at least, by you). I'll offer some things to consider when looking over the story that is your to do list and what you can do to make your to do list look more like the story you want to tell.
I'm going to help you with that today. If you're one of those people who feel as if their days are too "dynamic" that they can't be themed, I'm going to serve you the way one of my clients structured their day for productivity and progress. (Think of this episode as a sneak preview of an element of TimeCrafting I've yet to dig into on this podcast.)
Here's the email. Feel free to copy and paste it (and edit it as you see fit).
CLIENT NAME,
I will be out of the office from DATE LEAVING to DATE RETURNING but wanted to assure you that I have handed off all important information off to DELEGATE’S NAME while I am away. Should you have any questions or need anything during this time, please feel free to contact DELEGATE’S NAME and they will do their best to assist you.
Any correspondence (email or phone calls) sent my way will be responded to within 2–3 days of my return.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Here's the blog post I wrote about this email.
Luck is a tricky thing. It can show up when we really need it and disappear when we need it even more. Today I'm going to share with you how you can deal with luck not going your way on any given occasion and why you shouldn't trust it to give you the outcome you're looking for in the first place.
Steve Austin - better known as Stone Cold Steve Austin to pro wrestling fans like me – is a fine example of an overnight success story. How? And what does this have to do with time management and productivity? Well, you'll find out after listening to this episode.
Today I'm going to talk about why even though I don't condone fighting your body clock there will be instances where you need to make exceptions to the rule - no matter what.
Today I'm going to draw some comparisons to pi and the seemingly endless to do lists that we all have. Not only that, but I'll offer some advice on how to "round down" your to do list like mathematicians have done with pi. Don't worry - there won't be a test afterward. Just a few solid takeaways in only three minutes.
Sometimes you just need to get through the day. Today might be one of those days for you. So I'm going to share with you why it's okay to have days like that and how to make sure when you do that you can some measure of direction throughout it.
Today I'm going to explore what lies beneath all of the decluttering and minimizing in The KonMari Method. I'll also advise you on what to do when looking into a craze like this and why the terms "time management" and "productivity" have started to wear on me.
Today I'm going to explain what "overchoice" is and how it can impact your productivity. I'll also delve into how you can overcome the phenomenon when you "futureproof" your calendar and to do list (which I alluded to last episode).
Today I'm going to share with you the power of "futureproofing" your calendar and to do list so that you can make progress on your tasks and projects whenever you want – and however you want – over the long run.
Now that you've listened to the episodes where I discussed the five categories of mode-based work (you did listen to them, right?) you can start to put them together to make a more cohesive and doable to do list. Modes allow you to filter your seemingly never-ending to do list into something you can face with confidence once you start using them consistently – and in a way that works for you.
During this episode I'll share some final tips and tricks when getting started with using modes to categorize your tasks and even get into some more intermediate material. But if you want to dive deeper into Mode-Based Work and get a broad overview of the elements of TimeCrafting, then check out The Productivityist Playbook.
This category is probably the easiest to start with (or fall back on) because it is the most easily measured. Having a “5 Minute Mode” is especially useful when you know you only have a half-hour between appointments because instead of scanning your to do list looking for tasks to try to do in that timespan, you can simply do quick math to try to complete six 5 minute tasks instead.
Want to dive deeper into Mode-Based Work and get a broad overview of the elements of TimeCrafting? Then check out The Productivityist Playbook.
Here's a hint: Pretty much any verb is an Activity-Based mode, but you’ll want to use ones that pertain to your life in a way that you can connect with them more efficiently and effectively. That means you want to get specific and make them deeply personal.
This category of mode-based work is also the one that dances the line between being quantitative and qualitative in nature. It also lets you skip using a verb in your task title because the activity indicates what the verb is anyway!
Want to dive deeper into Mode-Based Work and get a broad overview of the elements of TimeCrafting? Then check out The Productivityist Playbook.
Your energy levels play a much bigger role in your task and time management that you give them credit for. By using modes that identify what level of energy you need to tackle a task, you’re setting yourself up for better results on all of the items on your to do list - and you can even be more effective when you not feeling 100% to boot!
Some examples of Energy-Based Modes include:
- Deep Work; Shallow Work
- Full Focus; Shallow Focus
- Primetime; Garbagetime
- High Energy; Low Energy
Want to dive deeper into Mode-Based Work and get a broad overview of the elements of TimeCrafting? Then check out The Productivityist Playbook.
