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.
What's Your Procrastination Persona?
|
Hello Reader, Did you know that we’re smack dab in the middle of National Procrastination Week as I send you this? Indeed, this week serves as a timely reminder that none of us are immune to the allure of procrastination. Interestingly, the term ‘procrastination’ originates from the Latin ‘procrastinare’, which literally means ‘to defer until tomorrow’. Historically, this wasn’t always seen in a negative light; it was simply part of planning and prudent delay. However, over time, the concept of procrastination changed. Maybe ‘tomorrow’ became too vague, too undefined, leading procrastination to morph into the often negative connotation it holds today? No one really knows how this shift in procrastination’s reputation happened. But it’s crucial to remember, not all procrastination is detrimental. In fact, understanding your unique approach to procrastination can unveil powerful insights into how you work best. This is why I’ve crafted a short quiz to help you discover "Your Procrastination Persona." It’s free, quick, and not only illuminates your procrastination style but also offers a fun peek into your productivity character. As we make our way through a week that explores procrastination further, here’s to embracing and understanding our procrastination – turning what may seem like a flaw into our superpower. See you later, P.S. Listen to Nir Eyal's insights into the misunderstood world of distractions complement our exploration of procrastination on this recent episode of A Productive Conversation. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, my YouTube channel, or visit the episode page 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. 2, Issue 8 | April 18, 2026 Hello Reader, I've been running workshops that offer up "quick wins" lately — for my TimeCrafting Trust community and for an organization I've been working with. The premise is simple: when time is short and the pressure is on, what do you actually do first? People come in thinking the answer is prioritization. Or focus. Or some system they haven't tried yet. And those things matter. But there's something that comes before all of...
Hello Reader, Episode 650 of A Productive Conversation dropped during the last week of March — and while that number means a lot to me, it's actually a little misleading. Because 650 is just this show. Before A Productive Conversation (formerly known as The Productivityist Podcast), there was Mikes on Mics. And WorkAwesome. And more within this space... and some well outside of it. Add it all up and I've hosted well over a thousand podcast episodes across more than a decade — and somewhere...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 2, Issue 7 | April 11, 2026 Hello Reader, There's a particular ache that comes with finally becoming yourself. You look around at the work you're doing, the way you're moving through the world, the lines you draw without hesitation — and something in you says yes, this is it. And then, almost immediately, something else says why did it take so long? Both things are true at once. That's the curious cruelty of arrival. Recently, I drew one of those lines....