Positively Living®: Shame-Free Productivity Conversations

Starting the New Year with Less Stress

Text your thoughts and questions!Are you already feeling the “New Year, New You” burnout before January is even over? The pressure to set massive resolutions, hit the ground running, and overhaul your entire life on January 1st is a recipe for overwhelm. If you’re feeling more like you need a nap than a marathon, you’re not alone, and you’re not failing. This week on episode 295 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I’m introducing you to a gentler, sustainable approach so you can start the new year with less stress.In this episode of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I’m ditching the concept of an arbitrary date on the calendar that dictates our fresh start and giving you actionable steps to take right now to reach your goals at a pace that actually respects your energy and capacity. I cover the following topics:Embrace the phrase, “start as you mean to go on,” or in other words, choose a starting speed that you can maintain. Take an intentional pause to reflect and move forward in the right direction. Conduct a self-assessment to understand your energy drains, capacity, and current needs.Consider broad intentions over rigid goals to support your overall well-being. Ready to build a year that actually fits your life? Download my free Productivity Toolkit at positivelyproductive.com/plpkit and follow along as we dive into these workbooks in the coming weeks!Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Positively LivingⓇ and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/Stop trying to fit into someone else’s productivity rules! Grab my free Productivity Toolkit, a collection of workbooks designed to help you explore how you work, uncover what truly matters to you, and create your very own energy-friendly systems. Get it here: www.positivelyproductive.com/plpkitCONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Resources Page.)Ep 291: How Slowing Down Makes You More ProductiveEp 293: Simple Filters to Help You Make DecisionsEp 239: How to Choose a Word of the YearDance Song Playlist V1, V2, V3Music by Ian and Jeff ZawrotnyStart your own podcast with Buzzsprout!

2025 Recap: My Favorite Productivity Tips for Real Life

Text your thoughts and questions!While every year asks so much of us, it seems 2025 has asked us to stretch and adapt more than usual. We’ve had to keep showing up even when things felt uncertain and just downright exhausting. That’s why throughout the year, I’ve encouraged you to rethink what productivity looks like. Because when life is happening in real time, adding more pressure to be productive is a fast track to burnout. As I reflect on the conversations we had on the podcast this year, what stands out most isn’t any single tip or tool; it’s that we talked about productivity in a way that honors real life. That’s why in episode 294 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I am recapping these conversations by sharing my favorite productivity tips for real life. Key takeaways:Your nervous system is part of your productivity system.Systems matter more than motivation or willpower. Doing less is often the most productive move. Shame is the biggest productivity block. Presence matters more than output.Small, supportive steps create real change.As you head into the new year, I want you to remember that you don’t need to do more to be successful; you need systems that honor who you are. You can find all of the supporting episodes in the 2025 Recap Episodes Playlist.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Positively LivingⓇ and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/Stop trying to fit into someone else’s productivity rules! Grab my free Productivity Toolkit, a collection of workbooks designed to help you explore how you work, uncover what truly matters to you, and create your very own energy-friendly systems. Get it here: www.positivelyproductive.com/plpkitCONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Resources Page.)2025 Recap Episodes PlaylistDance Song Playlist V1, V2, V3Music by Ian and Jeff ZawrotnyStart your own podcast with Buzzsprout!

Simple Filters to Help You Make Decisions

Text your thoughts and questions!One of the most common things I hear from clients and listeners isn’t “I don’t know what to do,” it’s “I can’t decide what to do.” We know what’s on our overwhelming task list, but prioritizing, selecting, and making sure we’re doing the right thing at the right time is exhausting. Decision fatigue is real and can lead to burnout faster than you realize. This week, on episode 293 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I’m sharing five simple filters to help you make decisions! In this episode of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I explain why decision fatigue is the silent battery drainer of your life and share five simple filters you can use to make decisions without burning yourself out. The five filters I cover in this episode include:Choosing a word of the year as your big-picture lens for assessing every decision. Using theme days and time blocks to create “buckets” for your tasks.Acknowledging the season of life you’re in and adjusting your expectations to match.Checking in on your physical, emotional, and mental bandwidth before making a commitment (matching your energy to the task).Living your values (values in action) and aligning what you do and when to reflect what truly matters. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you have to choose. By setting up these simple filters, you can stop spinning your wheels and start focusing on what truly matters. If you need help identifying your values or understanding your energy, head to positivelyproductive.com/PLPKit and grab your FREE Productivity Toolkit.Learn more about Positively LivingⓇ and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/Stop trying to fit into someone else’s productivity rules! Grab my free Productivity Toolkit, a collection of workbooks designed to help you explore how you work, uncover what truly matters to you, and create your very own energy-friendly systems. Get it here: www.positivelyproductive.com/plpkitCONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Resources Page.)Ep 136: Reflections Instead of ResolutionsEp 239: How to Choose a Word of the YearEp 245: Themes: The Simple Time Management Trick You NeedEp 124: [Strategy Call] Using School Themes to Time Block with Lauren YeeEp 125: [Strategy Call] Follow Up to School Style Time Blocking with Lauren YeeEp 291: How Slowing Down Makes You More ProductiveEp 279: Why You Must Support Your Nervous System

