The Productive Woman

Dr. Brené Brown's books offer ideas and principles that can help us in making a life that matters.

It’s hard to make a life that matters when we’re spending our time reacting to what other people want instead of proactively pursuing the goals and objectives that are most important to us.

We can all learn some lessons on self-direction from graduate student and TPW listener Maria Bengtson, who shares how she keeps herself on track to finish her dissertation while still living her life.

Taking a look at physical & mental clutter--how it affects us, and some thoughts on conquering it.

When life is filled with obligations that leave us feeling overwhelmed, do we have a choice? Can we make a change?

Professor Beatriz Martín-Pérez shares how she's navigated the challenges of caring for loved ones while pursuing professional success.

Self-care is not time off from productivity; it's an essential element of a productive life. How can we make time for self-care in an already full life--and why should we?

Is it too soon to start celebrating the holidays? Probably. But not too soon for a few steps that can help us prepare for the best holiday season ever.

Nutrition coach and former advertising professional Michelle Pfennighaus shares thoughts about how ruthless prioritization (and banana peel tea) help her manage a busy life.

The back-to-school season (or any change in seasons, for that matter) is a great time to re-evaluate our daily and weekly routines to make sure they're serving us.

Some thoughts on what it means to raise productive kids, and how to do it.

Sephra Scheuber is working out a system that allows her to be productive as a musician, a teacher, and a student, while making her faith and her relationships a priority.

Some thoughts about making it work when you work from home.

Getting back into your regular routine after a vacation without sacrificing the relaxation you gained can be a challenge. Here are some thoughts on how (and why) to do it.

When you have a full-time job and a family, how do you make time for what matters to you personally? Sonia Harris shares how she's doing it.

When we're not making progress on a goal we've set for ourselves, is letting go ever the right choice?

A regular weekly review helps us stay on top of our commitments. So why don't we do it? In response to a listener question, we look at how (and why) to make the weekly review a part of managing our busy lives.

Mandy Hanson's approach to productivity offers ideas even for those of us who don't live with chronic pain like she does.

The year's midpoint is a good time to pause and review whether you're headed in the direction you want to go.

Continuing our occasional series on books that have influenced my thinking about what it means to live a productive life, this episode features some of the highlights from Charles Duhigg's fascinating book about habits.

Sales professional and single mom Shelly Clayton shares her approach to creating productive days and making a life that matters.

How well does your to-do list work for you? This episode features 10 tips for making the most of whatever tool you use to manage your tasks.

How do the words we say (and think) affect our ability to accomplish the things we care about?

How can you manage a life that involves multiple roles and a variety of interests? College professor, business owner, & single mom Jennifer Fleury shares how she's doing it.

We’ve talked about the value of planning ahead to keep life moving smoothly, but what about when you can’t? What do you do when your life is in transition, you can’t plan ahead, and your routines get thrown out of whack?