The Productive Woman

When it comes to staying focused and productive in a multi-faceted life, a support system can make all the difference. Author & life coach Tasha Scott and I talked about how she makes it work.

Nobody's born organized. It's a skill, and we can learn it. Continuing on our "Mindset Matters" theme, this week we look at that and other skills we can learn to be more productive.

Our habits can have either productive or unproductive results. In this episode we look at how habits are formed, and how we can mold them to get the results we want.

New Zealand graphic designer and yoga teacher Alissa Smith shares her approach to balancing a life of diverse interests and commitments and being present in whatever you're doing.

What we believe can make us more productive, or less so. What do you believe about yourself, about your abilities and options, about your circumstances? Do your beliefs about these things help you be more productive?

Time thieves steal time we could otherwise spend on what really matters to us. What are time thieves, and how can we defend ourselves against them?

Organization expert Rashelle Isip joins me to talk about ways we can take control of our schedules and our space, making room for the things that matter most.

When the demands of a busy life start to "stress you out," how do you handle it? It's important to have a strategy in place when stressful situations arise. Recently when I began to feel overwhelmed by the stress of multiple demands at work, I implemented my Emergency Stress Protocol. I thought I'd share it with you, in case it helps.

Productivity isn't only about using the right tools and techniques; it's also about having the right mindset. Our attitudes can make all the difference in our productivity.

How do you manage competing priorities of a business and a family you love? Jessica Rhodes, founder and CEO of Interview Connections, shares her thoughts on being a business owner and a mom of two littles, and the role that compromise plays in having it all.

In response to recent questions, I thought it was a good time to give an update on some of the productivity tools that help me get the right things done. I'd love to hear about the tools that help you stay productive.

Most of us save certain items with sentimental value, things that trigger special memories for us. For some of us (not naming names), everything has sentimental value, and the mementos can turn to clutter. What if we need to downsize the number of mementos we've saved? How can we better manage our mementos?

Many aspects of our personality can affect what productivity approaches and tools work for us, and what challenges we face in making a productive life. In this episode we look at some of the unique productivity challenges and strengths of introverts and extroverts.

I recently sat down for a conversation about productivity, self-care, and attitudes about money with money coach Jennifer Hemphill. I did it for the TPW listeners, but I ended up taking notes for myself.

Waiting. It’s something that we all have to do--often reluctantly--at times, but so often, we CHOOSE to wait. We tell ourselves that we can’t take action or move forward. Let’s talk about why we need to STOP WAITING and start making progress toward the goals that matter most to us!

Have you tried using a Bullet Journal? You know I love my digital task manager, but I've been trying something new--and I like it!

It was an honor (and a lot of fun) to celebrate the 100th episode of The Productive Woman with Natalie Eckdahl, founder of Biz Chix, a supportive online community for women entrepreneurs. But Natalie wasn't my guest. Instead, I let Natalie turn the tables on me!

Measuring our worth by our accomplishments, or by other people's opinions of us, leads to insecurity and exhaustion. Not exactly a recipe for a meaningfully productive life. Author Mary DeMuth has some wise advice for counteracting those tendencies and finding contentment.

You don't have to completely overhaul your life to make progress toward your goals. Small changes can reap big rewards in making a meaningfully productive life.

Celebrate The Productive Woman's 2-year anniversary with me by looking back at some of the wise insights I’ve gleaned from conversations with the amazing productive women who've joined me on the show.

Law professor, wife, and mom Eboni Nelson encourages us to look to ourselves to create our own happiness and success, without apology and without guilt.

We've reached the middle point of the year, so it's time for a mid-year review. How are you progressing on the goals you set for yourself in January? I'm sharing the process I use to figure out how I'm doing and make sure I stay on track for a productive year.

What would you do if you didn’t feel held back by how you perceive your body? Body image coach Melissa Toler has some suggestions on how we can set aside body image worries and live the life we dream of.

What does it mean to live a balanced life? Is it even possible in the 21st century? In this episode we looked at these questions and considered some steps we can take to figure out what balance is right for us, and how to create it.

Getting tasty and nutritious meals on the table as part of a busy schedule can be a challenge. When listeners asked for help with this ongoing task, I reached out to our Productive Woman community for ideas on how to streamline the process. And the community came through with some great tips and suggestions!

