Ellen Faye
Productivity Coaching, Time Management Consulting and Leadership Coaching for business and nonprofits - get your most important work done. Collaborating with leaders and their teams to become more strategic, focused and productive. Leadership and Board Coaching, Strategic Planning Facilitation, Productivity Coaching and Time Management Consulting, Professional Speaker.
Productivity Coach, Productivity Consultant, Leadership Coach, Time Management Coach, Business Consulting, personal productivity, time management, nonprofit, board coach, collaboration, strategic planning, facilitation, change management, leading productive teams, project planning, board development, volunteer engagement, association management, workplace productivity, executive director.
-1
archive,author,author-ellen,author-3,wp-theme-bridge,bridge-core-3.3.4.7,qode-page-transition-enabled,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode_grid_1200,footer_responsive_adv,qode-theme-ver-30.8.8.7,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-8.7.2,vc_responsive

Author: Ellen Faye

15 May

Posted at 16:25h in Focus and Prioritize, Intentional Productivity, Productivity for Leaders, Stress Management, Time Management

By the time summer rolls around, many people are running on fumes. The year started with energy, optimism, and ambitious plans. You set goals. You committed to new habits. You promised yourself this would be the year you finally got ahead.

And then real life happened. Work expanded to fill every available space. Responsibilities multiplied. Personal commitments piled on. The pace accelerated. Somewhere along the way, productivity quietly shifted from purposeful to relentless.

So this is your reminder — especially if no one else is saying it: Work hard. But don’t kill yourself doing it.

An occasional sprint is normal. A season of extra effort may even be necessary at times. But exhaustion should not become your baseline. Working seven days a week, staying up until midnight every night, and sacrificing your health, relationships, and peace of mind is not sustainable productivity. It’s survival mode disguised as ambition. And the hard truth is that most workplaces won’t stop you. Organizations are often focused on immediate needs: this quarter’s numbers, today’s deadlines, the next problem to solve. They are not thinking about your future self — the version of you who wants energy left for family, friendships, creativity, health, and joy. They are not thinking about the weekends you spend recovering because you pushed yourself too hard all week. Or the family dinners you missed. Or the slow accumulation of stress that eventually catches up with your body and mind.

And if you work for yourself, this conversation becomes even more important.

  • Why are you pushing so hard?
  • What are you trying to prove?
  • And to whom?

So many high-achieving professionals operate from an unspoken belief that their worth is tied to output. If they work harder, stay later, achieve more, and carry more, then maybe they will finally feel successful enough, valuable enough, safe enough.

But worthiness is not earned through exhaustion. You do not have to destroy your quality of life to demonstrate that you are intelligent, capable, committed, or deserving of success. This is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in intentional productivity. Real productivity is not about squeezing every ounce of energy from yourself. It’s about creating a way of working and leading that is sustainable — one that supports both effectiveness and quality of life. That’s why mid-year is such a valuable time to pause and reset. Not to abandon your goals, but to reevaluate them honestly. Ask yourself:

  • What is working well right now?
  • What is draining more energy than it’s worth?
  • Which goals still matter — and which were based on unrealistic expectations?
  • Where have I overcommitted?
  • What would make work feel more sustainable?
  • What do I need more of to feel like myself again?

For many people, the answer is not “work harder.” It’s clearer priorities, more realistic planning, and systems that actually fit how they are wired.

  • Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is let go of a goal that no longer aligns with reality.
  • Sometimes it’s reducing the number of priorities competing for your attention.
  • Sometimes it’s accepting that your calendar should reflect not only your responsibilities, but also your humanity.

Because here’s what I’ve learned after years of coaching leaders and professionals:

  • You can build a successful career and still have a life.
  • You can care deeply about your work without sacrificing your health.
  • You can be ambitious without living in a constant state of depletion.
  • And ironically, people often become more effective when they stop operating at an unsustainable pace. Clear thinking improves. Decision fatigue decreases. Creativity returns. Relationships strengthen. Leadership becomes steadier and more grounded.

