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 Story You Wrote This Year
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Hello Reader, Most people treat January 1 as a starting line. But I don’t. It’s not the start of my year—but it does act as a marker. A pause. A moment quiet enough to look back without immediately rushing forward. And that’s exactly what I do. Every year, on the morning of the first, I make a cup of tea and sit down with my journal. Not to write. To read. I use a journaling app called Reflection, but this works with any journal—digital or analog. What matters isn’t the tool... it’s the act. Here’s the frame that guides me:
Over the course of a year, you write a book—one page at a time. At most, it’s 365 pages. Often fewer. And even the missing pages tell you something. And on January 1, I read that book. Not to judge it. Not to fix it. Just to understand it. If you want to try this yourself, here’s a gentle way in.
That’s it. No resolutions. No pressure to improve the story. Just the chance to witness it. One quiet side benefit: this ritual also keeps me from "celebrating" too much on New Year’s Eve. More importantly, it gives January 1 a purpose that feels human, not performative. If you try this, I hope it offers you the same thing it offers me every year: perspective without urgency. Take care... and take stock. See you later, P.S. I'll be sharing my 12 Tips of TimeCrafting live today on YouTube at 9 AM PST. You can visit the link, click the bell, and get notified so you don’t miss anything—especially if you’re easing into the new calendar year instead of charging into it. |
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.
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