When Letting Go is the Most Productive Move


Hello Reader,

Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is… let go.

That became crystal clear last week during a capstone presentation in the Maximize Your Minutes program. One participant shared that their biggest breakthrough wasn’t about doing more—it was about releasing what no longer served them.

That idea has surfaced in a few ways for me recently:

  • The Podcast: I’ve let go of the traditional podcast model—no more sponsor breaks or ad reads. Just open, focused conversations. The latest episode with Kerry Hoffman reflects that shift beautifully. Listen to it here – and if it resonates, you can support the show directly too.
  • The Newsletter Link Debacle: Last week’s edition of The Lantern had a broken link. I tried fixing it… and that fix broke too. Eventually, I just let go. If you’d like to read the piece (which was, fittingly, about taking a pause), you can find it here.
  • The Someday/Maybe List: If you’ve ever used the GTD method, you know about the someday/maybe list—that space where ideas, projects, or tasks go to live… indefinitely. And while it’s great to have a holding area, it can also become a cluttered collection of things you feel guilty about not doing. Wouldn’t it be better to revisit that list with a more mindful lens—to ask not just “When?” but “Why?” and “Should I?”

That’s exactly the kind of work we do in The READY Retreat. It’s a place to discern what’s still meaningful and what you can finally let go of—without shame or second-guessing. We kick off this virtual retreat in full swing tomorrow (May 13th) so if you to learn more and claim a last-minute spot for the retreat, you can do that here.

Not sure if it’s time to let something go? Try this 3 question check-in:

  1. Is it still serving you? Or is it just taking up space and energy?
  2. Are you forcing something that once flowed? If it’s stuck, maybe it’s not supposed to move forward right now.
  3. Can you release it cleanly? Archive it, delete it, or mark it as done. Letting go can be an act of clarity.

Even dropping a single item from your someday/maybe list can create more momentum than adding five new ones.

Letting go isn’t quitting. It’s choosing presence over pressure. And sometimes, that’s the clearest path forward.

– Mike

P.S. We literally just wrapped up a co-working session designed to help participants in The READY Retreat set themselves up for a solid three days. Care to join us starting tomorrow (with access to everything you need to prepare starting today)? Click here.

The Lantern: A Weekly Guide to Navigating Time with Intention

The Lantern is a thoughtfully curated weekly email from Mike Vardy designed to help you craft a better relationship with time. Each edition brings you insights, inspiration, and practical tools through a simple yet powerful framework: Look (a thought-provoking video or visual), Listen (a compelling podcast or audio insight), and Learn (a deep dive into a key concept, article, or book). Designed to inform, inspire, and illuminate, The Lantern helps you navigate time with clarity and intention—without the overwhelm.

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