Positively Living®: Shame-Free Productivity Conversations

Text your thoughts and questions! Too often, we go through our days reacting to things that come up, putting out fires, and running on the hamster wheel without knowing how we even got there or how to stop. While this is a well-meaning approach to get by, the result isn’t productivity; it's guilt and stress. There is a different, more effective approach where you work in a way that is best fo...

Text your thoughts and questions! While there are many systems for decluttering and experts advising you on how to approach clutter, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The key to finding the approach that is best for you is creating your own framework, which is one of the things I help clients do as a coach. I use a 6-step system with the acronym SIMPLE to help declutter your space and do so...

Text your thoughts and questions! If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a packed calendar and even more overwhelmed by trying to add more things to that calendar, incorporating themes into your schedule might just be the solution you need. Themes–though most known for novels and fun parties–play an important part in how we naturally categorize our lives. By assigning overarching themes to your schedu...

Text your thoughts and questions! We've talked about physical and mental clutter many times on the podcast, but digital clutter is in its own category. It’s one of the more insidious types of clutter because you can't see or feel it. It hides really well and is one of the easiest to collect and forget about. This week, episode 244 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about how to clear o...

Text your thoughts and questions! Whether you have a large, private space or a shared section of a room for a home office or workspace, it’s important to acknowledge how your surroundings impact your productivity. Even the smallest design changes can help you focus and foster creativity. This week, episode 243 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about how your home office can make you more produc...

Text your thoughts and questions! While I’m thrilled to coach you every episode (and will continue to do so), it’s also my goal to equip you with the resources to coach yourself for maximum growth and achievement. Today. I’m doing this through a series of simple yet powerful questions in an unexpected order. This week, episode 242 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about a reverse approach to be...

Text your thoughts and questions! When you think of productivity, your mind might immediately jump to hustle and grind culture…unless you follow me, of course! But today, I am introducing you to the concept of being cozy AND productive. It may seem like an odd juxtaposition, but it works. And when you stop to think about it and learn the science behind it, it makes sense. This week, episode 241 of...

Text your thoughts and questions! With another year coming to a close, you may be feeling ready for a “fresh” start. But before we leave this year behind us, I highly encourage reflection, celebration, and preparation during this time so you can step into the calendar year confidently. This week, episode 240 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about the four things you need to do before the year...

Text your thoughts and questions! Compassionate, sustainable productivity comes from small steps compounded by way of building habits that work best for us. When it comes to my fellow multi-passionate creatives, caregivers, and neurodiverse clients, it’s essential that we create paths that have authenticity and flexibility built into them. A word of the year does just that. And at a time when we a...

Text your thoughts and questions! Having a coach is like having a second brain that gives you a different perspective when making decisions to improve your life. This is the reason coaches hire other coaches and why coaching yourself–either in place of hiring a coach or as a supplement in between your coaching sessions–has incredible benefits. Lisa Kneller, a certified insight coach, joins me toda...

Text your thoughts and questions! Life is stressful. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either selling something or living on an island somewhere. But just because a stressful life is the reality for many of us, doesn’t mean that life’s not good too. It can absolutely be both. Identifying the good part is a key element of practicing gratitude. This week, episode 237 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcas...

Text your thoughts and questions! There is so much to appreciate about the holiday season, including time with those you love and experiences that connect you more deeply with others and yourself. It’s a time when you can take a break, enjoy treats, and think about what’s most important. But often, this doesn’t come without its fair share of stressors. To combat those stressors, I give you the 80/...

Text your thoughts and questions! As a recovering people pleaser and a multi-passionate creative, I actually love saying YES to people and opportunities. But I’ve also learned what will happen if I’m not careful, intentional, and selective in the things I say yes to. This week, episode 235 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about when you must say no for a less stressful life! In this episode of...

Text your thoughts and questions! Invisible stressors are stressors in our lives that aren’t necessarily obvious but can build up over time and take us down. As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, volunteer, and solo parent and caregiver of a special needs child, Janis Isaman found herself experiencing an anxiety episode when her invisible stressors built up, leaving her feeling overwhelmed, burnt ou...

Text your thoughts and questions! According to Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies, I am a questioner by nature. In addition to constantly asking why, I also love answering questions too. I appreciate the challenge and the encouragement to reflect, which is probably why I love coaching. That’s why when I received a couple of related questions surrounding the topic of overwhelm, I wanted to take the t...

Text your thoughts and questions! Whether you’re working for someone else or yourself, personal time is essential for maintaining mental and physical well-being, preventing burnout, and boosting your productivity and performance. It’s something we know we need to prioritize, but it can feel so challenging to make the time for it. This week, episode 232 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about ho...

Text your thoughts and questions! Do you struggle to take action because something has to be “just right,” or do you beat yourself up for everything you’ve done wrong (without noticing all you've done right)? Maybe you feel like you’re just not enough because you can’t reach the level of achievement or quality you want. If so, you may be labeled a “perfectionist.” Steph Ellen Diplock, a recov...

Text your thoughts and questions! Productivity is often viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution, but that is far from the truth. There could be a hundred different factors that impact your productivity, one of which is the topic we’re addressing today: trauma. Becoming trauma-informed not only helps us when it comes to our personal development and productivity but is crucial for understanding ourse...

Text your thoughts and questions! While our ability to be flexible and resilient and change direction is important, planning first is essential. It’s a way to arrange how things will go ideally, and even if they don’t go that way, it will still help you keep focused and remain calm so you can be more flexible and resilient. This approach will be helpful as we enter the busy holiday season full of...

Text your thoughts and questions! While I don’t presume to know what your life is all about, I bet I can guess one thing about you: you handle a LOT. Whether you’re handling the mental load of caregiving or your mind is overflowing with ideas (or both), it can be overwhelming. It can feel amazing at times, all the while draining you and keeping you from functioning at your best. Luckily, the solut...

Text your thoughts and questions! Positive habits are the cornerstone of a productive and fulfilling life, but mastering them can be a challenge. Today I am continuing our conversation about habits with more advanced strategies to help you maximize your productivity, reach your goals, and unlock the secret to sustainable, long-lasting change in your life. This week, episode 227 of the Positively L...

Text your thoughts and questions! People are so quick to strive for work-life balance, but there’s a reason we struggle to achieve that balance. Nicole Mixdorf joins me on the podcast today to challenge this narrative, sharing the true nature of a balanced life and how it’s not just a balance between work and personal life we should be focusing on, but rather a wholeness in every area of our life....

Text your thoughts and questions! Habits can be both our greatest allies and our toughest adversaries. When we’ve painstakingly built up a routine that serves us well, it can be frustrating when life throws us a curveball, disrupting our hard-earned habits that we mistakenly thought were set in stone. But these disruptions don’t have to be the end of our progress. In fact, they can be an opportuni...

Text your thoughts and questions! As the saying goes, “The only constant in life is change.” The extent of that change and how it unfolds can vary, sometimes feeling fairly minor and other times throwing us completely off balance, shaking the foundation of who we believe ourselves to be. When change happens, you may feel unsure of how to move forward. I have experienced this many times, and I’ve c...

Text your thoughts and questions! It is problematic that we tend to look at being productive as a standalone thing, without considering the other aspects of our lives. The reality is that life doesn’t happen in a vacuum and even the small things can have an impact. Everything we are and feel, especially grief, affects what we do and how we do it. This week, episode 223 of the Positively LivingⓇ Po...