Category: Productivity

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about goals—where I’m heading and how I’m really going to get there. I do this kind of self-check often, and each time it brings me back to the same core question: What can I change now to set myself up for the future I want?

Of course, the first step is having goals. Writing them down is another. Believing in yourself enough to pursue them daily? That’s the real challenge. But lately, something else has been pulling at me—something deeper than just to-do lists and timelines. That something is simplicity.

During a quiet walk the other day, the word simplify came up again and again. Not in a noisy, dramatic way—just a quiet nudge that said: You’ve got too much going on. Time to clear the clutter.

I couldn’t ignore it. So I’ve decided to take action. I’m not becoming a minimalist overnight, but I am ready to remove the excess so I can focus on what really matters. Inspired by minimalist thinkers like Colin Wright (who travels the world with just 72 items), I’m carving my own path toward simplicity.

Here’s my plan. Maybe it’ll inspire yours.

1. Goodbye, DVDs and Physical Audio Collections

This one is long overdue. I’ve held onto old audio programs and DVDs for years—many of which I haven’t touched since the ‘90s. As of this weekend, they’re all going. If I can’t stream it, download it, or save it to my hard drive, I’m letting it go.

Yes, that includes those classic Awaken the Giant Within CDs from 1993. They served their purpose. It’s time to make space.

2. Downsizing My Wardrobe to “The Rule of 5”

This is where things get real. I like clothes—especially workout shirts and shoes—but I’m ready to cut back.

I’m creating a capsule wardrobe using “the rule of 5.” That means:

• 5 workout shirts
• 5 pairs of jeans
• 5 button-downs
• 5 slacks
• 5 suits
• 5 ties
• 10 pairs of underwear (yes, there are exceptions)
• 5 pairs of shorts
• 10 pairs of shoes

Everything beyond that gets donated. It’ll be tough. But I’m ready to feel the freedom that comes from opening my closet and not feeling overwhelmed.

3. Eliminating Useless Keys

Ever looked at your keychain and wondered why you’re still carrying around a key to a lock that doesn’t even exist anymore?

I’ve got five of them. And they’re all going. Simple fix. Big mental relief.

4. Focusing on One Project at a Time

Right now, I’ve got half a dozen books sitting on my shelf, each with a bookmark about 20 pages deep. My browser has 12 articles saved. My to-do list? Don’t even ask.

It’s time to stop collecting content and start finishing what I’ve started.

Here’s my new rule: I won’t buy another book or bookmark another article until I finish what’s already in front of me. No more trying to consume everything at once. I’ll likely break this rule occasionally—but I’ll also make real progress where it matters.

5. Decluttering the Kitchen (Tupperware First!)

I walked into my kitchen earlier and counted 27 pieces of Tupperware. Twenty-seven. I use about five of them.

So here’s the deal: I’m keeping my top 5, and the rest are out. Same goes for anything I haven’t used in the past six months—coffee makers, extra plates, random mugs, duplicate utensils. They’re all going to someone who will actually use them.

Why Simplifying Matters (At Least to Me)

The truth is, I’m not just doing this to tidy up. I’m doing it because the clutter—mental, physical, digital—is slowing me down.

I want to knock my goals out of the park. I want to live near the beach someday. And when I picture that future, I realize the person who gets there is lighter, more focused, and more intentional.

Simplifying isn’t just about owning fewer things. It’s about creating more space—for clarity, for creativity, and for meaningful progress.

So this weekend, I’m diving in. Closets, keychains, kitchens—everything is fair game. I’m donating what I don’t need to the Salvation Army, knowing someone else will put it to better use.

Want to Join Me?

Simplifying looks different for everyone. Maybe for you, it’s unsubscribing from newsletters. Maybe it’s clearing out your inbox, deleting unused apps, or cutting back on commitments that drain you.

Whatever it is, ask yourself: What’s one thing I can remove from my life today that would make tomorrow feel lighter?

Start there.

And if you’re interested in going deeper, you might enjoy my other post on time management and productivity: Working In Time Blocks – Getting Things Done.

Let’s clear the clutter and make room for what matters most.

Productivity isn’t about how busy we are—it’s about how consistently we follow through on what really matters. And here’s the key part: what’s “important” is something only you can define.

One of the biggest challenges people face when it comes to goal setting and pursuing their dreams is a surprising one—we’re not even aware of how we’re spending our time. Think about it: how often do we stop to evaluate our day? Most of us don’t track it, don’t reflect on it, and don’t measure it. So we end up asking the wrong question: Why am I not getting ahead?

The real answer usually lies in how we’re spending our minutes and hours—not in some hidden productivity hack.

The Myth of Passive Progress

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned through years of personal development and goal-chasing, it’s this: most self-help books—even the good ones—end up being more entertainment than transformation. Take The Secret, for example. Remember how popular it was? People were hooked. And yes, there was real truth in the idea that our thoughts shape our reality. But many people got caught up in the “just visualize it and it’ll happen” fantasy. That’s not how it works.

Here’s the reality:

Success comes from doing certain intentional things, in a certain way, over and over again—until the result appears.

Visualization matters. So does mindset. But they don’t replace the action. The power lies in doing both at the same time—holding the vision in your mind while taking the steps that bring it to life.

We dabble. We read. We get motivated. But we rarely go all in. And that’s where results start to fall apart.

What Highly Successful People Get Right

Think about anyone you admire in your profession or community. Athletes, entrepreneurs, creators—they didn’t just stumble into success. They made intentional choices every day. They managed their focus, their time, and their habits.

If we don’t take the time to define what matters most and structure our day around it, we end up living in reactive mode—responding to whatever’s thrown at us, wondering why progress feels so slow.

