How to Maximize Your Productivity with Mike Vardy

✅Mike Vardy is an author, speaker, and productivity and time management strategist (or 'productivityist') based out of Victoria, BC, Canada. He is the author of "The Front Nine: How to Start the Year You Want Anytime You Want," and has also self-published several eBooks, most recently "The Productivityist Playbook." Mike has been performing for 12 years -- and has given talks on productivity, time, and task management at TEDxVictoria, Social Media Camp, New Media Expo, and South by Southwest. He has also facilitated workshops related to tasks, time, projects, and goal management. Mike has also produced and hosted several podcasts over the years, and currently hosts The Productivityist Podcast, a podcast that features insights and conversations surrounding productivity and workflow. →IN THIS EPISODE… In this episode, Joe discusses with Mike Vardy the concept of productivity. Mike gives tips, tools, tactics, and tricks that are designed to help you take your time management, goals, and to-do lists to a new level of effectiveness. Whether you are looking to maximize your ROI at work or at home, you will get many actionables to start these changes today.   🔍 Breakdown with Mike Vardy:   Chapter 1 (0:00​) Joe Introduces Mike Vardy Mike Vardy is a productivity specialist and is going to share tips and ideas during the interview.   Chapter 2 (1:41) What is the model of productivity We are not designed to multi-task, and we forget that machines are designed to handle multiple processes, but humans are not.    Chapter 3 (​7:46) Finding balance between internal communication Mike discusses the purpose of slack and how to organize your internal communication with external communication.   Chapter 4 (14:07) Tips for project management tools  Most of the tools are connected to your email, so when you send an email it will automatically add to your project.   Chapter 5 (16:36) People playing defense If you are checking email to be told what to do, then you don’t have the right plan in place. You run the risk of email telling you what to do. The best practice is to plan your day the night before.   Chapter 6 (23:16) How to get back on track Mike compares the analogy with fighting fires all day, which implies a haphazard manner, with actual firemen who are very controlled with how they put out fires.    Chapter 7 (36:17) Setting the right schedule Mike works out at night, Joe works out in the morning. Mike explains how to identify when you are the most productive.   Chapter 8 (​41:31) Procrastination and how to avoid it Focus on the elements of your project and make measured steps to work on the large project in small doses.   Chapter 9 (45:45) Theme your days If you set a tone for each day it helps to organize and set perimeters around your day so you don’t get sidetracked.   Chapter 10 (52:05) Getting started  The first question asked is, are you a calendar person or a to-do list person.  There are 5 modes from there Mike goes into that help your productivity goals.   Chapter 11 (58:18) Time blocking and horizontal theming Two types of time organization are time blocking and horizontal theming. Mike explains the differences between the two, and his preference for horizontal theming for habitual practice.   Chapter 12 (1:15:10) Tips on habit tracking app Mike reviews some idea on Evernote and other various apps, including Hindsight, as recommended apps that help with habit tracking   Chapter 13 (1:22:33) The power of streaks Nothing is more encouraging than getting your new habit started. Start your new habit and building upon it to keep the momentum going.   Chapter 14 (1:25:57) What’s one thing to start tomorrow Put verbs in front of every task you write down. Every task is an action item.   Chapter 15 (1:30:09) Some book recommendations Mike has some great book recommendations, which are listed below.   Chapter 16 (1:32:33) Find out more about Mike You can connect with Mike through any of his social media linked below, or through his website.   Chapter 17 (1:34:01) In closing Joe closes out the episode and reminds the audience, you, me, we are not almost there.     Material Referenced in this interview: →A World Without Email by Cal Newport →Creative Quest by Quest Love →The Playbook by Mike Vardy →30 Days of Excellence with Jesse Itzler →https://www.sethgodin.com/  →The 5 Categories of Modes by Mike Vardy →Obsidian Note tracking app →How to live on 24hours a day by Arnold Bennet →Indestractable by Nir Eyal →The gift of time by Mike Vardy →The power of When by Michael Breus →The Productivityist Podcast with Mike Vardy     📞 Connect with Mike →https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikevardy/ →https://www.facebook.com/themikevardy →https://www.instagram.com/productivityist/ →https://www.youtube.com/user/Productivityist   👊 To learn more about Not Almost There by visiting this link  → Not Almost There http://notalmostthere.com/​   Connect with Joe on social here: →Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joe_chura/​ →Facebook https://www.facebook.com/notalmostthere/​ →Twitter http://twitter.com/joechura