Better work really does support a better life. So before summer fully arrives, give yourself permission to reset intentionally. Not because you’re failing. Not because you aren’t doing enough. But because sustainable success requires recalibration along the way.

Your future self will thank you for it.

Ready to create a more sustainable way of working?

If you’re ready to figure out how to work better and live better, my book, Productivity for How You’re Wired, offers a practical roadmap for designing work, routines, and systems that fit how you’re wired—so success doesn’t come at the expense of your well-being. Because productivity shouldn’t leave you depleted. It should help you create a better life.

Available on Amazon in print, eBook, and audio.

09 Apr

Posted at 19:36h in Envision Possibilities, Intentional Productivity, Tips for Easier Living

Friction Points: How to Spot Them—and Solve Them: Small changes that make life easier.

You know those little annoyances that quietly follow you around? The thing that’s just inconvenient enough to bug you—but not urgent enough to fix. So it lingers. Day after day. Slightly draining your energy. Taking more effort than it should. Living rent-free in your life.

That’s a friction point.

And here’s the thing: most friction points are completely fixable. We just don’t stop long enough to do something about it. Instead, we work around them. We tolerate them. We tell ourselves, “It’s fine.” But what if it didn’t have to be?

How to Spot (and Solve) a Friction Point

If something has been mildly frustrating you for a while, it’s worth paying attention to. A small fix can create a surprisingly big shift. Here’s a simple process to work through it:

1) Notice the issue: What’s been bothering you—even just a little? If it’s recurring, it’s worth your attention.

2) Identify the problem: Why is this bothering you? What’s actually not working?

3) Consider solutions: You can go structured (pros/cons, ranking options)… Or intuitive (pick something that feels like it might work). Either is fine—this is about movement, not perfection.

4) Implement: Try something. Not the perfect thing. Just a thing.

5) Assess (and tweak if needed): Did it help? If yes—great. If not—adjust and try again.

Example #1: Recycling

1) Notice the issue: For a long time, I noticed that getting my recycling to the garage in my condo building was a hassle—but I didn’t stop to really think about it.

2) Identify the problem: The issue wasn’t recycling itself—it was that I didn’t have an efficient way to store and transport it. I was making multiple trips, dropping things, and dealing with clutter in my space.

3) Consider solutions: I tried using a grocery cart, which helped a bit. But what I really needed was a larger, contained space to hold bulky recycling—something that wouldn’t require constant trips downstairs.

4) Implement: I bought a Hulkie—a large rolling bin—and started keeping it in my guest room. Now I toss all bulky recycling into it as it accumulates.

5) Assess: It works beautifully. I only need to take the bulk recycling down once every week or two, and it’s easy. It’s become an autopilot system—and something I no longer think about. And…it no longer frustrates me!

Example #2: This Blog

I’ve been blogging since 2008. That’s a long time—and if I’m being honest, I’ve gotten bored with the process.  So sometime’s it’s hard to stay on my schedule. But I still believe it matters. So instead of stopping, I asked: Is there a way to make this easier?

1) Notice the issue: I knew I wasn’t blogging consistently—even though it’s something I care about.

2) Identify the problem: The issue wasn’t ideas or skill. It was motivation. I needed more than “I should do this” to get started.

3) Consider solutions: I tried batching posts—didn’t work. I tried putting it on my task list—too easy to ignore. I realized I needed a stronger cue and some external accountability.

4) Implement: I asked my virtual assistant to email me at the beginning of each month asking for my blog post.

5) Assess: It works. That email sitting in my inbox is just enough of a nudge to get me to write. I do the writing, and she handles the rest. The system supports consistency without forcing it. And…you get a post every month!

The Bigger Point

Friction points aren’t just annoyances. They’re opportunities. Each one is a place where your life could be easier, smoother, and more aligned with how you actually want to work and live.

But only if you pause long enough to notice—and choose to do something about it.

