Posts in Productivity
Permission to Move Your Body - Granted

Raise your hand if you currently or ever had a job that keeps you sitting for most hours of the day.  I’m definitely in this boat.  And I’ve had seasons of life when I’ve felt so tired after sitting at a desk all day that I go home and just sit some more.  Sometimes days feel so hectic that scheduling time to exercise feels like one task too many.  But for many successful people, skipping movement in their day is an absolute no-no.

Read More
Making Time for Once in a Lifetime Events

About a year ago, I was looking through my son’s school vacation schedule and entering his vacation days on my calendar.  On April 8, 2024, I noticed a unique day off designation: Total Solar Eclipse.  I was intrigued.  The school district is giving all the kids a day off for an eclipse?  How marvelous!

Read More
Permission to Shorten Meetings - Granted

Meetings…I know very few working professionals who do not feel overwhelmed by meetings.  I can’t tell you how many client calendars I’ve seen that are nothing but back-to-back meetings.  There are a couple of thoughts and stories that have helped me to make meetings a less overwhelming part of my life.

Read More
Permission to Delete Out of Office Emails - Granted

One of my favorite counter-cultural activities is companies or individuals who go on vacation and auto-delete emails that are received when they are out of the office.  Many workers don’t use all of their vacation days, and a big reason why they don’t use their time is because of the mountain of emails they have waiting for them when they return.  Well, some companies and individuals have found a way to eliminate that issue.

Read More
Permission to Exit Your Inbox - Granted

If you’re like most professionals, your email inbox is a siren that pulls you toward it nearly constantly all day every day.  But what if I told you that many highly successful people do not incessantly check their emails?  What if a big secret to many peoples’ success is discipline with their inbox and only checking it a certain number of times a day or at certain times? 

Read More
Permission to Sleep - Granted

So many of the stories I see equate success with deprivation.  For example, if you want to be successful in [insert industry here], say goodbye to sleep.  Hustle culture/deprivation stories have never appealed to me.  I’m attracted to tales of people who have accomplished much in life but also take care of themselves. 

Read More
Permission Granted

I’m fascinated by stories of people who march to the beat of their own drums.  They are counter-cultural and go against the grain of normal societal pressures; and in doing so, they create a new path for other people to follow.  When I encounter an example of even one person who has traveled the path I intuitively feel is mine as well, their paved path lessens my anxiety and gives me permission in my own mind to walk that trail too. 

Read More