[4 Minute Read or Listen Below] Years ago, I stumbled upon a deceptively simple productivity tool, almost by accident, that helped me reclaim my priorities and provided a model for others. Whenever someone asked me to do something, whether at work or in my personal life, I used to jump right into action. I equated being asked with needing to act immediately. I prided myself on being dependable and responsive...until I started feeling overwhelmed, behind on my own goals, and constantly putting out other people's fires.
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[4.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
Our days can feel chaotic with endless to-do lists and shifting priorities. Because of this, managing your time effectively can feel like an uphill battle. A classic tool that can help bring clarity to your day and has recently experienced a bit of a resurgence in popularity is the Eisenhower Matrix—a productivity framework designed to help you decide on, prioritize, and delegate tasks based on urgency and importance.
[2 Minute Read or Listen Below] Whether you're running a business, managing a household, working a demanding job, or doing all of the above, you probably wear many hats. From tackling your task list to staying on top of endless emails, your days can feel like a non-stop sprint. It's no surprise that so many people struggle with time management, constantly feeling behind and crushed by overwhelm.
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Today, I'd like to talk briefly about something I see frequently with my clients and have experienced myself. I'm talking about the temptation to jump from one productivity solution to another, hoping the new one will finally be the magic answer. The one that helps everything fall into place.
[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below] The confetti has been swept, the New Year's energy has faded, and for many, those ambitious 2025 goals are now gathering dust. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Studies show that most people abandon their annual goals by mid-March, if not sooner. And beyond the statistics, there's a more profound emotional toll — frustration, self-doubt, and guilt.
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We stare at screens A LOT, myself included. We rely on our devices for almost everything, from work and communication to entertainment and waking up in the morning. Yet, this constant connectivity comes at a cost. Our brains are overloaded with information, our attention is scattered, and genuine rest is harder to come by.
[3 Minute Read or Listen Below] For many years, I thought I was doing what I needed to do to achieve my goals. I had my daily to-do list and diligently checked off tasks. (I loved the checking off part; it made me feel productive.) But something was missing. No matter how many tasks I completed, my bigger goals and dreams eluded me.
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Staying consistent in any pursuit can be challenging, especially when external validation is sparse. The effort to bring order to your life—whether through organizing your tasks, decluttering your office space, or managing your information—requires dedication that often goes unnoticed by others. Yet, it is in these quiet, consistent efforts that real transformation happens.
[3 Minute Read or Listen Below] Just as the new year begins, millions of us declare resolutions, hoping this will be the year they finally stick. Whether it's hitting the gym, eating healthier, or spending less time on screens, the start of a new year feels like a clean slate. But let's face it—resolutions don't work. And there is nothing magical about January 1st. Research from the University of Scranton suggests that 92% of people fail to keep their New Year's resolutions, with many abandoning them within the first few weeks. Why?
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People often assume I live by an unrelenting mantra of constant activity. It’s a fair assumption. After all, my work as a productivity coach focuses on helping others make the most of their time, streamline their tasks, and create systems for achieving their goals. So, it might surprise you that I’ve come to cherish something many people might not associate with productivity - downtime.
[3.5 Minute Read or Listen Below] Procrastination is a stubborn hurdle that keeps us from completing even the simplest tasks. As a result, we often chastise ourselves or feel the brunt of others calling us lazy. Beneath the surface, however, procrastination usually has far less to do with laziness and infinitely more to do with our emotions. You've probably heard someone say, "You can't avoid your emotions. You need to work through them." But what exactly does that mean? And how do you do it?
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Let's be honest. There are aspects of productivity that most people find downright boring. Processing emails, filing paper, computer desktop cleanup and digital file organization, or keeping your to-read folders under control… these tasks don't generally spark joy. And despite what you may think, being a productivity coach doesn't mean I always love the maintenance required to stay productive. While I probably enjoy it more than most, I'm not always a fan.
[4 Minute Read or Listen Below] What does it take to achieve success? This question has intrigued many for decades, and Earl Nightingale is one of the most influential voices answering it. In his classic message, The Strangest Secret, Nightingale distills a powerful message: "We become what we think about." While deceptively simple, this principle holds the key to unlocking our potential by linking the power of our thoughts with deliberate action toward meaningful goals.
