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.
When systems work together
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Hello Reader, Over the past little while, something interesting has been happening inside the TimeCrafting Trust community. People have been sharing how they use other productivity methods alongside TimeCrafting—not instead of it. One member mentioned using it in conjunction with the Time Sector System from Carl Pullein. Others have talked about borrowing pieces from systems they’ve trusted for years and letting them live comfortably next to TimeCrafting. That matters to me more than you might think. It brings to mind a quote from Catherine O’Hara that I shared recently: “When we all strive to make each other look good—when we bring out the best in each other—it’s just the best way to be.” (As someone who got their training at Second City, she knew a thing or two about collaboration.) TimeCrafting was never meant to replace everything else you do. It’s meant to work with what already works—to give you a way to relate to time that’s flexible, humane, and durable enough to support whatever tools or methods you choose. That spirit of collaboration is one of the main reasons I built TimeCrafting in the Bullet Journal. The Bullet Journal method doesn’t compete with TimeCrafting—it complements it. One offers a flexible container; the other offers orientation. Together, they create space for intention, attention, and reflection without adding friction or complexity. The course is now live inside the community, and it’s available exclusively to members. Membership starts at $14/month, and that gives you access to the full program (and everything else in the community as well). If you’d like to learn more about TimeCrafting in the Bullet Journal—and join us as a member—you can do that here. See you later, P.S. One of the things I love most about this work is seeing how people adapt it—quietly, thoughtfully—to fit their own lives. If you do join us, you won’t be asked to “do it the right way.” You’ll be encouraged to find your way. |
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 7 | April 11, 2026 Hello Reader, The Curious Cruelty of Arrival 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...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 2, Issue 6 | April 4, 2026 Hello Reader, I found it at Dollarama. The World According to Tom Hanks by Gavin Edwards, tucked in among the seasonal decor and reading glasses. For a bit more than a dollar — dollar stores don't exactly live up to their name these days — I walked out with something I didn't expect: a list of ten commandments distilled from the life of America's most decent human being. You can see all ten here. I've been sitting with the ninth one...
Hello Reader,I was lucky enough to spend time with my mom last week during a work trip. It was great to see her for the first time in a couple of years – and just a few days before her birthday. Today her birthday arrived. There’s something about that kind of time that feels different. Not slower, not faster, just… more noticeable. Like you can actually feel it passing instead of trying to manage it. Most days don’t feel like that. Most days feel like something to keep up with. Or get...