Podcast pro and entrepreneur Elsie Escobar is a passionate advocate for women finding their own voice and their own way--even when it comes to productivity. She shared some of her tips for managing a busy life, and a lot of encouragement, during our conversation for this episode.

A look at a few of the tools, routines, and motivators that have been helping me stay productive these days.

When you're sick but need to be productive anyway, what do you do? This episode features some suggestions based on recent experience.

A chat with marketing pro, wife, and mom Deedra Determan about keeping priorities front and center.

When life is crazy busy it's easy to lose focus. Taking time to ask yourself some key questions can help keep life on track.

When we feel like we're not being as productive as we need to be, it’s tempting to think switching tools and or changing our system will make all the difference. But will a change in our productivity tools or systems always improve our productivity?

Writer and marketing professional Maia Olson of Smile Software shares time-saving tips and the productivity tools that help her balance personal and professional commitments.

Our emotions can affect our productivity, for good or bad. When you're in a "funk," what can you do to address it and get back to getting things done?

Clutter, it seems, is a universal problem in 21st-century society. How can decluttering create space in our lives and minds for better things? Join me for a conversation with Julie Sheranosher of Israel and Priscille Livenais of France about decluttering. Also--a free printable to guide you through your own decluttering process!

Women's wellness expert Bridgit Danner shares her tips for developing the habits that will keep us strong, healthy, and productive. (And don't miss the link for information about her upcoming free online women's wellness summit!)

If I had only 30 minutes to share the most important productivity tips I know, these 5 principles are what I would share--the principles and strategies that help me become and stay productive, and some of the tools I use for each.

I think you'll enjoy my conversation with wife, mom, editor, and podcaster Emily Prokop, who shares how attention deficit (ADHD) affects her as an adult, and the tools and techniques she uses to stay on task and accomplish the things that matter to her.

One key to accomplishing the things that matter most to us is the ability to give our focused attention to our most important tasks. Sometimes that's easier said than done.

Returning to a full-time job after maternity leave isn’t like going back to work after a vacation. Being both a new mom and a busy professional takes a lot of planning and, ideally, support both at home and at work.

We all have those times in our life when we feel like we just can’t get ahead. Even when it's the result of a legitimate life crisis, it’s still easy to beat ourselves up for not accomplishing all we want to do. Sometimes, circumstances are such that we simply need to go into "survival mode" — doing the bare minimum it takes to get through the days with some semblance of peace until this season in our lives passes.

Creative entrepreneur, author, and business coach Jennifer Lee shares her approach to managing a multi-faceted life, maintaining both productivity and joy.

Stress seems to be an unavoidable part of 21st-century life, and it has consequences--negative effects on our body, mind, emotions, and relationships. In this episode we look at some steps we can take to cope with, and even minimize, stress.

Often the hardest part of any task is just getting started. There are things we can do, though, to make it easier to get past that hurdle and start gaining momentum toward accomplishing the things that matter most.

Planning and preparing healthy meals can be a challenge for busy women. Chef and registered dietician Allison Schaaf offers some great thoughts on managing a busy life and getting nutritious meals on the table--and she's offering a special deal for listeners for a service that can help.

Lack of confidence in our skills and knowledge can discourage us from pursuing our goals. Where can we learn what we need to know to move forward confidently toward achieving our dreams?

Are you happy with the life you're living? Is it the life you've intentionally chosen and built for yourself, or are you following a path you just fell into--or one chosen for you by other influences? What keeps us from living our own lives? As we kick off the new year, maybe it's a good time to think about the big picture.

Taking time in the last few weeks of the year to assess (and celebrate!) the present year and set a direction for the coming year can help you get 2016 off to the best possible start. Let's talk about my process for a year-end review that lays the foundation for the coming year.

You may remember Julie Sheranosher as one of the co-hosts on a previous episode of The Productive Woman, the international conversation about "Productivity Your Way." This time, Julie and I talk one-on-one about her strategies for managing time and energy to create a productive life.

It's not unusual to face obstacles in the pursuit of our dreams or goals. But how many of those obstacles do we create ourselves? In this episode, I examine some of the lies we tell ourselves and offer some suggestions for counteracting the lies to help you accomplish your goals, no matter how big or difficult they may be.

When you're seeking success in a demanding profession, can you still make family and personal time a priority? Attorney Demetra Liggins says yes, but it doesn't come easily. She shared some tips and tools that help her manage it all.