If you want to know what you need to have at your disposal (or where you need to be or who you need to talk to about something) to complete a task, then Resource-Based Modes are going to be very helpful. If you use Microsoft Word a lot, then having “Word Mode” can gather all of your Word-based tasks into one mode. Same goes for Evernote. You can even create one for the biggest time suck of all: Email.
Using this mode will help you move from person to place to thing faster and with less friction. Plus you'll be able to get into that elusive state of "flow" that makes you more effective and efficient when working.
Want to dive deeper into Mode-Based Work and get a broad overview of the elements of TimeCrafting? Then check out The Productivityist Playbook.
Theme-Based Modes are broad in scope and can be used for those who don’t feel that theming their time through Daily or Horizontal Themes can work for them because of their schedule. Essentially they map out well with (or even mirror) your Daily Themes, so if you are using those then they act as a great bridge from what you see on your calendar (the "directory of your day") to your to do list (the "details of your day").
Want to dive deeper into Mode-Based Work and get a broad overview of the elements of TimeCrafting? Then check out The Productivityist Playbook.
(This is more of a tactical episode than usual, but here we go...)
In this episode I describe what a Weekly Sprint is, how to use it in conjunction with other elements of TimeCrafting (such as Daily and Monthly Themes), and when you may want to set aside a week for one of these ultra-focused and targeted productivity tactic.
You might be wondering what a "multipotentialite" is since I mention it during this episode. I've got you covered here.
What exactly is minimalism? What do you think it is? Are you tired of hearing about it from mainstream media and popular blogs? Today I'll share with you what minimalism actually is and help you figure out if it's something you really want to pursue.
Why have I started the Total TimeCrafting membership community? Why have I started to simplify my coaching offerings? A lot of it boils down to being able to offer more accountability to my clients and community.
There are several different ways you can be held accountable – either through others or by setting up something from your "past" self. I speak to all of this during this episode, so take some notes so that you can start to craft some levels accountability.
Want to learn more about Total TimeCrafting? Go here.
Sometimes a word or phrase you've been using to inspire action or motivate you stops doing both of those things. It's easy to chalk it up to a systemic failure of the framework or methodology you're using, but sometimes it's as simple as finding a word or phrase that resonates with you more. Today I'll share with you an example of this happening to me and what I did to make my Thursdays matter more.
You can read the Training vs Learning post I mention in this episode here.
Here’s The Midweek Manifesto as I wrote it for WorkAwesome several years ago:
My mission is to reflect on the beginning of the week, see what I’ve not done and reboot it and see what I’ve done and celebrate it. Looking forward, I will take what’s left to be done and do it. With the rest of my plans I will stand firm. I’ll add tasks as I need and make sure that I heed my own voice. The voice that tells me, “I must get to complete.”
There is something about doing a triage in the middle of the week that helps the rest of the week seem more…doable. This midweek cleanup really gets me back to a place where I can move forward with more intention and attention than if I’d simply let the plan for the week lie as initially set. I also trust The Midweek Manifesto as an accountability exercise because this exercise allows me to see the whole rather than just a part of my tasks and obligations. The Midweek Manifesto somehow makes “Hump Day” just another day. Give it a try for yourself.
See you later.
Today I'll talk about the importance of "real" rest. The idea of "small sabbaticals" can be a form of this. So can taking a Monthly Theme and making rest an overarching focus during a month (or more). We need more rest. Today I'll discuss this.
Further listening: Small Scale Sabbaticals from seanwes
Making 3MoT and all of the content I do every week involves consistency. But it also requires patience. Patience and productivity aren't things we normally hear about in tandem, but I think it's about time we do. So I'm doing that today.
I talk about the relationship between the calendar and the to do list, most notably when it comes to TimeCrafting, and walk you through how I know what goes where and when to look at what.
For more on this, check out my blog post about The Daily CT Scan.
I’m also using analog tools to track this. I talk about my approach during this episode, with the aim that it’ll help you do something similar - something that works for you.
On this episode I'll dig deeper into the idea of doing what you can with what you have (and where you are). I'll offer some practical examples with the hopes that you can take this advice and use it in your own way.
I’m sharing something new that I’m doing - using the acronym WAVES to make sure that I have a baseline for a productive day. What does WAVES mean? How can you use something similar? Listen and find out!