You don’t need to overhaul everything. Just start with one thing. One small friction point. Fix it. And then notice how much lighter everything feels.

Your Turn

Now I’m curious about you… What’s a friction point in your life that you’ve been quietly tolerating?

Something small. Something recurring. Something that’s just annoying enough to drain your energy—but not urgent enough that you’ve fixed it.

Now that you’ve noticed it, what might your solution be?

Drop it in the comments—your friction point and one possible fix. You don’t need a perfect answer. Just a starting point. Because once you name it and give it a little attention, it’s often much easier to solve than you think.

Ready to make work easier?

If this idea of reducing friction resonates with you, my book Productivity for How You’re Wired, goes deeper into how to design systems, routines, and workflows that actually work for you—not against you. Because when your work fits how you’re wired, everything gets easier. You can find it on Amazon in print, eBook, and audio.

18 Mar

Posted at 11:27h in Attention Managment, Focus and Prioritize, Organize to Thrive, Tips for Easier Living

While I don’t consider myself an ADHD coach, over the years in my work as a professional organizer, coach, and productivity trainer I’ve had a great deal of training and learned a lot about supporting clients who live with ADHD and other executive function challenges. Although I haven’t worked hands-on in clients’ physical spaces since before the pandemic — hard to believe that’s now six years ago — I spent two decades organizing homes and offices after launching my business in 2001. I added coaching to my practice in 2008 and began fully integrating organizing and coaching work in 2011.

Recently, a colleague invited me to present on organizing at the International ADHD Virtual Conference. Preparing for that session reminded me that many of the principles I’ve taught for years are especially helpful for people whose brains process decisions, structure, and follow-through differently.

Here are a few highlights — ideas that can help anyone create systems that make life easier.

  • When people think about getting organized, they often imagine labeled bins, color-coded planners, or picture-perfect spaces. But real organization — the kind that truly supports your life — isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about reducing friction.
  • Being organized is not a personality trait or a moral virtue. It’s a quality-of-life strategy. It reduces stress, saves time, and prevents unnecessary frustration so you can direct your energy toward what matters most. Small systems make a big difference. Something as simple as consistently putting your keys in the same place can eliminate daily stress. These practical habits reduce frition and create calm and reliability in otherwise busy lives.
  • When you make a decision to do something, pause and ask yourself “how am I going to remember to remember?”  It could be to put the box in front of the front door so you see it when you leave, or to set an alarm, or to put a note in your chair that you have to pick up to sit down.  But it has to be something! Your brain works off of cues, and if there is no cue to remember it’s just not going to happen.
  • A major reason organizing systems fail is that they don’t match how people are naturally wired. Each of us has a different structure preference — the amount of order and routine we need to function well. Some thrive with highly structured systems; others feel overwhelmed by too many rules. Many do best with moderate structure: enough clarity to support action, but not so much that it creates resistance. Understanding your structure preference helps you design systems that work with your behavior rather than against it. The goal is not perfection. The goal is usability.
  • This is why I often say: If it’s not easy, it’s too hard. Systems that require excessive decisions, effort, or maintenance rarely last. Simplifying processes — and limiting choices — conserves mental energy and improves follow-through.
  • A great example of this is underestimating how long tasks take. We tend to think only about the active portion — the meeting, the errand, the project work — and overlook preparation and cleanup. Planning for the full arc of a task reduces stress and creates more realistic expectations…and reduces friction because we anticipate more realistically.

Ultimately, organizing is not just about managing physical space. It is a foundational element of personal and professional productivity. When your environment supports your workflow, decision-making becomes easier, priorities become clearer, and momentum becomes more sustainable. Whether at home or at work, thoughtful organizing creates the conditions for better focus, stronger execution, and more intentional use of time and energy.

Where Can You Reduce Friction?

If you’d like more specific ideas, my book , Productivity for How You’re Wired, offers practical tools and insights to help you design systems that support the way you think, work, and live. Available on Amazon in print, eBook, and audio.

