time management Archives

A minimalist black square with bold white serif text in the center that reads: "Know when to open yourself up. Know when to shut the hell up." The quote is evenly spaced and aligned, creating a stark contrast for visual impact.

The Art of Opening Up and Shutting the Hell Up

One of the most underrated life skills isn’t just knowing when to speak—it’s knowing when not to. This is about discernment, not dominance. Presence, not performance.

Scrabble pieces strewn about a table with the tiles for YIELD spelled out on the ledge for the player to play next.

How to Retreat Without Escaping: The Power of a Strategic Pause

One of the most underrated life skills isn’t just knowing when to speak—it’s knowing when not to. This is about discernment, not dominance. Presence, not performance.

Mike Vardy holding a vintage night owl-themed pocket watch in his hand, symbolizing time as something to honor, not own.

Your Time is Not Thine: Rethinking “Know Thy Time”

Peter Drucker said, “Know thy time.” But what if time isn’t yours to know or control? In this piece, I explore why time isn’t something you own—but something you live with. Not a possession, but a partner.

A masked professional wrestler stands triumphantly on the top turnbuckle, raising his fist in the air under arena lights as a referee holds his leg for balance, with a cheering crowd in the background.

How to Maximize Your Minutes

Jim Ross once said, “maximize your minutes” — and that’s exactly what this post is about. Blending wrestling wisdom with real-life productivity, we explore how to seize opportunities, show up when it counts, and make your time count for something deeper.

Podcast artwork with Austin Kleon as the guest on A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy

Episode 598: Austin Kleon Talks About Routine, Creativity, and Paying Attention

Austin Kleon returns to talk about his routines, paying attention, and how creative work happens in the space between structure and spontaneity.

Wooden blocks with the word MYTHS changing to the word FACTS with the term Daily Theming above them.

The 3 Biggest Myths About Daily Theming (and Why It Actually Works)

Many people assume Daily Theming is too rigid or restrictive—but in reality, it’s a flexible way to design your days with clarity and flow. In this post, I’ll break down the three biggest misconceptions about Daily Theming and how you can use it to create focus without burnout.

Episode 590: Courtney Carver Talks About Gentle Living and Project 333

Courtney Carver returns to A Productive Conversation to discuss her new book Gentle and how Project 333 goes beyond simplifying your closet—it simplifies your life.

My Annual Axiom for 2025 is…

In 2025, I’ve embraced a powerful Annual Axiom: Redesign, Rebuild, Reclaim. Inspired by Seth Rollins’ story of resilience, this axiom offers a framework for intentional growth, meaningful action, and reclaiming focus. Discover how it can guide your year too.

Episode 568: Jeff Sanders Talks About Adapting to Life’s Seasons and Free Time

Jeff Sanders reflects on life since The Free Time Formula, discussing health, parenting, and adapting productivity systems to life’s seasons.