What your life has revealed
Here is a simple set of questions to help explore your values. Looking back on your life: When were you happiest? When were you proudest? When were you most fulfilled?…
The Other Side of Fear
The things we fear in business and life are usually illusory. "Fear, uncertainty and discomfort are your compasses toward growth." – Celestine Chua (Image: source unknown.) The fear is real,…
I’m at home all day, so why is it so hard to meditate?
You’d think being forced to stay home is the ideal time to develop a deep, consistent mindfulness practice. It’s good for well-being, and it’s good for focus at work, with…
Do bad work first so you can do great work
If you know what you want to do, but you feel stuck and are not getting started, this post is for you. Perfectionism is the action killer. Do something badly…
Escaping unplanned Netflix binges
What regrets will you have on your deathbed? It almost certainly won't be "I wish I'd caught the last two seasons of Brooklyn 99!" If you have goals that don't…
A message to you, the reader
I hadn't heard back from a client in several weeks, so I sent another message. When they responded a short while later, they let me know that my messages had…
A little bit of clarity
I have spent much of my life with a sense of having so much to do, so much that I want to do, but little sense of what to do next.…
Effective study methods
Here's a video I made a while back about learning, which is a passion for me. (Now, I'm more skilled in study technique than in making videos, so please excuse…
Procrastination is about emotions, not time
When we ask ourselves why we procrastinate, a couple of reasons come easily to mind: That we are lazy, and that we suck at time management. The first is actively…
The trap of doing more and the value of starting small
You develop a good habit of meditating for 3 minutes a day. Moving up to 5 minutes a day, you start to feel like there is a benefit from it.…
When fear of starting is a paper-thin wall
In the context of discussing procrastination and the pain of starting, a commenter writes: Fear is a wall 1000 miles wide and a mile high, but only tissue paper thin.…
I do it too (and it’s okay)
People sometimes ask me whether I got into anti-procrastination coaching because I'm a super-effective and productive person who could help other people be like me, or because I had problems…
Procrastination self-prescription (that works for me every time)
I have work to do, but constant low-grade pain from a shoulder strain is killing my concentration and will to work these last 24 hours. I've distracted myself with social…
Time flowing like a hundred yachts
These words always caught my attention: So Time, the wave, enfolds me in its bed, Or Time, the bony knife, it runs me through. I saw them frequently beginning in…
Before they ever met you
The person who treated you hurtfully, who judged you, who disappointed you... Their responses to you were set in motion long before they ever met you. This is not about…
Return to the desired behavior without judgment
Perfectly expressed: Getting organized (or establishing new habits) is like following your breath when learning to meditate. We are taught that, when you notice your mind wandering off and straying…
Want to make a real difference? Here are 3 ways.
A common theme for many of my clients is wanting to make a positive difference in the world, and being held back by a lack of focus or procrastination. So we're…
Investing time and energy for friendship
Many times in my life I've felt disconnected, lacking the friendships I desire. At a distance from old friends, geographically and emotionally. It hasn't been simply bad luck, or dastardly actions…
Spend energy to create energy
Spending energy creates energy. A short run and I'm more alert. A slightly harder run and (once I recover) I have energy for days. I take a push-up break from…
My routines are my strength
My routines are my strength. But they are not strong enough. My boundaries are my protection. But if they are poorly established and defended, they do not protect me. I…