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 timeless pull of newness
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Hello Reader, Michael St. Pierre recently shared this about The Productivity Diet: “It’s rare to find a book on productivity that feels somehow new and accessible to just about everyone.” That phrase—feels new—really stuck with me. Because what feels new isn’t always something that is new. The Stoics proved this thousands of years ago. Their ideas endure because they find fresh resonance in every era. Arnold Bennett’s How to Live on 24 Hours a Day was first published in 1910, and it still feels relevant today. Not every passage holds up—his biases about class and gender are obvious—but his deeper invitation to see our relationship with time as something that stretches beyond the confines of the workday or workweek still feels prescient. Newness isn’t a matter of novelty. It’s about perspective. When we see something timeless through the lens of our current lives, it feels new again. Because newness isn’t about what’s next—it’s about what still matters. – Mike P.S. If you’d like to experience the kind of “newness” Michael describes, The Productivity Diet is where I’ve brought together timeless ideas and today’s realities. It’s available here. |
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.
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...
Hello Reader, I’ve noticed something lately: the more tools I have to see the big picture, the less clear that picture becomes. I’ve got systems that map projects, tasks, themes, priorities—all the things. But there’s a point where visibility becomes noise: you see too much, and nothing stands out. That tension is exactly why I built TimeCrafting — to narrow the field, to choose themes, to define pathways of attention. Time theming, attention paths, and even the Spheres of Attention aren’t...
Hello Reader, When it comes to habits, there’s one in particular that’s akin to a master key. A habit that not only enhances our life but also shines a light on our other habits, providing a deeper understanding of our actions and behaviours. That habit is journaling. Let’s face it... we all have small, nagging habits that we often overlook. Perhaps you’re prone to obsessing over trivial errors, falling into the trap of perfectionism at the expense of productivity. Or maybe you find yourself...