In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, I’m going to share (with permission) a real-life productivity 911 that I received in the last couple of weeks from a friend who had been out of the office on maternity leave. Her name is Nestle and she just had a beautiful baby boy. When Nestle got back to the office, she had about three thousand emails in her inbox. Yikes! Today I’m going to share some tips I shared with her when she got back to the office.   Thanks for tuning in to...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss some ways to rethink your goals for 2017, particularly if you have already started to stray from them. Don’t give up!   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we talk about what ergonomics is and how you can apply it to make yourself more productive. This is personal to us because Larissa works from home and is not very good about considering her body when she’s working. On the other hand, at my workplace, ergonomics is very much emphasized. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we talk more about email management, specifically the concept of “inbox zero” and why I am such a proponent of it. I recently read a few articles that outlined some pretty good arguments about how it wasn’t such a great thing, but after reading (with an open mind of course!), I still come down on the side of inbox zero. In this episode, I’m going to tell you why.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up...

  Fidget toys are things we play with when we’re sitting in a meeting or concentrating on a tough problem, or overall just feeling a bit fidgety. Personally, my desk looks a little like a toy store stocked with putty, legos, colored rocks, and stress balls galore. I use these as a way to keep my mind engaged, particularly when I don’t have time to take breaks or get up and move around much. This episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast is all about fidget toys: why we fidget, the...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss the veracity of the old adage that says that if you want something to get done, give it to a busy person. In short, are busy people more productive?   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast we talk about something that all of us are guilty of from time to time (some more than others): being late. We share why some people tend to be perpetually running behind and give you some tips for how to stop being late.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss a simple and yet powerful task management tool, “The Eisenhower Matrix” or, “Eisenhower Box,” which was developed by former president Dwight D. Eisenhower.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss unproductive meetings. We’re going to give you some telltale signs that you might be headed into an unproductive meeting and give you some strategies for getting out.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we talk about how the novelty effect can impact your productivity. I was inspired to talk about this topic because I am very easily bored, so much so that I switch productivity tools on a regular basis just to keep things fresh. Although I usually feel a little bit bad about doing this because it seems as if I’m wasting time, I always end up feeling refreshed and even more inspired to get stuff done after every “move.” In order to...

  In today’s episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we talk about napping and productivity. More specifically, we share some findings about how napping impacts your ability to get things done. We also share the anatomy of the ideal power nap, along with some tips for trying to get some shut-eye during the day.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we’re going to discuss how a regular meditation practice can help boost your productivity. We’ll also share some tips for implementing a meditation practice into your life.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss FOMO, Fear of Missing Out. This is a term I only recently became aware of, but it’s something that’s impacted me for a while (and I’m sure it’s affected you in some ways as well). We define FOMO, give you some ways to determine if it’s affecting you, and talk about some ways to overcome any negative impacts to your productivity.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss Instapaper, an eReader and article curation tool that can help boost your productivity. I bought this application about two months ago and wanted to give it a whirl before I decided whether it was “share worthy.” Spoiler alert: it is!   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note...

  Procrastination is something that plagues even the most successful among us. Successful people, however, know how to get themselves moving even on tasks they may not want to do. One technique I’ve used in the past to get myself moving on those tasks is to gamify them . In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we share some ways you can use games to help spur you forward towards your goals. We discuss some things to look for in productivity gaming apps, as well as offer tips...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss how your self-esteem impacts your productivity and share 5 ways you can lift yourself up when you’re feeling down.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission...

In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss keeping a notebook, which is a different practice from just journaling or keeping a diary. We explain what keeping a notebook means and share some benefits of incorporating this practice into your life.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we’ll be giving you some ideas for how to handle the daily distractions of life, like a BOSS. You know, I’m not a young gal anymore and I remember a time when there was no internet, no cellphones, and very limited TV. In this day and age, we can get what we want when we want it pretty quickly, and things are constantly being pushed on us. With all of these distractions, how are you supposed to get your stuff done? Today we’ll to give...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast, we discuss why I love taking notes, and give you some tips to help you make the most of your notes. And yes, I believe that notes can even make you more productive! I’m also going to share a bit about my love of something called Sketch Notes.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note...

  In today’s episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we share 8 things you can do to help keep you sane when life throws you a curve ball. On May 13, I was involved in a pretty bad car accident. My car was totaled and I sustained a few injuries (not too serious) that I’m still having to deal with. As you can imagine, we are now having to deal with insurance companies, my job, a new puppy, and the loss of my vehicle all at the same time. While I consider myself to be an organized and...

  In today’s episode of the podcast, we discuss what I have heard described as the “yin” to the “yang” of to-do lists. While I believe in to-do lists I definitely understand that, at times, they can be overwhelming in the sense that they are never really “done”. This can lead to lost motivation and feeling like there’s really no point. Keeping a “done” list is an easy way to combat this feeling. We’re also going to share a few simple tips for starting your own, plus some ways to make the...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast, I define what I mean by the term reference manager, and then we discuss some things to consider when deciding what type of system(s) to use. Chances are, you already have one whether you know it or not!   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be...

  In today’s episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss the possible benefits of taking cold showers, which Vickie has recently introduced into her daily routine as a way to boost her productivity. She first learned about taking cold showers on The Tim Ferriss Podcast and then began doing some research about it on her own. We will share what she found out, and Vickie will share her own experience with taking cold showers.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast, we discuss Workflowy, an application that Larissa heard about on another podcast and decided to check out. As we began to use it, we quickly discovered that it is a very simple yet powerful outlining tool. We will explain more about how Workflowy works and discuss five ways you can use it to help improve your workflow system.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast...

  In this episode of the Productivity Power Up podcast, we discuss the Zeigarnik effect. You’ll learn what it is and how you can use this psychological phenomenon to help you boost your productivity.   Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Productivity Power Up Podcast! If you find value in our podcast and listen on iTunes, please consider leaving us a rating and review. Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will...