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New Path Perspective

Thoughts on Productivity, Life and Peace of Mind
A Blog From New Path Productivity®, LLC

Feeling Pulled in a Million Directions?

5/3/2025

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​“It's hard to put your heart into things
when you feel you're being pulled
in so many different directions…”
– Nicole Johnson

[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity®, LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Feeling Pulled In A Million Different Directions?

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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Will Next Year Be Different? It Can Be.

12/29/2024

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​


​“Good words are worth much
​and cost little.” - George Herbert

[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity®, LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Will Next Year Be Different? It Can Be.

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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Overcoming Procrastination with Compassion and Clarity

11/18/2024

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Photo by Олег Мороз on Unsplash



​“We cannot selectively numb emotions.
When we numb the painful emotions,
we also numb the positive emotions.”
​-- Brene Brown

[3.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity®, LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Overcoming Procrastination with Compassion and Clarity

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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The Secret to More Meaningful Days

8/24/2024

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Unsplash+ In collaboration with Mathieu Odin


​
"So much of what we do every
single day is the result of habits
that we have formed over time."
-- Joyce Meyer

[4 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: The Secret To More Meaningful Days

​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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Trying New Things Is Powerful

8/4/2024

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​“The hallmark of successful people
is that they are always stretching themselves
to learn new things.”
​- Carol S. Dweck
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Photo by Oskars Sylwan on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Trying New Things Is Powerful

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.

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In Pursuit of Sanity: Critical Self-Care Strategies

6/3/2024

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​
​“Self-care equals success.
You’re going to be more successful if you
​take care of yourself and you’re healthy.”
— Beth Behrs
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Photo by Philipp Torres on Unsplash
​[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: In Pursuit Of Sanity - Critical Self-Care Strategies

​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?

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Tidy or Accessible?

5/13/2024

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Photo by Slava Keyzman on Unsplash




​"If you don't know you have it,
or you cannot find it,
it is of no use to you."
​- [Barbara] Hemphill's Principle

[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Tidy Or Accessible?

"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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You CAN Have Too Much of a Good Thing

4/23/2024

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​“Everything in excess is opposed to nature.”
​- Hippocrates
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Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: You CAN Have Too Much Of A Good Thing

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.

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Redefining Productivity: Beyond the Pursuit of More

3/10/2024

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​“There is surely nothing quite so useless
as doing with great efficiency what should
not be done at all.”
— Peter Drucker
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Unsplash+ In collaboration with Jonny Gios
​[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Redefining Productivity: Beyond The Pursuit Of More

Productivity is a popular word these days.
 
For some, it conjures visions of widgets on an assembly line. In a broader sense, it refers to our work habits, level of organization (or disorganization), and, quite often, our feelings of increasing overwhelm. And the constant pursuit of getting more things done often comes with a large side dish of stress and anxiety.

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Overcoming Digital Chaos

2/18/2024

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Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash
​


“Chaos is merely order waiting to be deciphered.”
– Jose Saramago

[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Overcoming Digital Chaos

Is your digital life in chaos? If it is, you have plenty of company. 
​

As a productivity coach, I've seen the detrimental impact email overload, disorganized digital files, and calendar congestion can have on how a business operates.

While these hurdles may feel insurmountable, it is possible to successfully navigate your digital landscape with the right guidance and a can-do mindset.

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Navigating the Fork in the Road

1/15/2024

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“Our lives are a sum total of the choices we have made.”
– Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
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Photo by Beth Macdonald on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Navigating The Fork In The Road

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.

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The Missing Link to Your Success in the New Year

12/16/2023

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Photo by Andreea Chidu on Unsplash



“Life isn't a line but a circle.
The ending of each year brings with it a new beginning.”
​-  Sarah McLendon

[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: The Missing Link To Your Success In The New Year

​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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The Antidote to Over-Commitment

9/24/2023

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“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”
​– Will Rogers
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Photo by Chris Charles on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: The Antidote For Over-Commitment

In today's fast-paced, hustle-and-bustle world, we often find ourselves caught in a relentless cycle of more. More activity. More achievement. More commitment. 
​

In pursuing more, we often overlook a fundamental aspect of human existence: the necessity of rest and recovery. Just like a machine cannot function at peak performance without regular maintenance, our bodies and minds also need periods of rejuvenation to perform at their best.

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How to Reclaim Your Time

6/25/2023

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​“Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.”
​– Warren Buffett
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Photo by Fer Troulik on Unsplash
​[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: How To Reclaim Your Time

How often do you hang your head in frustration because 24 hours a day just isn't enough?
 
Time is one of the most valuable resources you have. You can never get it back once it's gone, so using time wisely is critical. If you feel you're constantly rushing from one task to another and never have a moment to breathe, it's time to explore opportunities to reclaim your time.
 

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What Are You Waiting For?

2/26/2023

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​“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.”
​– Dalai Lama
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Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: What Are You Waiting For?

​We often spend much of our time and energy dwelling in the past and waiting for the perfect future while the present moment slips away.
 
Writing this on National Carpe Diem Day is a beautiful reminder to live in the present, as Carpe Diem means Seize the Day. We often place happiness on hold for 'someday,' delaying using new or treasured items or perhaps postponing action on resolutions until next January.

