Intentional Productivity
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.
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Intentional Productivity

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.

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.