Fewer Things Better

We'd love to hear from you! Have you ever thought about how small gestures can have a profound impact on someone's life? What about in the sense of gift giving? You can give impactful and meaningful gifts without a hefty price tag. In this episode, we venture into the world of giving from your head and heart and not your wallet. From the gift of time to borrowing brain power, find ways yo...

We'd love to hear from you! Did you know that physical touch is as important to our survival as food and water? A simple hug could equate to a mental and physical boost, helping to reduce stress, lower heart rates, and even boost the immune system. This episode unwraps the mystery of touch, diving into the fascinating science behind it, and revealing why it's one of the best kept secrets...

We'd love to hear from you! During this season of giving, the gift of words can be one of the best things we offer (and receive). This episode encourages us to find a few moments to share a few words with a few people. It also shares insights from the book Die Empty   by Todd Henry and the TEDx talk " Eulogies for the Living " by Andrea Driessen.  

We'd love to hear from you! Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by the plethora of choices life presents? Or hitting the pause button on decisions, creating a pattern of avoidance that seems hard to escape? Indecision can be a formidable adversary, this is especially true when we allow procrastination or distractions to become a silent saboteur. This episode explores the costs of persistent...

We'd love to hear from you! Life and productivity, similar to seasons, unfolds in distinct phases-some filled with a vibrancy of Spring, or warmth of Summer, while others are more like the reflection of Autumn or stillness of Winter. Join in as we navigate the science behind productivity cycles and time management; sharing practical insights and strategies to harness the power of both peak per...

We'd love to hear from you! This episode explores the intricate web of overthinking and the mental and physical impact of spending tangible energy on what is not within our tangible control. We examine the different elements that can heighten or calm our minds and some strategies to free yourself from the overthinking and overdoing cycle. 

We'd love to hear from you! There is a saying that feedback is a gift. And while that may be true in some cases, this episode explores why not every gift needs to be accepted and how to gracefully receive or return what is being offered. Your brain plays a role in how to filter if the feedback is positive, negative, or neutral. A few framing techniques can help you be intentional when deciding...

We'd love to hear from you! In the field of productivity, there are many, many tools and techniques, but the most powerful element is efficiency.  This episode focuses on the few minutes we often do have to spare and how to make the most of them with a very specific and easy-to-try tool, plus a link below to my favorite productivity timer that often helps me get out of my own thinking and on t...

We'd love to hear from you! This episode focuses on the concept of active listening and gives examples of the communication practice called 'mirroring.' Learn four questions that can help conversations go deeper than the quick answers and a simple, but effective technique to prompt others to share beyond the basics. 

We'd love to hear from you! Our brain doesn’t always welcome comfort. After all, its job is to keep you safe.  But safe isn’t a long-term strategy and discomfort isn’t the same as danger. In fact, it’s often the price of admission for the path to progress. This episode looks at the psychology and physiology of change and a few tips to help you navigate the novelty of new. 

We'd love to hear from you! We all want to do more in our days, and we want what we do to be good (really good). This friction between productivity and the pursuit of perfection puts a mental toll on our already overloaded brains. This episode offers an excerpt from the previous episode #55 on the gift of good enough, and how giving it to yourself can help free up some of that cognitive clutte...

We'd love to hear from you! When we talk about money, our brain lights up.  Money means more than math when our sense of value is tied to the outcome. This episode offers two prompts to help assess how we invest our time and energy when it comes to financial elements. There are many situations where money won’t be in our control, but our value always should be. A little discomfort on your own...

We'd love to hear from you! Borrowing an example from aerospace, this episode looks at the distance between where we are and some place higher. The Karman Line is known as the 62 miles (100 kilometers) between Earth and the start of outer space. Even with the best team and plans, it requires many miles to get beyond what was once thought possible.  What are you willing to do 62 times in pursui...

We'd love to hear from you! This episode explores how being spontaneous can refresh our routines and inspire new ideas and insights. This conversation highlights the neuroscience behind the impulse to act or think without extensive planning, how it's different than procrastination, and some benefits to a little less planning. 

We'd love to hear from you! As a good person in the world, you do a lot for others. It’s part of who you are and part of how the world works. Reciprocity is one of the basic principles of social psychology. This episode explores the opportunities for us to redeem the "store credit" that might be tucked away or that we are hesitant to claim. Whether it's accepting a compliment, a...

We'd love to hear from you! The average adult spends around 16 to 18 hours awake each day. There are two important areas of your day that have the potential to boost both your energy and your focus. This episode explores the importance of the ‘brain bookends’ of your day: the first and last hour of when you’re awake. A few intentional efforts during each bookend can have direct, lasting impact...

We'd love to hear from you! This episode looks at 'micro' productivity and how the best predictor of your personal productivity is the pace and energy of those who are around you the most.  In bicycle racing, the word “peloton” describes when cyclists intentionally ride close to or behind one another to save and extend their energy. This conversation offers two ideas on how to borrow...

We'd love to hear from you! Our brain has a powerful processing center to keep information and memories only as long as needed. The lasting effect of the emotional, physical, and cognitive benefits from the act of making memories has important benefits over what can be purchased, stored, or consumed. This episode examines the positive power of time spent making memories and how to make space f...

We'd love to hear from you! Time multiplies whatever you feed it. And while it’s fun to have fun, it can be a slippery slope on the way to a mental slump.  Mental and physical effort, no matter how small, send important signals that can kickstart energy. This episode offers three ways to give your brain battery a boost. 

We'd love to hear from you! It's great to have a plan, but sometimes trying to have a plan stops us from actually taking action. This episode is about leaving room for the unscripted - the times when thinking slows down the doing. There are certainly times when extra care is needed but check what’s behind the desire to hit pause. Sometimes the best way to stop the spinning is to find one...

We'd love to hear from you! There are many tips on how to be a better communicator (including lots of our episodes!), but one of the most overlooked elements of a powerful conversation is active listening. In our busy days, our exchanges can feel more like conversational ping pong. This episode offers simple tips on how to focus your listening and, hopefully, deepen your everyday connections. 

We'd love to hear from you! It feels to do good. And we want to be good people, but helping is an investment. This episode explores some of the conscious and unconscious elements behind the decision to help, or not. We dig into how the decision process in the brain and outline eight questions to ask in situations where you are resisting lending a hand or where your hand is being lent a little...

We'd love to hear from you! We’re so used to being digitally on demand that any time away from tech seems to require a pre-notification. Silently slipping offline seems a little strange. For this reason, this episode offers an extended excerpt from Episode 21 that outlines the case for space from your tech and highlights research on the tangible physical and mental benefits to being offline. 

We'd love to hear from you! Change is always a part of life. It’s how we grow and evolve. But sudden change is a shock to the system. Whether something has happened to you or happened around you, big changes require big adjustments. Your body feels it first while the brain is still processing the details. Learn more about what happens during sudden change and two energy efforts that can help. 

We'd love to hear from you! “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality,” said ancient philosopher Seneca. As we contemplate the challenges before us, one way to help our brain not to sink into overthinking is to start with simplicity.  Occam’s razor is a principle that suggests the simplest explanation or solution is often the best one. This episode explores the philosophy and highli...