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?
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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.
Hello Reader,A lot of what I teach in TimeCrafting is about your relationship with time. But underneath that? It’s really about your relationship with yourself. Because you can have the cleanest system in the world — the right tasks, the right times, the right tools — and still find yourself stuck. Still find yourself restarting the same habit for the fourth time this year. Still find yourself wondering why knowing what to do isn’t the same as doing it. I’ve known Steve Kamb for years. And...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 2, Issue 9 | April 25, 2026 Hello Reader, I'm writing this a week ahead of when you'll read it. I just got back from several days of travel and I know another trip is coming. So I'm using the window while I have it. That's exactly what I want to talk about. Getting ahead feels like a win. And it is — for a moment. But here's what I've noticed more than once: the further ahead I get, the easier it becomes to stop maintaining the lead. The urgency that drove the...
Hello Reader, Episode 654 of A Productive Conversation is live — and this one's a solo episode. Just me, thinking out loud. It starts with a question: What if being busy is the biggest lie you're telling yourself? Not a small lie. A lie you've been telling so long it feels like identity. Over a thousand podcast conversations about productivity have taught me that the number one thing people get wrong isn't their system, their tools, or their habits. It's this: they've confused motion with...