And that brings us to a powerful time management framework I’ve been exploring recently, inspired by productivity expert Dave Navarro. It’s called The Four Circles of Time—and it’s reshaped how I approach each day.

The Four Circles of Time: Where Are You Spending Yours?

Here’s how most of us spend our time, whether we realize it or not:

1. The Circle of Intent

This is where the magic happens. In this circle, you’re working intentionally on the things you planned to do. You’re aligned with your goals, focused, and moving the needle. Every hour here is an investment in your future.

Ask yourself: Am I doing what I set out to do today?

2. The Circle of Reaction

This is where we respond to what the world throws at us. Incoming emails. Phone calls. Texts. Unexpected requests. Not all of it is bad—but it pulls us away from intentional action.

Here’s the problem: If you spend your whole day reacting, you’re living someone else’s agenda.

3. The Circle of Regret

This one stings. It’s where we waste time and later feel bad about it. Endless scrolling. Mindless YouTube loops. Refreshing the same social feed ten times. We all slip into it sometimes—but if this becomes a habit, it quietly robs us of progress.

Ask: Do I leave my day feeling like I made it count—or like I watched it slip away?

4. The Circle of Maintenance

These are the necessary chores of life—laundry, bills, groceries, errands. They need to get done, but not necessarily by you. A lot of these tasks can be outsourced, delegated, or automated. If you’re spending too much time here, you’re maintaining rather than advancing.

It might be time to ask: What can I systemize or simplify so I can free up energy for what matters most?

Time Is the Investment You Can Control

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight to improve your productivity. But you do need to be honest with yourself.

How much time are you truly spending inside the Circle of Intent?

This isn’t about guilt or pressure—it’s about awareness. Once you start tracking your time, even loosely, you’ll see patterns. And with patterns come opportunities for change.

Think of your time as a portfolio. Every minute you spend intentionally adds value. Every distraction, delay, or detour? That’s time you’ll never get back.

Make a habit of checking in daily:

• Did I spend time on what matters?
• What pulled me into reaction or regret?
• What can I do tomorrow to shift more time into the Intent circle?

Final Thoughts: Progress Is Intentional, Not Accidental

No one drifts their way into greatness. Clarity, consistency, and focus are the building blocks of progress. If you want to get more done—not just more tasks, but more important things done—then you need to get serious about how your time is spent.

So be brutally honest with yourself today. Track your time. Acknowledge your distractions. Bite the bullet and commit to spending more time in the Circle of Intent.

This is where your best work lives. This is where your future self is built.

And it all starts with one decision: to stop living by default and start living by design.

It’s 4:54 PM, and as your workday winds down, your mind begins to race—not about what you accomplished today, but about everything you still need to do tonight:

• Hit the gym
• Pay some bills
• Write that blog post
• Catch up on laundry
• Respond to emails
• (Insert your own growing to-do list here)

The mission? You’ve got 4 or 5 evening hours to knock things out. But here’s the reality: most nights, you only check off one or two things—if that. Then you wake up, head back to the office, and guess what? That same list is staring you in the face again, barely touched.

So what gives?

For most of us, it comes down to two culprits: spending too much time on one task, or getting distracted altogether. The hours slip by, and we wonder where the time went.

It’s not about having more time—it’s about using your time intentionally.

The Solution: Time Blocking Your Evenings

Here’s a productivity technique that has helped me and countless others turn evenings into mini power sessions: Time Blocking.

When you get home tomorrow night, try this:

1. Write out your to-do list — the full version, no editing.
2. Assign a fixed time limit to each item — say, 30 minutes per task.
3. Set a timer and commit to working on that task, and that task only, until the time’s up.
4. Move on to the next item, even if the first one isn’t fully finished.
5. Leave the final 30 minutes of your night for wrapping up any loose ends (like transferring laundry or replying to one last email).

This technique works because it gives structure to your time and puts you in a focused, execution mode. You’ll start thinking: “I only have 30 minutes for this—let’s go.”

Why It Works

Time blocking brings a psychological shift. When you know there’s a time limit, your focus sharpens. You’re far less likely to procrastinate, obsess over perfection, or waste time bouncing between half-finished tasks.

You move from reacting to your to-do list, to managing it. And that subtle shift makes a massive difference.

Even more, it builds a muscle that’s essential for success in any area of life: discipline.

Discipline isn’t just about willpower—it’s about structure. Time blocking gives you a framework to train your mind and habits. It teaches you to show up, stay on task, and execute with intention—even when distractions are everywhere.

A Real-World Example

Let’s say your evening looks like this:

• Workout – 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM
• Bills – 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM
• Dinner & dishes – 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM
• Blog writing – 7:45 PM to 8:15 PM
• Emails – 8:15 PM to 8:45 PM
• Catch-up buffer – 8:45 PM to 9:15 PM

This isn’t about rushing—it’s about being efficient. Instead of letting one thing consume your whole night, you give each task the time it needs—and nothing more.

Over time, you’ll get better at estimating how long things actually take. You’ll also start prioritizing more effectively, cutting out tasks that don’t deserve your energy.

Start Small, But Start Today

This doesn’t have to be perfect. Start with just 3 time blocks tonight. Use your phone’s timer. Write your list on a sticky note. Keep it simple.

Try it once. See how it feels. Then come back and tweak your approach.

I promise you’ll feel a greater sense of control and accomplishment—and that lingering to-do list won’t feel quite so overwhelming anymore.

Final Thought

Time is the most valuable resource you have. If you want to get more done without burning out, give each hour a job. Treat your evenings like the runway to tomorrow’s success.

Try time blocking tonight—and let me know how it goes.