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We've all heard the internal voice saying, "I can't do this," or "I'm hopeless." This voice, dripping with doubt, fear, and negativity, can become such a regular part of our inner dialogue that we don't even notice anymore. But it is always there, subtly influencing our thoughts, actions, and behavior.
[4 Minute Read or Listen Below] We're constantly juggling responsibilities, tasks, and goals. To manage it all, many of us rely on habits—those automatic actions that help us navigate our days with less mental effort. Habits result from repeated behaviors that become automatic over time, triggered by specific cues or situations. Think of habits as the brain's way of conserving energy—they allow us to perform tasks quickly and efficiently without needing to engage in deep thinking every time.
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As a productivity coach, I often encourage clients to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. While this advice might sound cliché, there is solid reasoning behind it. Today, inspired by my own recent leap into something new, I want to share why trying new things is a powerful tool for your overall well-being.
[3 Minute Read or Listen Below] What would you think if I said food affects your productivity? It's true! What you eat, how you prepare it, and when you eat it all make a difference. (And I'm looking beyond the obvious after-effects of a daily caffeine boost or the recommendation to eat less processed food.) To be clear, I'm not a doctor. But as a productivity coach, I've seen firsthand how habits and routines significantly boost health, performance, and efficiency.
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Sometimes, balancing your business and personal life feels impossible. You don't need the media to tell you stress levels are high, manifesting as symptoms of chronic fatigue, physical illness, insomnia, irritability, decreased motivation, and difficulty concentrating. You probably live some of these every day. So, what's the solution?
[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below] "I need to get organized." Have you ever heard someone say this? Have you ever said it? Before getting 'organized,' it is essential to understand the 'why' behind the goal. Many people say they want to get organized because their surroundings look messier than they would like. Others say it because they have difficulty finding necessary information. However, making something look tidy does not always result in more effective functionality. The area may look great, but you still can't find anything!
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A short time ago, I shared that fiction books have become essential to my downtime and relaxation. After writing that article, I took a deeper dive into my book collection, and it was an eye-opening experience.
[1.5 Minute Read or Listen Below] I never used to read fiction books. I thought I was wasting time if I wasn't reading to learn. But I changed my tune.
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Have you ever had to make a choice that challenged you to your core? On the one hand, you have the path of least resistance, where you stay where you are, and nothing really changes. On the other hand, you have 'the hard way,' presenting you with a new, challenging, unpredictable, and sometimes riskier path. The outcome is tremendously uncertain, yet a quiet, persistent voice keeps nudging you toward the harder path.
[3 Minute Read or Listen Below] As the calendar year ends and anticipation of the coming year grows, it's tempting to set resolutions impulsively, promising ourselves grand levels of change. Those who've been with me for a while know I'm not fond of new year resolutions. In the excitement of dreaming about what's to come, it's easy to overlook a powerful tool that can set you up for success in the new year—reflection. At some point, most of us have said, "Next year will be different!" Let's ponder why nothing will change unless we take a moment to look back and revisit our actions from the current year. After all, we can't forge ahead when we don't understand where we've been.
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As the US approaches its Thanksgiving holiday, family, friends, and gratitude are top of mind. But gratitude is more than just saying "thank you." It's a mindset, a perspective that involves recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of life, even in challenging times. In recent years, gratitude has gained increasing attention, not only for its social benefits but also for its profound impact on health and productivity.
[2 Minute Read or Listen Below] Many of us look back at the end of the day and wonder where our time went. Best-laid plans vanish with the first emergency of the day, and the remaining hours unravel from there. Scheduling your time effectively can be challenging, but it's crucial for achieving your goals, being productive, and reducing stress. Below are some tips to help you start getting a handle on your day. |
Kathy Muzik
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New Path Productivity®, LLC provides worldwide virtual and Chicagoland onsite services for individuals and businesses to increase productivity
through organization and management of resources (e.g., energy, information, people, processes, space, and time).
through organization and management of resources (e.g., energy, information, people, processes, space, and time).
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Phone847.748.0144
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AddressPO Box 162
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New Path Productivity®, LLC © 2015 - 2025 All Rights Reserved
New Path Productivity®, LLC © 2015 - 2025 All Rights Reserved