19 Feb

Posted at 18:40h in Attention Managment, Focus and Prioritize, Intentional Productivity, Productivity for Leaders, Stress Management

 

If the things that matter most keep getting pushed aside, the problem may not be time — it may be what’s competing for your attention.

Sorting through five days of mail after being out of town, I heard myself say – out loud – “I’m never subscribing to another magazine again.” It wasn’t really about the magazines. For years, when I’ve spoken about managing paper, we’ve talked about that subtle sense of obligation — the feeling that if something comes into our home or office, we should read it. We should give it our attention. And there I was, doing the very same thing.

My Harvard Business Review and Nutrition Action Health letter — the ones I actually value — were barely being opened. Meanwhile, I was spending my limited casual reading time on grocery store flyers, unsolicited catalogs, and local magazines I never asked for in the first place.

That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t just mismanaging my reading. I was misdirecting my attention. And attention is one of our most precious resources.

A focus problem disguised as a paper problem

Overwhelm rarely comes from having too much that matters. It comes from too much that doesn’t competing for our attention. Every item we keep creates tiny decisions:

  • Should I read this?
  • When will I get to it?
  • Do I need this?

Those micro-decisions create mental clutter – and mental clutter makes focus harder. Today, this shows up far beyond paper. It’s the movie you’ve genuinely wanted to watch for months – the one you intentionally chose – competing with 60 TikTok’s you never meant to open. Same time spent. Very different result. One leaves you restored or inspired. The other leaves you wondering where the evening went. The issue isn’t time. It’s attention drift.

A better-aligned system

I needed a system that worked with my real life — not the life I imagined I should be living. So I made a few small changes:

  • I moved my priority reading to where I naturally sit — the kitchen island and family room.
  • I (ruthlessly) recycle unwanted material immediately.
  • I spend my reading time on what I intentionally chose, not what simply arrived.

Same 15 minutes. Completely different outcome.

Designing for how you actually live

Here’s another truth: most of my reading now happens on my computer or phone. My Substack and LinkedIn feeds bring thoughtful, relevant content aligned with my interests and work. So this isn’t about eliminating magazines — or streaming, or social media. It’s about being honest about what you value, how you naturally operate, and designing systems that support both. Because productivity isn’t about forcing yourself to work the “right” way. It’s about making it easier to do what matters.

The leadership connection

This same dynamic shows up at work every day. Leaders don’t struggle because they lack priorities. They struggle because too many non-priorities are allowed to compete with them.

  • Unread reports
  • Unnecessary meetings
  • Low-value requests
  • Constant digital noise

When everything asks for attention, the truly important work quietly loses. Productivity — for individuals and leaders alike — isn’t about doing more. It’s about protecting attention so the right work gets done.

The bigger picture

This small shift is about far more than reading material. It’s about:

  • Choosing intentionally instead of reacting automatically
  • Removing what competes for your attention
  • Making space for what matters most

When you do that, focus gets easier. Decisions get lighter. And overwhelm begins to fade. So if the things that matter to you aren’t getting your attention, don’t ask: “What’s wrong with me?”

Ask instead: “How can I make the important things easier to reach — and the unimportant things easier to let go?” That’s where thriving begins.  And it’s how work – and life – start to work better.

Protect What Matters Most

Attention is at the heart of productivity. In my book, Productivity for How You’re Wired, I help readers understand their unique productivity style and build systems that support focus, clarity, and meaningful progress — without forcing themselves into someone else’s method.

Available on Amazon in print, eBook, and audio.

09 Dec

Posted at 14:51h in Focus and Prioritize, Productivity, Stress Management, Tips for Easier Living

This post is an updated twist on one of my most-loved holiday articles — because some lessons are worth serving again.

As we move into the holiday season, life can start to resemble an overfilled dinner plate. Obligations, commitments, events, expectations — we heap them on, spoonful after spoonful, often choosing things that make others happy. But when we fill our plate with everyone else’s favorites, we leave no room for the mashed potatoes or cookies we genuinely love.