Over the course of this podcast episode I’ll share with you why you shouldn’t fear frameworks but rather put them in place so that you can have the flexibility and freedom that you deserve to have every day.
Rather than write about it or make a video to explain my motivations, I figured it'd be fitting to share my reasoning with you on this podcast. That way you hear everything about it from me in no more than three minutes.
On this episode I’ll share with you the one trick I’ve put in place that has helped me keep my week from misbehaving and spiraling out of control before it gets underway.
So if you’ve wanted to start the practice of Daily Theming then this is the episode for you. I don’t just reveal one of the simplest ways to get started but also how you can make these daily themes don’t want to skip these three minutes!
I believe the simplicity of Daily Theming has played a role in this. Today I’ll share with you one of the ways that giving each of my days a theme has helped me save time with my kids.
Today I’ll share with you how you can take a day where attention and energy usually wanes and turn it into a day where deep work happens.
So today I'm going to share my insights on the ebb and flow between spending time and attention on discovering things you want to learn about and when you should invest that time elsewhere and delegate instead. It's a conversation I have with myself every time I find something I'd like to know more about and I've got some tactics to offer you that I use to help me make better decisions on what to pursue on my own and what to pursue with the help of another.
You see, if I simply left that message in my mind alone then I wouldn’t be able to do anything with it - like take action on it in a progressive way. Today I’ll share with you how I took this “trigger” to task and how you can do the same.
In this second part of a brief series on traveling better, I discuss what you can do with those things you can control that can make your entire travel experience better.
On this first episode of a two-part series I share something you can do to make your travel experience a little bit better.
Furthermore, I want to let you know whether or not I plan to go back to the app. I’ll reveal my plans and offer insights on productivity and time management apps overall.
The concept of “mise en place” isn’t just something you can explore in your kitchen, either. I’ll share with you Why the practice works and offer ways you can integrate it into your everyday life.
This time on 3MoT I share with you a way to read the news in a more productive manner. This isn't about eliminating news from your life, it's about being more intentional with how you absorb it so that it doesn't steal your attention when you don't want it – and don't expect it – to.
On this edition of 3MoT I offer up the key to setting boundaries so that you'll know how to put them in place...and keep them there.
If you want to make the most of your days, weeks, and months then you need to keep self care in mind all along the way. In this episode I talk about why this is so important and offer a few things you can do that may seem small and trivial at first but can pay off with great productivity dividends in the future.
Today I'm going to share with you something simple that I do that allows me to move the needle on my to do list when I'm feeling under the weather.
Today I share with you how I sit with feedback, giving a specific example of not only how I made that happen but why doing so helped bring this daily podcast back to life.
During this episode I share some insights on how you can take an occasion that matters to you and use it to redesign, rebuild, and reclaim the months ahead.
On this episode I have a little fun on National Pi Day, spending time discussing some "productivity math."
On this episode I share some changes I've made recently to my Daily and Horizontal Themes and offer insights about tweaking and fiddling with workflows.
On this episode I talk about Todoist's Facebook ads targeting Wunderlist and why I have a hard time answering what seems like a simple question about to do list apps.
On this episode I talk about Mondays and why you might have a better option as your first day of the work week.
On this episode I talk about the leap forward to Daylight Saving (not "Savings") Time, its effects on your body clock, and how you can deal with those effects.
On this episode I talk about how one agency is using a hotel industry practice to stave off interruptions and how you can do the same through setting small but effective boundaries.
On this episode of the show, I talk about the findings in a recent survey that was conducted on the effect of switching apps throughout the day in the workplace. I offer my own insights and ideas on how to combat those effects as well.
LINKS
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Ladders: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/69-of-employees-waste-one-month-a-year-on-workplace-apps
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The Mode That Helps Your Productivity Take Flight: https://productivityist.com/productivity-take-flight/
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The Daily CT Scan: https://productivityist.com/the-daily-ct-scan/
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How to Be Productive When You’re Sick and Tired: https://productivityist.com/tiredproductivity/
On this episode of the show I talk about the most productive thing I do when attending conferences, share an update to a productivity app that I have a particular soft spot for, and reveal a new way I'm getting my administrative tasks done.
In this one-minute long episode of the show, I fill you in on what you can expect from the show every single day. I hope you'll join me!