Mike Vardy

The word UNCERTAIN written on a strip of paper, with the UN separated.

The Things We’re Certain About

Most of us are certain the Twelve Days of Christmas lead up to Christmas Day. They don’t. They begin on Christmas and unfold afterward—a small but revealing example of how easily assumptions take root simply because they feel right. We carry these quiet certainties everywhere, especially into our work and our relationship with time. The problem isn’t getting things wrong. It’s never stopping to look again.

White painted wooden 6 and 7 numbers on a brown wood plank background, symbolizing even and odd numbers.

The Quiet Power of Parity Theming

Parity Theming is a simple yet powerful way to create a natural rhythm in your schedule by assigning different intentions to even and odd days, weeks, or months. Here’s how it works—and why it might be the missing layer in your productivity practice.

What You, Me, and Everyone Should Be Doing

Journaling is the most underrated productivity practice there is—and it only takes a few minutes. Here’s why it matters, why the excuses don’t hold up, and how a simple daily reflection can steady your day.

Open (a poem)

A short poem about openness, distraction, and the quiet work of showing up for the world — and yourself — more fully.

t is an abstract cosmic hourglass made of swirling blue, teal, and gold nebula-like patterns, symbolizing the flow of time and energy in a fluid, space-inspired scene.

AI, Time, and the Practice of Nuance

A reflection on how my evolving relationship with AI mirrors my lifelong work with time—where convenience meets responsibility, where fear meets curiosity, and where nuance becomes the only path worth taking.

How My Thinking on “Finishing” Has Changed

Finishing used to feel like a test of will. Now I see it as the natural result of a sustainable rhythm. Here’s how my thinking has shifted since 2017 — from fear to flexibility, from touchstones to tools, and from pushing through the end to crafting a way forward that lasts.

Lost Weekend, Found Weekend

A “lost weekend” promises presence through escape — but at the cost of agency. Here’s why I’m choosing the idea of a found weekend instead: immersive, intentional, and anchored in awareness rather than absence.

Burdened with Glorious Purpose

Loki’s famous line — “burdened with glorious purpose” — reveals something deeply human. In this reflection, I revisit a short video I made years ago about the weight we carry, the meaning we seek, and why responsibility and purpose are more intertwined than we think.