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Why You Should Make Time For Information Management

2/5/2023

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“There's no such thing as knowledge management;
there are only knowledgeable people.
Information only becomes knowledge in the
hands of someone who knows what to do with it.”
- Peter Drucker

[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Why You Should Make Time For Information Management

How often do you think about systematically removing information from your physical and digital files?
 
Several years ago, I worked with a local manufacturing company after a new HR Director came in. She hired me to conduct an Office Renewal Event. During this event, a team has the time, permission, and resources to eliminate anything from the workspace that can be tossed, recycled, shredded, or deleted.

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Soar Above Your Overwhelm

11/13/2022

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​"I fly because it releases my mind from
​the tyranny of petty things."
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Photo by Avery Cocozziello on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Soar Above Your Overwhelm

As we hurtle down the runway toward the most hectic time of year for many of us, both personally and professionally, let's take a moment to keep things in perspective.

Recently, as I attempted to set my priorities for the day, I became acutely aware of my sense of overwhelm regarding what the next 8 - 10 weeks would bring. That's right. I felt profoundly overwhelmed even with my fancy-schmancy task management system and my weekly review.


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The Time Management Funnel

10/2/2022

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​“Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.”
​– Robert Orben
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Photo by Agnieszka Cymbalak on Unsplash
​[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: The Time Management Funnel

How often do you say to yourself (or others), "there aren’t enough hours in the day?"
 
Time management is a popular term. It conjures visions of stopping clocks and herculean feats of efficiency, squeezing in one more task or commitment. In reality, it's less about managing time and more about managing ourselves and our decisions. We know that ineffective time management results in stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, burnout, low self-esteem, and low confidence. Arguably, nothing we want.

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Something Beats Nothing – Every Time

8/21/2022

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​“Can’t clean up the whole room?
Clean a corner of it.
Can’t do all the dishes?
Do a dish.
Can’t get in the shower?
Wash your face.
Always look for the thing you CAN do with the energy and focus you DO have.
Little wins pave the way for bigger wins.
1% beats 0%.”
- Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle
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Photo by Emiel Schalck on Unsplash
[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Something Beats Nothing - Every Time

I know this about myself and suspect many can relate - sometimes, I have an all-or-nothing mindset. If I can't complete something from start to finish in one shot, I procrastinate starting at all.
 

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Even Positive Changes Can Feel Overwhelming

7/29/2022

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​


"You have no idea how much stuff you have
​until you have to pack your life into boxes."
​- Carol (Kathy's Mom)

[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Even Positive Changes Can Feel Overwhelming

A quick Google search of life's top stressors returns arguably positive events such as getting married, starting a new job, retirement, and moving to a new residence.
 
One might expect the positive nature of these events would negate their stressfulness. However, their persistent appearance on stressor lists contradicts this theory. At first glance, one explanation may be these life events create fear or concern about the unknown. A few of these events also involve daunting project management.

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Simple Gets It Done

6/19/2022

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​


"Life is really simple, but we insist
on making it complicated."
- Confucius



​
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Photo by Sarah Dorweiler, Aesence
​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Simple Gets It Done

I had a Zoom video meeting scheduled on my calendar. These days, who doesn't, right? Shortly before start time, the person messaged me saying their computer had gone into an unexpected update, they couldn't access the Zoom link, and they would have to reschedule.

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Finding Your Daily Focus

3/27/2022

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​“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.”
​– George Lucas
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Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash
​[4 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Find Your Daily Focus

Before you even get started, do you hang your head in defeat when you look at your to-do list? I've been there, and no doubt many can relate to that feeling. 
​

To-do lists are fantastic for capturing random tasks you think you'll remember, but let's be honest, if you don't write them down, you forget them 10 seconds later. To-do lists help map out the individual steps and the necessary order of those steps for projects. They're a great tool, whether paper or digital, but they can get overwhelming.

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Clutter: Break The Habit Loop

1/23/2022

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Photo by NIKHIL on Unsplash



​
​"Clutter is postponed decisions.®”
– Barbara Hemphill

[8 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Clutter - Break The Habit Loop

When you hear the word clutter, what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you envision stacks of unfiled paper, old take-out menus, and closets full of clothes that no longer fit.
 
But clutter goes beyond the physical. It can also accumulate in the form of digital and emotional clutter.

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Stop Making New Year Resolutions

1/2/2022

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​​"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written."
​- Melody Beattie
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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Stop Making New Year Resolutions

Those who know me know I'm not a fan of new year resolutions. I've stated before there is nothing magical about January 1st, and far too much emphasis is placed on declaring resolutions. That may sound ridiculous coming from a productivity coach, but I will say instead I am a huge fan of goal planning. You may think they're the same, but they’re not.

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Lessons Learned From 100 Consecutive Weekly Reviews

12/11/2021

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Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash



​
“Life is a succession of lessons which must
​be lived to be understood.”
​– Ralph Waldo Emerson

​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Lessons Learned From 100 Consecutive Weekly Reviews

In a post almost two years ago, I confessed avoidance and fear of my weekly review. At the time, I celebrated the completion of an unprecedented streak of two consecutive reviews. Two weeks doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but it certainly was for me.

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    Kathy Muzik
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    I help business owners reclaim their time so they can enjoy life without sacrificing the needs of their business.

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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).

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