And that’s when dissatisfaction creeps in. We end the holidays depleted, unfulfilled… and somehow still hunting for dessert, hoping it will fill what’s missing.

A satisfying life isn’t an accident. It’s the result of intentionally making space for what nourishes you most — those holiday cookie moments that make everything richer, sweeter, and more meaningful.

Why We Don’t Put What We Want on Our Plate

Over the last year, through my work as a Productivity Coach, I’ve noticed something consistent: most people — regardless of their role or title — struggle to make room for what truly matters. We are all leaders of our own lives, yet we often forget to lead ourselves toward what satisfies us.

Here are three common patterns I see:

  1. We Put Our Passion Projects on the Back Burner

Do you have a project that excites you, inspires you, or simply brings you joy — yet somehow never makes it onto your schedule? Between daily demands, inboxes, meetings, and the business-of-business, the work that would actually fulfill us gets pushed aside in favor of what feels urgent.

There is a way to change this. You must plan for your satisfying work.

    • Break your project into small, doable steps
    • Prioritize those steps
    • Move them from the “when I have time” list to your Important or Hot list
    • Protect short blocks of time and work on it consistently

Progress is built one spoonful at a time. Think of it like the old saying: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Big, meaningful work doesn’t happen in one push — it happens in a series of intentional, bite-sized actions. Each spoonful counts. Each bite adds up. Before you know it, what once felt overwhelming becomes something you’ve already begun — and something you can absolutely finish.

  1. We Get Lost in Perfection

Do you hesitate to send something out because it isn’t “perfect”? Do you spend excessive time polishing work that is already more than good enough? Perfection is seductive — and it’s a brilliant disguise for procrastination. Here’s the truth: very good is often more valuable than perfect.

The difference between the two usually lives in the last 20% of effort — effort that rarely delivers meaningful return. Think of every tech company you know: they release imperfect updates all the time, because momentum matters more than flawlessness.

Excellence moves you forward. Perfection keeps you stuck.

  1. We Don’t Know How to Relax

For years, culture rewarded constant motion. Busy equaled important. If we weren’t doing, we weren’t valuable. Thankfully, that narrative is shifting — but we’re not sure what to replace it with. When I ask clients what they do to relax, I often hear a list of tasks:

    • I should read more
    • I should exercise more
    • I should organize the house

Those are activities, not rest. They’re doing, not being.

Real restoration happens when we quiet the shoulds and reconnect with what soothes us. Ask yourself:

    • What restores me?
    • What helps me exhale?
    • When do I feel like myself again?

For some it’s journaling. For others, it’s music, nature, or yes — a bubble bath. Relaxation is not a reward you earn. It’s a requirement you deserve.

Your Holiday Plate, Your Rules

These are trying times. The world is loud. Expectations are high. But satisfaction shows up when we choose — deliberately — what belongs on our plate.

So this season, ask yourself:

  • What nourishes me?
  • What satisfies me?
  • What deserves space on my plate?

My wish for you is simple: may you fill your holiday plate with what feeds your soul — not just your schedule.

🎁 A Gift That Brings More Joy Than Stuff

My book Productivity for How You’re Wired  makes a thoughtful, meaningful holiday gift — for a friend, a colleague, a family member, or for yourself. It helps readers understand their personal productivity wiring and create systems that actually work for them. Give a gift that lasts longer than the holiday season — one that creates clarity, confidence, and ease. Available on Amazon in print, eBook, and audio.

Ready to Begin the New Year Feeling Satisfied? January is my busiest coaching season, and a powerful time to reset your habits, clarify your priorities, and build systems that support who you want to be. I’d love to support you. Schedule a January Discover Call spot now — before they’re gone.

05 Nov

Posted at 09:35h in Change, Leadership, Productivity, Stress Management

Let’s flip the script on AI. Instead of using it to cut staff, let’s use it to make work more human — to reduce burnout, lift engagement, and help people do their best work sustainably.

