I’m Mike Vardy, and I help people build a better relationship with time — not by controlling it, but by working with it. Through my writing, courses, and community, I explore how intention and attention shape a more meaningful life — one rooted in the original idea of productiveness over productivity.
The Devil’s in the Details (and the Details Need Direction)
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Hello Reader, October 30 — sometime known as Devil’s Night. A fitting time to talk about what haunts so many of us: the details. The calendar gives us the directory of our days—where things live. We stare down a swarm of half-done projects and open loops. Fear sets in—the fear of forgetting, of not finishing, of facing too much at once. But fear fades when we can see clearly. That’s what Attention Paths are for: to give the details shape and sequence so they stop stalking us from the shadows. Every task you face can be sorted through five simple lenses:
When you use these paths, your to-do list becomes less of a haunted house and more of a map. Projects break into smaller pieces. See you later, P.S. The devil might be in the details—but The Productivity Diet helps you see the design beneath them. Get the book → |
The Practice of Productiveness
I’m Mike Vardy, and I help people build a better relationship with time — not by controlling it, but by working with it. Through my writing, courses, and community, I explore how intention and attention shape a more meaningful life — one rooted in the original idea of productiveness over productivity.
Hello Reader, I have this bright orange coffee mug that says ignore negativity in black script. It holds just enough coffee to get me through the first stretch of writing, but lately, it’s been holding more meaning than caffeine. Because here’s the thing: ignoring negativity only works for so long. Whether it comes from others—or from inside your own head—sooner or later, that voice you’re trying to tune out starts humming in the background, asking to be heard. When I chose The Productivity...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 35 | October 25, 2025 Hello Reader, Kenny Loggins sings, “I’m free — heaven helps the man who fights his fear.” It’s a lyric from Footloose (yes, this is a callback to Issue 33) but it could easily be a mantra for anyone standing on the edge of change. We tend to treat fear as the opposite of freedom — something to overcome or eliminate. But fear isn’t a barrier; it’s a mirror. It reflects what matters most. The trick isn’t to silence it but to learn...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 34 | October 18, 2025 Hello Reader, Canadian Thanksgiving always comes early — the leaves still turning, the evenings not quite cold enough to demand a coat. By the time Americans celebrate theirs, we’ve already returned to our routines. The pumpkins have softened, the lights of Halloween have dimmed, and November feels like a long exhale before the rush of December. That distance between our two Thanksgivings has always fascinated me. It’s like we...