I’m writing this from Portugal. Not from a desk or between meetings, and not with emails open in the background. Properly away. It’s made me realise something that sounds obvious – yet most of us ignore it. Stepping away from work isn’t a luxury. It might actually be the most productive thing you do all […]
Why Self-Care Is the Secret Ingredient to Productivity
A sleepless dog, a missing mouse, and what it taught me about focus Sleep has been in short supply in our house recently. Our dog Lily, usually calm and playful during the day, has turned into a night-time patrol guard. She paces the bedroom, ears pricked, eyes alert, unwilling to settle. It all started […]
Why Planning with Purpose Matters (and Why I Do Mine on Holiday)
I’ve just got back from three days in Norfolk. For me, Norfolk means long dog walks, windswept beaches, cosy pubs, and rummaging through second-hand bookshops. It’s the kind of place where life slows down, and that’s exactly why it’s become one of the most important parts of my year. While those things are lovely (and […]
How to Make Your Team More Productive (Without Just Piling on More Work)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: being busy is not the same as being productive. For years, I thought a productive team was one that was constantly working—packed schedules, back-to-back meetings, emails flying in every direction. But over time, I realised that activity doesn’t always equal impact. A team that’s stretched too […]
Productivity vs. Busyness: Why Working Smarter Beats Working Harder
How often do you find yourself working flat out from the moment you start work until the moment you finish (which is probably later than you anticipated!), yet your ‘to-do’ list hasn’t changed at all? You’ve been working hard—answering emails, jumping between tasks, sitting in back-to-back meetings—but at the end of the day, you don’t feel […]
The Power of Saying No: The Secret to Taking Back Your Time ⏳
I used to be a serial yes-sayer. Need a last-minute favour? Sure! Can you squeeze in another meeting? Of course! Would you mind taking on this extra task? No problem! It took me a long time (and a lot of stress) to realise that saying yes to everything wasn’t just making me busy—it was stopping […]
A not so guilty confession!
I recently realised I’ve got a ‘bad’ productivity habit. It’s quite the confession. I’m guilty of adding things to my GDA list AFTER I’ve done them just so I can tick them off. I think I might be addicted to ticking things off. There’s a sense of completeness, satisfaction and most of all […]
When What Matters
“I’ll have the chocolate fudge cake with cream…” You’ve been there. A full and hearty meal, stuffed to the gills and we want more. It’s okay though, dessert goes in a separate stomach… doesn’t’ it? What’s interesting is that if you wait 15 minutes or so you’re less likely to eat that dessert. […]
How can I manage my time effectively?
This month, as you know, we’re focussing on time management. Because heading into 2021, I guarantee that nailing this will play a key role in your success – especially if you’re a business who’s had to put many of the usual daily routines and focus on hold while we’re in the current (hopefully final!) lockdown. […]
How do I get my team working towards the same goal?
Starting a business is not for the work-shy, I can tell you that right now. It takes grit and elbow grease to get things up and running and make a success of the venture. There will be late nights and there will be early mornings. It won’t be forever, though, and it doesn’t have to […]