One Person Doing the Work of Many

In the U.S., productivity has skyrocketed – output per hour is up over 60% since 2000, while total hours worked have barely increased. That means today, one person is often expected to do the work of several people from a generation ago. And while technology has helped, it’s also pushed us past the point of human capacity. We’ve normalized 60-hour weeks, overloaded inboxes, and burnout as a badge of honor. It doesn’t have to be that way.

What I Learned Running a Hotel Front Desk

When I was a hotel front office manager, I knew exactly how many people it took to run the front desk well. If I needed ten clerks, I fought for eleven – because someone was always out. But even with that planning, I regularly worked 90+ hour weeks. When a clerk called out, I was the one behind the desk. That meant I wasn’t leading, improving service, or making strategic decisions – I was filling shifts. The company only cared about payroll. They didn’t see the cost of the work not getting done – the missed opportunities, the lack of leadership, the fatigue that spread through the team. That experience shaped how I think about leadership today. Cutting people to save money in the short term often costs far more in the long run.  “When leaders focus only on costs, they lose sight of capability. When they focus on people, both quality and profit improve.”

AI Could Change This — If We Let It

We now have tools that can automate the repetitive work that eats up our days. If we use them thoughtfully, AI can give people time back: time to think, plan, connect, and create. But if we treat AI as just another cost-cutting measure, we’ll repeat the same mistake: expecting one person to do the work of five, only faster this time. Let’s use AI to make work better!

A Challenge to Leaders: Use AI to improve the quality of work, not just the quantity.

  1. Automate the busywork. Let AI handle meeting notes, scheduling, expense reports, and data entry – the tasks that drain energy but don’t require human insight.
  2. Protect the time that’s saved. Don’t fill it with more work. Use it to have better conversations, mentor your team, and think strategically. AI should buy back human connection.
  3. Redefine productivity. If one person can now do the work of two, don’t double their workload. Let them do that work well – thoughtfully, creatively, and sustainably. AND LET’S IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE DELIVER! (I’m so frustrated that mediocre is now the acceptable norm!)
  4. Focus on engagement, not headcount. Retention and burnout are expensive. A burned-out employee isn’t productive – they’re exhausted. A supported employee does better work and stays longer.
  5. Measure leadership by human impact. Track turnover, engagement, feedback, and growth -not just output. Ask: Is my team thriving?  Is my team doing it’s best work?

The Long View

Yes, short-term profits matter. But when the people doing the work are burned out and disengaged, those profits won’t last. Leaders who invest in sustainable workloads and supportive cultures outperform in the long run. The data already shows that engaged employees deliver higher quality, better customer service, and stronger results. AI can make that easier — if we lead with intention.

From “Do More” to “Do Better”

We don’t need to glorify overwork or expect humans to operate like machines. We need to build systems where people can do fewer things better – where the hours we do work are meaningful and manageable.

“If we keep using AI to squeeze every drop of efficiency out of people, we’ll keep getting mediocre results from exhausted humans.” But if we use AI to free people up to think, connect, and create, we’ll get excellence. And that excellence…that’s what leads to success.

Let’s Make Work Human Again

This isn’t anti-AI – it’s pro-human. Leaders have a choice: You can use AI to eliminate people. Or you can use it to elevate them. Let AI take the tasks that drain us. Let people focus on the work that inspires us. Because the goal isn’t to replace humans — It’s to make it possible for humans to do their best work again.

If this idea resonates with you, stay tuned for how leadership and productivity intersect in my (hopefully) upcoming book (working title), Productivity for Leaders. Want to dive deeper into strategies for working smarter, not harder? Check out my book Productivity for How You’re Wired —available on Amazon in print, eBook, and audio.

Or learn more about my one-on-one and group coaching options for leaders who want to build teams that thrive — not just survive. Let’s connect – schedule your discovery call today.