Productivity

Takeaway: When you’re uncertain about whether to put a great new idea into a project or save it for the next one, my default approach is to always include it. In my experience, this will make your current project more interesting and enjoyable. Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 6s. I’m not sure who needs this

On this episode, I chat with Gloria Mark, the author of the new book Attention Span. Topics covered include: The benefits of managing our attention deliberately; Why (and whether) we lose control of our behavior using our devices; What makes email so damn stressful; The “attention traps” we fall into; How rote tasks are actually

Takeaway: To gain greater enjoyment from your experiences, try practicing anticipation and reminiscence. Both are forms of savoring—ways to convert positive experiences into positive emotions. Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute, 2s. In my most recent book, I write about the science of savoring—the process of converting positive experiences into positive emotions. The more we savor

On this episode, we chat about how to get into a state of flow, where we’re totally immersed in what we’re doing. Topics covered include: What a “flow state” is; The characteristics of a flow state; Shortcuts to help us get into a state of flow; How flow helps us perform better with creative tasks;

Do you find delegation tricky? When it comes to delegating more, do you find yourself using excuses like these? I don’t have time to explain it or track it. I might as well do it myself. I’m just a control freak. (It’s not you, it’s me!) I’ve been around the longest, so I’ll just know

Takeaway: The digital world adds value in three ways: by saving us time, by adding features to our lives, and by connecting us with others. Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute, 50s. My latest experiment to switch from a smartphone to a flip phone for a month has made me think a lot about the time

Takeaway: The nicer the smartphone, the more time I want to spend on it—and this isn’t something I want. Any device we consider “great” should make us feel better, not worse, about the time we spend on it. Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 45s. When I started my most recent experiment to use only a

On this episode, we chat about Chris’s latest experiment, to switch to a flip phone from a smartphone for a period of a month (to start). Topics covered include: How great the flip phone era was; How Ardyn feels about this experiment; The 6 reasons Chris is giving up his smartphone; The downsides to large

Takeaway: A calm state of mind makes you more focused, engaged, and deliberate. Here’s why. Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 10s. In my most recent book, I contend that the calmer our mind, the more productive we become. Let me explain. When it comes to knowledge work—tasks we do with our minds and not with

On this episode, we welcome Laura Vanderkam back on the podcast to chat about her new book, Tranquility by Tuesday. Topics covered include: The three categories to use to plan your days and your life; Why we should plan our weeks on Friday afternoon; Laura’s daily planner of choice; How doing something three times a