The free planners for August are now available on the Free Planners page. Some say that August is the Sunday of summer, and we couldn’t agree more. Soaking up those cold dips in the river, relishing in the cozy backyard barbecues, and sitting on a picnic table playing Scrabble until 9:30 p.m. are … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for August 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The Free Planners for July 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for July are now available on the Free Planners page. For many of us in the northern hemisphere, now is the time we tend to put our feet up and take a break on our projects. If taking care of yourself is what’s calling you, then by all means hang up that hammock, grab a book, … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for July 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The Foundation of True Self-Care Is Self-Compassion
Self-compassion permeates our work here. It's not some special icing on the flourishing cake we're cooking - it's an essential ingredient. While you may be able to succeed without self-compassion for a while, you won't thrive. At some point, the harm, suffering, pain, or neglect you put yourself … [Read more...] about The Foundation of True Self-Care Is Self-Compassion
The 5 Must-Practice Skills For Doing Your Best Work
Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs. – Henry Ford Ideas have an annoying habit of showing up as either loose goals or “wouldn’t it be cool/nice/fun if…” nudges. Fantastic, but they aren’t doable ideas. They just take up residence in that already crowded part of your brain … [Read more...] about The 5 Must-Practice Skills For Doing Your Best Work
The Free Planners for June 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for June are now available on the Free Planners page. It’s time to bust out the popsicles and pool floaties in the northern hemisphere – summer is here! When the first couple of sunny days hit, it’s easy to climb out of hibernation and straight into having tunnel vision towards … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for June 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
3 Ways to Deal with Your Nemeses
Every once in a while, we bump into people, issues, or patterns that challenge us so greatly that we name them our nemeses. They could be your coworker Steve, your ex-husband’s new wife, or the back injury that flares up. We encounter them, and we feel the buttons getting pushed, the temper starting … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Deal with Your Nemeses
The Free Planners for May 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for May are now available on the Free Planners page. They say that April showers bring May flowers, but for our friends in the Midwest and on the East Coast of the US, those snow showers are doing nothing to help your perennials bloom. And while we have no control over what … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for May 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
What to Do When Life Shatters Your Plans
Everyone in the military knows the line, “No plan survives first contact,” and likely says it multiple times per week. It originates in knowing that your enemy often has different plans than you expect them to have, but you only discover the fact midway through implementing your plan. The insight, … [Read more...] about What to Do When Life Shatters Your Plans
Are You Asleep at the Wheel on Something That Matters?
Because life comes at us quickly and the habits of yesterday often guide what we do today, it’s easy to fall asleep at the wheel on the things that matter to us and make our lives better. (Tweet this.) We fall into a routine and somehow overlook or miss the small things that enrich our … [Read more...] about Are You Asleep at the Wheel on Something That Matters?
Why Today Is the Perfect Day to Start Something New
Whenever we’re thinking about the day to start something new, we often let the calendar guide our decision about when to get going. “Next week” or “next month” is always when the diet, exercise, budgeting, or creative exploration makes sense to start. And it’s not just the next week or month — … [Read more...] about Why Today Is the Perfect Day to Start Something New
The Free Planners for April 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for April are now available on the Free Planners page. Spring has officially sprung, which comes as much of a surprise to you as it does to me. And it’s time to step into to Quarter 2 – are you ready? Even in our personal lives, April is a month of cleansing. Sweeping behind … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for April 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The Free Planners for March 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for March are now available on the Free Planners page. Time waits for no one. Yep, March is already upon us, which seems sudden especially considering how long January felt (or was that just me?). So let’s recap; where are you with your projects? Do you have good, consistent … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for March 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The Free Planners for February 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for February are now available on the Free Planners page. Groundhog Day is February 2nd, and it’s hard to not think about the Bill Murray film of the same name and, thus, relate to the feeling of being in the same constant loop over and over and over. We eat, we sleep, and we … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for February 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
What to Do When Your Calling Isn’t Calling You
While I love the idea of having a life guided by knowing what we want to be when we grow up, I find that, in practice, it keeps us from getting busy living the life that’s right in front of us. A reader wrote in on this theme, and I thought I’d share what I wrote to her about it. Here’s what she … [Read more...] about What to Do When Your Calling Isn’t Calling You
How to Be Brave and Send Email You Don’t Want To
The majority of email messages that you get can either be easily processed or really aren't worth your attention anyway. This is one of the fundamental principles of Email Triage, and it’s true whether it's our system or any other that you find or create. This principle is obvious upon … [Read more...] about How to Be Brave and Send Email You Don’t Want To
The Free Planners for January 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for January are now available on the Free Planners page. This time of year is great for stepping back and evaluating priorities: the desire to start or grow your business, recommit to your meditation practice, finally ship your Thing, or learn a new language. Our newest free … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for January 2018 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
There’s a New Book on the Way!
Yes, a new book! The working title is Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done. It’s a step-by-step approach to help creative workers turn their ideas into projects, weave multiple projects into their schedule, and start finishing the things that matter most, even as their lives and to-do lists … [Read more...] about There’s a New Book on the Way!
The Free Planners for December 2017 Are Available from Productive Flourishing
The free planners for December are now available on the Free Planners page. Here’s something to consider: what still needs to get done before the end of the year? An even better question to ask: what still needs to get done that you can realistically complete in the first two weeks of December? … [Read more...] about The Free Planners for December 2017 Are Available from Productive Flourishing