Finish Your Year Burnout Free

Text your thoughts and questions!The end of the year brings a very unique kind of pressure. We’re closing out projects, preparing for new ones, finalizing finances, coordinating schedules, attending events, and trying to wrap up the year in ways that feel meaningful and productive. And all of that’s on top of our already busy schedules and the added layer of the holidays. As if that isn’t already a recipe for burnout, for those in the northern hemisphere, this happens in a season when our energy naturally dips. So how do we survive (and hopefully thrive) during this time of year? This week, episode 292 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about finishing your year burnout-free!In this episode of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I cut through the “hustle culture” myth and teach you how to honor your seasonal energy by slowing down and speeding up strategically to ensure you finish the year feeling grounded, not drained. I cover the following topics:The productivity paradox: working longer hours quickly leads to burnout, not increased results. Strategic and seasonal approaches to slow down, without stopping, and honor your capacity.A two-part strategy to finish the year burnout-free: reducing capacity and applying intentional sprinting for essential tasks. Remember: your worth is not measured by the number of commitments you complete before December 31st. Don't collapse at the finish line. Instead, choose a grounded, gentle finish that allows you to start the new year rested and ready.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Positively LivingⓇ and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/Stop trying to fit into someone else’s productivity rules! Grab my free Productivity Toolkit, a collection of workbooks designed to help you explore how you work, uncover what truly matters to you, and create your very own energy-friendly systems. Get it here: www.positivelyproductive.com/plpkitCONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Resources Page.)Ep 291: How Slowing Down Makes You More ProductiveEp 290: End Overwhelm Through Intentional Scheduling with Naomi Lerman (Strategy Call)Ep 236: Make Your Holiday Season Less Stressful with the 80/20 PrincipleDance Song Playlist V1, V2, V3Music by Ian and Jeff ZawrotnyStart your own podcast with

How Slowing Down Makes You More Productive

Text your thoughts and questions!Are you constantly working faster, yet still feeling behind and burned out? Many of us get trapped in this unsustainable hustle culture cycle because we assume that productivity means doing more, faster. But what if the secret to achieving sustainable results and regaining clarity isn't to hit the gas, but to tap the brakes? This week, episode 291 of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast is about how slowing down makes you more productive!In this episode of the Positively LivingⓇ Podcast, I’m sharing how strategically slowing down can dramatically increase your focus, reduce mistakes, and prevent overwhelm. I highlight two powerful forms of slowing down so you can work smarter, not harder. I cover the following topics:How slowing your pace can actually make you go faster, make fewer mistakes, and produce better quality output. Simple and effective ways to embrace the power of the pause in an otherwise nonstop world. How you can slow down by reducing demands using the generator principle.Why the two sides of slowing down work together to create productivity magic. Regardless of the path you decide, slowing down means choosing a sustainable, grounded, and deeply effective productivity approach that prioritizes your needs while still helping you get where you want to go.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Positively LivingⓇ and Lisa at https://positivelyproductive.com/podcast/Stop trying to fit into someone else’s productivity rules! Grab my free Productivity Toolkit, a collection of workbooks designed to help you explore how you work, uncover what truly matters to you, and create your very own energy-friendly systems. Get it here: www.positivelyproductive.com/plpkitCONNECT WITH LISA ZAWROTNY:FacebookInstagramResourcesWork with Lisa! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:(Find links to books/gear on the Positively Productive Resources Page.)Ep 274: Manage Your Time Better with Proper TransitionsEp 284: How to Protect Your Peace This Holiday SeasonDance Song Playlist V1, V2, V3Music by Ian and Jeff ZawrotnyStart your own podcast with Buzzsprout!